Though Pete Peery, my predecessor as Montreat Conference Center’s president, lives right down the street, we don’t see each other often enough, and when we do, we often talk about everything but the job. Recently, however, we have enjoyed reminiscing over one Montreat topic: the significance of the Assembly Inn renovation, which took place during Pete’s tenure and was completed in time for my arrival in 2014. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s increasingly obvious that the renovation did more than restore a beloved building. It was perhaps the most important step in strengthening Montreat’s foundation and accelerating a financial recovery that had begun some ten years prior. And the most important leader in that effort, according to Pete, was Kat …
Tales from the “Off-Season”
Roughly twenty years ago, Montreat Conference Center was a non-profit heavily dependent on church-related, summer programs. Over the past two decades, as the conference center moved toward a year-round model, activities in the off-season increased. For missional reasons, this has been a positive trend. For financial reasons it has been essential, building resilience in times of disruption and a stable foundation for the present and future. We still host some 6,000 people here every summer, but the recent monthly activity reports this winter are reminder how that has changed. In March, for example, the conference center has scheduled 51 events with projected …
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 …
Reflecting on the Summer
Some years ago, a wise decision was made to move the beginning of the Montreat Conference Center’s fiscal year to May 1st. The reasoning: The experience of the first four months of the fiscal year – May to August – would inform spending and fundraising practices for the remainder and increase the likelihood of finishing with a balanced budget on April 30th. Over two decades since, some things have changed, and some things haven’t. Philanthropy and a renovated Assembly Inn have contributed to more budget growth and stability, and the conference center is less dependent on summer revenues than it …