When was the last time you said a prayer about your marriage specifically asking God to change, restore, or renew it? God says in Ephesians 3:20, that He is able to do “immeasurably more” than you could ask or imagine. But. maybe you aren’t seeing the change you asked for. He can instantly change our circumstances but, often with the Lord, it requires our willingness to surrender, trust, and work it out through His power and presence in our lives.
At this year’s retreat, you will hear from three Crossroads’ couples and hear about their journey—the lessons they have learned and how God’s grace and truth has offered an “immeasurably more” relationship. Our hope is to equip couples with gospel truth to restore broken places, practical tools to reconnect, and encouragement to keep going.
Please join us for a time of investing in your marriage and connecting with our church family through intentional conversations and lots of fun! Space is limited so don’t wait to register. Registration closes on February 26th.
Register hereLocation: Gull Lake Ministries—a short drive from the Grand Rapids area. This ministry center has wonderful space for couples to unwind, connect with others, and have some fun. Their facilities include pickleball, recreation center, rock climbing wall, and bowling.
Accommodations: Each couple will have a private bedroom and bathroom within a communal setting. Most condos have 4-5 rooms with shared living space and full kitchen. Price includes snacks on Friday night, light breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Saturday and light breakfast on Sunday. We have a community dessert night on Saturday evening—a highlight for many in years past. We are looking for volunteers to provide a dessert or host a small group.
Price: The actual cost for this retreat is $500 per couple. For those who are able to cover that amount, we are requesting that. However, we realize for many, this may be difficult or create a barrier to attend. For this reason, we are pricing the retreat for most at $375 per couple. Scholarships are available for those in financial hardship, please reach out to Stephanie. You can either pay in full or pay a non-refundable $150 deposit with the balance due on February 16th.
Schedule: You are welcome join us as early as 4pm on Friday but we ask that all couples arrive by 7pm. Friday night will have a session and a time to connect with your housemates. We will conclude the weekend by 12pm on Sunday.
Retreat Leaders: Our retreat in 2025 will feature three couples from our Crossroads family who will be teaching along with a couple who is leading worship. Each of these couples have been involved in ministry for many years and have a heart to see marriages fully realize all that God created marriage to be.
TIM AND SHAYLA BASSETT
Tim and Shayla spent the first eight years of their marriage stumbling through life without the tools they needed, weighed down by codependencies and finding themselves stuck in a pit time and again. But in His severe and loving mercy, the Lord brought complete redemption to their marriage, revealing the true state of their hearts without Him—a humbling and transformative realization. Through surrender, they discovered the abundant joy and unity that comes from building a marriage on His foundation. Tim serves in student ministries on staff at Crossroads, while Shayla works at GVSU and supports women through Retelling Retreats at Crossroads. They are embracing and cherishing this season of life with their three children, ages 10, 7, and 5.
JASON AND JULIE BOTBYL
Jason and Julie met in the parking lot of a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both of them were single parents who had been rescued by God from a sinful past and had given their lives fully over to Him. From the world’s perspective, the odds were stacked against them: an 11-year age gap, kids from previous relationships, financial issues, different skin colors and family histories. But those odds were dismantled. Their commitment to God and each other, and the belief that He had brought them together to fulfill His greater purpose, was the glue that held them together during the trials of their marriage journey of 19 years. Jason is a pastor on staff at Crossroads and has been preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God for over 20 years in the Grand Rapids area. Julie works at a local health insurance company as a business system analyst. They have three married children and three grandchildren.
BRUCE AND SUE OSTERINK
Bruce and Sue have been married for 38 years. The first 12 years of their marriage were really difficult as they tried to blend two families and learn what it meant to have a Godly marriage. Today they have a marriage that they never believed was possible. Because they both have been divorced, they have a passion to help others learn from their mistakes and experience the joy that God intends for married couples. They have served in the marriage ministry at Crossroads for 10 years and have mentored couples for over 25 years. They have four adult children between them and nine grandchildren.
NATHAN AND JANA ENGLISH, our worship leaders
As a boy from the Pacific Northwest and a girl from Bangladesh, Nathan and Jana’s paths unexpectedly crossed on the campus of a small Michigan Bible college where they met and fell in love in the winter of 2005. They were married in the summer of 2007, and over the years have had a heart for marriage ministry, testifying to the joy, passion, and sanctification marriage has proved to be in their own lives. After 17 years of marriage, Jana and Nathan love to share and speak on the refining gift that marriage is, finding joy in sharing their own story of God’s faithfulness in several seasons of severe trial and tribulation as a family. Jana stewards her calling as a stay at home mom while Nathan serves as the Young Adult Pastor at Crossroads Bible Church. They reside in Grand Rapids, MI with their five children, Ben (15), Norah (13), Olive (10), Ari (7), and Psalm (3).
