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 …
Trusting in God’s Faithfulness
Greetings from Montreat! As we begin 2026 and approach midwinter, this is to share news on several fronts. First, I want to call your attention to Montreat Conference Center’s newly published 2025 Annual Report, now available on our website. The report offers a thoughtful review of a year marked by significant transition, deepened mission, and renewed engagement across the many generations who participate here. Within its (virtual) pages you will find stories of faithful programs and tangible progress in service to the vision that guides our work. We are grateful for the many ways that you – not only participants, but donors, staff, volunteers, and partners – made …
Plan Your Next Outdoor Getaway
Calling all camping enthusiasts! Reservations are currently open for the 2026 season at the Montreat Family Campground. Located just around the corner from the Graybeard Trailhead, this beloved campground offers a welcoming and peaceful setting for visitors of all ages. We offer 29 sites which are available from May through October and are best suited for tents or small pop-up campers. Consider this an invitation to start planning your next outdoor getaway, and see for yourself how the Montreat Family Campground provides a unique blend of natural beauty, peaceful community, and outdoor recreation that keeps guests returning year after year. …
Everything You Need to Know about Being a Small Group Leader
Do you want to have an impact on the lives of today’s youth and have a little fun at the same time? Small Group Leaders (SGLs) are a very special group of volunteers that help facilitate faithful conversation and community growth at Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference. Because Small Groups are so integral to the Montreat experience, this opportunity might seem a little intimidating. But rest assured, being a Small Group Leader is not only a lot easier than it looks; it is also an extremely rewarding, life-giving experience. Keep reading to see how easy it is to get involved and to find out how …
The Creative Side of Spirituality
Often, when we think about spirituality, we picture solitary, reflective practices. But that is far from the only way that we can engage spiritually with our faith! Time spent in corporate worship is a spiritual exercise. Creative pursuits, such as painting, singing, or dancing, can be outward expressions of our spirituality. Even time spent in community with other believers can nurture the spiritual aspects of our faith. While many of Montreat’s conferences and events include time for these activities, one event that does so particularly well is the Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference (ARW) hosted in partnership with Re:create. This …
In Case You Missed It: A Recap of Fall 2025
Greetings from Montreat! We ended 2025 in a flurry of movement and did our best to keep you all up to date. Wise perhaps to begin with an “in case you missed it” update on happenings during the last quarter of the year before casting our attention to the new year. ICYMI Updates Lilly Endowment Grant Awarded: In early October, we received the exciting news that Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded the Montreat Conference Center a second grant of nearly $1 million to continue and expand our Thriving Congregations initiative for another five years. Over the first five years of the program, 30 congregations have taken part in the program, and participants are reporting reengaged congregations, revitalized mission initiatives, and in some cases, growth in membership and …
Caring for the Montreat Wilderness
As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. One area of our ministry which receives significant support from these gifts is the Montreat Wilderness, a space comprised of nearly 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness in the Blue Ridge Mountains which is home to Montreat’s many trails. Both the Montreat Fund and Montreat’s Wilderness Operations and Maintenance Fund help to protect and sustain this land, providing staffing, tools, and supplies used for its upkeep and general maintenance. By making a gift in support of the Montreat Wilderness, you help to ensure that these spaces can …
Has Your Congregation Considered Becoming a Church Patron?
As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. When a congregation decides to make a gift of $500 or more to the Montreat Fund annually, we honor their commitment to our mission by recognizing them as a Church Patron. This special giving tier unites churches as they help to ensure that Montreat remains a place of spiritual transformation and renewal for generations to come. So, why do churches become Church Patrons? At its heart, this partnership reflects …
The Impact of Summer Staff
As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. Many of Montreat’s programs are able to thrive thanks to the contributions of these donors. Montreat’s Summer Staff program is one such example which is directly supported by gifts to the Montreat Fund. Each year, Montreat hires over 100 college-aged young adults to help keep things running smoothly during the conference center’s busiest months. The Montreat Fund helps to provide them …
Press Release: An Update on the New Lodge Project
Last month, a unanimous ruling from the North Carolina Court of Appeals reversed a trial court decision that set aside a Special Use Permit for the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, dba Montreat Conference Center). The Court of Appeals ruling restored the Special Use Permit that the Town of Montreat had granted the conference center to build a new lodge on its campus. You can read the court’s 48-page ruling here. On Wednesday, we were notified that the neighbors opposing our project have filed a petition to the North Carolina Supreme Court for discretionary review of the Court of Appeals decision. The petition …
Supporting the Future of the Church
As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. A vibrant culture of philanthropy has sustained Montreat and supported its ministry for over a century and continues to aid in our ability to provide programming and other resources to thousands of people each year. Specifically, donations to the Montreat Fund and other endowments allow us to welcome inspirational speakers and provide scholarships for those with financial need. In these ways …
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 …
MRA Board of Directors: Meeting Summary for Fall 2025
An update and overview of the spring board meeting of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center), held in November 2024.
