Get your heart back
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23
About
The hearts of many men are being siphoned away slowly: Stress. Pressure. Shame. Hiddenness. Addiction. Loneliness. Isolation. Fear. Boredom. We know the feelings all too well. Many men are in survival mode just trying to get through the day, living half-hearted and disconnected. There is so much more available to you than this if you will dare to fight for it. Jesus’ offer to us is life; true life that is the overflow of a whole heart. Here is the catch though: you will not find this life alone. You will not think your way into it or “figure it out” as if it was a math problem to be solved. No, you must return to the Source of Life, and you must risk being honest and open with a company of men who will lovingly remind you of the man you are created to be. If you want to get your heart back and step into the man God has created you to be, this retreat is for you. There are such few spaces in life where men can truly take their masks off and share how they are really doing. We want to create a space for men to step away from the pressure of life and experience being truly known by God and other men.
Come get away in nature for a weekend with a group of other men who want the same thing as you. We will guide the group through this process towards wholeheartedness using the tools of nature, adventure, the Word of God, the Spirit of God, guided time alone, and the company of other men on your retreat.
Men’s Fall Retreat
Dates and Details:
When: Friday November 6th noon-Sunday November 8th noon
Where: Location TBD
Who: Men ages 25-45
Cost: $450 per person. $250 deposit due upon notification of application acceptance. Remaining $200 due no later than two weeks prior to retreat.
***Retreat is limited to 12 participants in order to preserve the intentionality and connection of group members and group leaders’ connection with each individual.
Other Upcoming Events
Check out our Events page for more information about upcoming Wholehearted Men’s Nights as well as our our 6-week Wholehearted Men’s Group!
Meet the Team
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Founder/President
I am a son of God. I am a husband to my amazing wife, Peggy. I am a father to the two most beautiful girls. I am a therapist by day, but I prefer to think of myself as a wounded healer. I have my own story of needing Christ and other men to help me recover, heal and free my own heart, and I love seeing Jesus bring that same healing and wholeness to others.
I have always loved the outdoors. All of my hobbies are a means to an end: to be outside in God’s creation. I love it so much that I got my Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Experiential Education (yes, that’s a real thing)! And now, after years working in ministry and counseling, I see Wholehearted Retreats as the intersection of two long-standing passions. Passion #1: To join Jesus in His mission to heal the hearts of men and set them free (Isaiah 61), and Passion #2: To invite men back into the wild, back into adventure and risk where our hearts come alive, back into unhurried stillness, and back to connection with ourselves, other men and our Father.
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I am a devoted husband to my strong and godly wife, Mary, and a proud father of two sweet sons. My day job is in technical training development, but serving and ministering to men around me is my passion and calling.
Outside of my professional life, I embrace my passions for hunting, fishing, and general recreating outside, often bringing my wife and sons with me. Creation has always provided the backdrop for my reflection and connection with the Father.
As a new dad, trying to do it all for my family and myself led me to walk through a dark time that culminated in a desperate season of re-seeking the Lord. The Lord provided for me, restored me, and called me to a ministry of helping other men in similar walks to seek His comforting hand and lead our families boldly in faith.
Board of Trustees
Jeff McMichael
Kris Gerkins
Peggy Luper
Charlie Morgan
Jordan Luper
Support our growth
Wholehearted Retreats is a branch of Wholehearted Ministries Incorporated which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is Isaiah 61 which is to recover , heal, and free the hearts of men. We do this through retreats, focused 6-week men’s group cohorts, and connecting men through our Wholehearted Men’s Nights. Our approach is based in truth and experience. Truth: We present the Scriptural truth and wisdom of God who made us and knows the path to us becoming whole, and Experience: The truth of God was meant to lead us to a deeper connectedness to ourselves, God, and others.
In order for us to reach the men we are called to reach, we would love for finances to not be a barrier to entry. We rely on the generosity of our allies to help fund this mission of recovery, healing, and freedom. For more information on where your donations go, see the FAQ section.
FAQs
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Here are the core elements of our retreats: Fellowship, teaching, group processing, adventure outings (fishing, hiking, swimming), solitude/reflection, good food and a whole lot of fun! For all men who thrive on details and a plan, upon acceptance to a retreat, you will receive more details including retreat schedule and packing list.
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We feel clear that we are to target men ages 25-45. While we would love to open retreats up to all adult men, our age range is specifically selected due to the mission we feel called to.
***If you are younger or older than 25-45 and feel compelled to apply, please do and we will prayerfully consider your application.
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Group sessions will be led by Jordan Luper who is a licensed therapist with extensive training and experience working with men.
Guided Fly fishing and other adventure outings will be led by Charlie Morgan who is a certified guide and outdoorsman extraordinaire.
All meals, snacks, and drinks will be provided from Friday to Sunday.
Your tent will be provided.
Fly fishing equipment will be provided, but if you have personal gear you want to bring that’s great (including license)
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Since this is a new non-profit, your money will go to basic start-up costs: camping gear for the retreat, tents, outdoor cooking equipment, cost of renting and/or making improvements to retreat location, staff/contractor compensation, and scholarships for men who might want to come but can’t afford it. We are so grateful for any dollar amount and it will go directly towards helping men become more free - therefore impacting marriages, families, kids, and generations to come.
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We are glad you asked! Here is a list of our needs beyond financial needs:
Intercessors: We believe prayer is absolutely essential to the effectiveness of any event we hold, and we would love to have people who are are committed to praying for us as we lead and for the men who are attending.
Equipment donations: If you have quality camping gear, outdoor cooking equipment, kayaks, fly fishing equipment, firewood, etc. we would gladly take your donation and provide a donation receipt for tax purposes.
Volunteers: Specifically, we could use volunteers for improving and maintaining the location of the retreat, and we could use a camp chef to prepare all meals so that leaders can be freed up to focus on the participants.
Help us spread the word to the men in your life who would benefit from this retreat!
Contact jordan@becomewholehearted.com to inquire about any of the above.