Montreat Conference Center is delighted to welcome back beloved author and teacher John Philip Newell, alongside his colleague Cami Twilling, as they lead The Great Search 1, the first of a new three-part series from Earth & Soul. As in previous Earth & Soul Retreats, participants will be invited into a deeper exploration of spirituality grounded in Celtic wisdom which responds to the needs of our present moment. For those unfamiliar with Earth & Soul, their retreats offer a meaningful opportunity to engage in spiritual practices rooted in the ancient Celtic tradition. The Great Search, specifically, will address the deep …
Discover “Horizon Gazing” at Women’s Connection 2026
Anticipation is building for this year’s Women’s Connection conference, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead. Women from across the country are already making plans to gather in Montreat for a time of worship, learning, and meaningful connection. With an inspiring theme and a remarkable group of leaders joining us on stage, Women’s Connection 2026 promises to be a space for reflection, renewal, and shared hope. Today, we’re delighted to share more about this year’s theme and introduce the rest of our conference leaders. Horizon Gazing: Hope in the Here and Now During this year’s Women’s Connection …
Address Feelings of Burnout at Discovering Renewal
As we approach the season of Lent, we are invited to reflect, refocus, and prepare our hearts and minds for renewal. This period of the liturgical calendar offers us an opportunity to take stock of where we are and to consider what we need in order to move forward with intention. If you spend your time caring for others, whether through ministry, leadership, or service, it can be difficult to make space to care for yourself. That is why we created our Discovering Renewal retreat — to create intentional space for rest, reflection, and renewal. Scheduled conveniently after Easter, Discovering …
What is a Montreat Patron?
As the end of the year approaches, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to highlight the various ways that Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations thanks to a vibrant culture of philanthropy. Regardless of how you engage with Montreat, you have likely experienced the direct impact of these gifts, as roughly 13% of the conference center’s annual budget is comprised of individual donations to our annual unrestricted fund, The Montreat Fund, which supports a variety of programs and scholarships and helps to maintain various facilities throughout our …
Exploring Creativity and Community During Fall Craft Week
Have you heard about Fall Craft Week? This special Montreat conference welcomes over 100 people each September for a time focused on making art and enjoying the beauty of fall in the mountains. This year, as in years past, both novice makers and skilled artisans came together to create beautiful works of art. They quilted, carved, soldered, and sketched, in addition to many other forms of craft, all guided by skilled professionals during twice daily classes for their chosen medium. We are now in the process of preparing for next year’s event, and we would like to invite you to …
Adult Involvement at Youth and Young Adult Events
This month, Montreat Conference Center is taking time to highlight upcoming events for those between the ages of 11 and 32. This might cause you to wonder, “where do I fit into all of this?” While adults are not the primary audience for events like Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference, they still play a vital role in their success. Each year, over one hundred adults volunteer as Small Group Leaders, another 16 serve on event Planning Teams, and dozens more attend conferences alongside youth, serving as guides and chaperones for those in attendance. Through these various avenues, we’ve …
Finding Renewal in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
As we approach the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, we cannot help but be reminded of the storm’s devastating impact on our community. Like many of you, we have spent months in recovery mode — cleaning up, rebuilding, and offering support. We know from first hand experience that if you’ve been in recovery mode for the last 12 months, you are likely feeling tired and weary. And that’s understandable! When you are busy caring for others, it can be hard to care for yourself as well. That’s why we decided to offer an additional Discovering Renewal retreat this fall …