RETREATS

Do you miss HT conferences during the year? Attend one of our many regional retreats! Hosted at a church or a camp, these one- or two-day events will fill you with all of the great things you get during a summer conference, but in a more intimate way. Picture the sanctuary of your local church filled with teenagers who are eager for the organ to begin the opening lines of the liturgy or their favorite hymns, are listening intently as they learn how their Lutheran faith applies to their lives and relationships, and laughing as they horse around playing games and getting to know other youth from the area. When you attend a Higher Things retreat, you challenge youth to Dare to be Lutheran, inspiring them to deeper faith and love for their neighbors.

Find a retreat near you to be refilled with the same reverent worship, robust teaching, and playful fun that Higher Things delivers at summer conferences, but in a smaller way. See you there!

Not Guilty!

August 11-12, 2023
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church - Custer, SD

The Lord Jesus Christ determines the eternal destiny of all people.  Even yours!  Did you know that?  He does!  Why?  I’m glad you asked.  First, He was sent by His Father to take away the sins of the world (Mt 1:21; Jn 1:29). Second, all judgment has been given to Jesus by His Father (Jn 5:22, 25) so that He authoritatively speaks His Father’s Word of pardon or forgiveness to guilty sinners on the earth (Mt 9:3-8; Jn 5:24; 8:3-11; Lk 23:34) or withholding forgiveness from them.  The NOT GUILTY verdict of absolution is the key that opens heaven’s door to His Father’s heavenly house.  Absolution is the divine verdict declared to at fault sinners that they are NOT GUILTY for Jesus’ sake.  You who hear and believe this have no fear of the Last Day’s verdict of damnation because, through faith in Jesus and His Word of forgiveness, you have already passed from death to life (Jn 3:17-18; 5:24).  What joy!  What freedom!  NOT GUILTY FOR JESUS’ SAKE!  

Rev. Brent Kuhlman, a sinner declared to be “NOT GUILTY” because of the Lord’s Good Friday death and Easter Sunday resurrection, has the joy of serving as pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, NE in order to pass on that same absolving verdict into other sinners’ ears and hearts that desperately desire it.  In addition, some of the Lord’s good use of Him as a forgiven sinner is to be husband to Robin, the parental unit of three grown children, and recently the grandparental unit to a granddaughter. Over the years, he has taught pastors and lay people God’s Word in Siberia, Vietnam, Sumatra, and Tanzania.  He drives school bus, golfs, plays the organ and is currently learning to play the guitar.  Man!  Are his fingers sore!     

$40 per person covers all Friday night supper, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and snacks, all presentations and activities, and overnight lodging at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. This retreat is intended for confirmation-age students. The retreat will begin at 4 pm Friday and end at 2 pm Saturday.

Boys and girls will have separate sleeping areas. Each group should have at least one female chaperone for the girls in their group and at least one male chaperone for the boys in their group. Attendees need to bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. There are no shower facilities. 

Pastor David Warner
pastorwarner@outlook.com


Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Living the Baptized Life

September 15-16, 2023
St. Matthew Lutheran Church - Lee's Summit, MO

I am baptized. It’s the little words that say the most sometimes. Am. Right now. It’s not just a thing that happened when you were a baby. It’s a reality today. You were brought into the church through baptism where God washed you clean of all your sins. That doesn’t stop. Baptized is your identity today. You look like something. You may not think you do, but God says otherwise. When the Name of God was applied to you, splashed with a little water, that took shape in a person who will not only find comfort in the daily remembrance of that. Holy. Forgiven. Worthy of love.

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As HT’s Content Executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Join us at this retreat and hear all about the great gifts God continues to give us.

$45 per person covers all Friday night snacks, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and snacks, all presentations and activities, and overnight lodging at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. This retreat is intended for High School students. The retreat will begin at 6pm Friday and end at 3pm Saturday.

Boys and girls will have separate sleeping areas. Each group should have at least one female chaperone for the girls in their group and at least one male chaperone for the boys in their group. Attendees need to bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. There are no shower facilities. 

Deaconess Sarah Longmire
deaconess@gracefaithlove.org


Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Identity Crisis

September 22-23, 2023
Zion Lutheran Church, Tomball TX

It's easy to get lost looking for yourself.  It can feel impossible to find a person that you love and respect in the mirror. To find one who lives up to the expectations of your parents, your friends, your church.  Vaguely religious calls to hand it over to God don't help much because the deeper we dive into God's word, the more we realize we have two identities that are at war with each other.  Sinner. Saint.  And that's not a sign something is broken. It's a sign it's working.  It feels terrible to have a losing war fought inside you every day, but that identity crisis isn't yours to sort out.  In your baptism, old Adam is drowned. Every day. And the new man arises. Every day. It feels like a losing war, but it's already won.

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As HT’s Content Executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Join us at this retreat and hear all about the great gifts God continues to give us.

The $50 cost covers three meals (Friday supper and breakfast and lunch on Saturday) and lodging at the church, in addition to the retreat activities, which begin at 7pm on Friday and conclude at 4pm on Saturday

You may also contact Lynea Sander at (832) 772-3170 or lynealeia@gmail.com to ask for a registration packet via email. Groups should register online or RSVP by September 8th. 

Lynea Sander

(832) 722-3170
lynealeia@gmail.com 


Tana McKenna
Higher Things retreat coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Register now