Press Release: Mountain Retreat Association Announces New Vice President of Development
MONTREAT, NC — The Mountain Retreat Association, Inc. (MRA) is excited to announce the Rev. Dr. Marti Reed Hazelrigg as its next vice president of development. “Marti brings exactly the kind of energy and enthusiasm that Montreat needs in this moment,” says MRA President Richard DuBose. “Her deep love for Montreat and the church, her proven leadership experience, and her engaging presence make her an ideal fit for this role and a tremendous addition to our senior leadership team. We are thrilled to welcome Marti as our new vice president of development.” As a member of the senior leadership team, Marti …
Practicing Gratitude in the Montreat Wilderness
In the quiet stillness of the Montreat Wilderness, we often find that it is easier to listen for God’s small, still voice — a voice that calls us, guides us, and nurtures us — and give thanks. There, nestled among the trees, we are invited to step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and take time to pause, reflecting on the many ways that God is at work in our lives. As Thanksgiving celebrations linger and we enter the season of Advent, we wanted to share a few ways that you can practice gratitude while enjoying Montreat’s …
Choosing the Right Event Package for Your Needs
No two events are exactly alike. A church retreat has different needs than a family reunion, and a family reunion has different needs than a board dinner. While Montreat offers a wide range of accommodations to meet the needs of each of these events, it is important for us to know the details of your event in advance so that we can serve you best. Below, we’ve outlined some things you should consider when planning your next gathering so that we can ensure, together, that your event is a success. Purpose and Timeline As you start planning your event, it’s …
Five Things We are Grateful for this Holiday Season
As the season turns and the air grows crisp here in the mountains, we wanted to take a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks. At Montreat Conference Center, we believe gratitude stirs the soul, shapes community, and points us back to what matters. Bearing that in mind, here are five things we’re especially grateful for as we approach the holiday season: 1. Community We believe there’s something special about gathering with others for a shared purpose. This year, groups have gathered to connect with each other, deepen their understanding, and even to restore hurricane damage through acts of service. …
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 …
Press Release: Appeals Court Reverses Lower Court Decision on Montreat Lodge Permit
MONTREAT, NC — A unanimous ruling through a 48-page opinion from the North Carolina Court of Appeals has reversed a decision by a trial court that set aside a Special Use Permit for the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, dba Montreat Conference Center) to build a new lodge on its campus. The Court of Appeals ruling restores the Special Use Permit to build the lodge. The MRA’s Board of Directors approved the plan for a new lodge in 2021 and has repeatedly affirmed its intention to develop the site for the MRA’s mission and ministry. The special use permit was granted to …
Montreat Receives Second Lilly Endowment Grant to Support Thriving Congregations
In early October, I ventured to Indianapolis, Indiana for a diverse gathering of nonprofit leaders representing organizations that shared at least two things in common: 1) a hopeful commitment to the vitality of the wider church, and 2) our institutions had all received grant support from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Thriving Congregations Initiative. I was already feeling buoyant as, a week before that gathering, I had received the exciting news that the Lilly Endowment has awarded the Montreat Conference Center a second grant of nearly $1 million to continue and expand our own Thriving Congregations initiative for another five years. Our first Lilly Endowment grant, awarded in 2019, established a partnership with The Black Mountain School of Theology & Community and launched our Thriving Congregations program. At its heart, the program envisions churches as dynamic “schools for the faithful,” where …
Press Release: Montreat Conference Center Receives a Grant to Strengthen Churches Amid Shifting Landscapes
MONTREAT, NC — Montreat Conference Center has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Thriving Congregations Initiative 2025 Scaling Program to continue its work on congregational vitality. This new four-year grant will enable Montreat to work with 75 congregations, building on the success of its initial phase, which concludes this year. That phase supported 30 congregations across three cohorts. The expanded program will welcome additional congregations into the full cohort experience and establish two regional hubs to broaden the initiative’s reach and impact. “This generous support from Lilly Endowment affirms the importance of our work with congregations and provides us with the resources to deepen the impact of the program,” …
How to Enjoy the Montreat Wilderness During Youth Conference
This month, as part of our Youth and Young Adult Takeover, we are looking at ways youth can benefit from Montreat’s wilderness spaces. There are many things to enjoy about Montreat Conference Center’s campus when you attend a youth conference. Youth spend time singing in Anderson Auditorium, playing games on Moore Center Field, and eating ice cream in The Huck, all of which are sacred in their own right! But for many of our guests, the Montreat Wilderness is where they feel God most closely. For this reason, if you plan to attend Montreat Youth Conference next summer, we highly recommend …
Engaging Retreat Activities for Youth and Families
When planning retreats for families or youth, it is important to include a variety of ways for them to interact, both with each other and with the message presented during your event. While this may seem like a no-brainer, we cannot overstate the importance of varied programming as a way to ensure that participants are fully present and engaged. Everyone who attends your retreat will come with different interests, learning styles, and ways that they like to communicate. For that reason, it’s important to plan an event that takes these needs into account. So, what should you include in the …
2026 Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference Themes
It’s here, the moment you’ve been waiting for… It’s finally time to announce the conference themes for Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference! As our flagship events for youth, the yearly themes for these conferences are often highly anticipated. That makes us really excited to share them! But before we get started, a little background. Contrary to popular belief, Montreat Conference Center staff don’t pick the themes for Montreat Youth Conference or Middle School Conference. Instead, theme selection is driven exclusively by members of the Planning Teams for each conference — and it isn’t something they take lightly! After …
Youth Conferences Help Young People Define Their Faith
This month, Montreat Conference Center is highlighting upcoming events for youth and young adults and looking at how these events tie into other elements of our ministry. Surely, it’s no surprise that events like Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference have a deep spiritual focus. However, today we wanted to outline a few of the ways that these conferences impact the spiritual lives of young people. Specifically, we find that youth are called to define their faith as they participate in reformed worship, hear from prominent church leaders, and engage in faith-based discussions with mentors and peers during these …