Linked Post: 5 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Before a Retreat

At ym360, everything we do falls into one of four categories: Bible Study Resources, Training, Community, or Networking. For us, networking means highlighting great content, great people, and great ministries. When we find something valuable, we share it. This happens most frequently on our Flashback Friday posts. But it happens in other ways, as well.

One of the ways we focus on Networking is by linking to solid content we encounter on blogs or websites.

Robbie Mackenzie is a friend of ym360 who writes a great daily blog, "Mackenzie's Meanderings." We ran across a post Robbie wrote today, "5 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Before a Retreat," that we thought was a timely reminder for the youth ministry vets out there, and a good checklist for the newbies. After all, Fall Retreat season is upon us, and Winter Retreat planning is starting for many. 

We've linked to a snippet of Robbie's post below. Follow the links back to Robbie's blog. Oh, and be sure to leave a comment adding mistakes you've made "pre-retreat."

5 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Before a Retreat, by Robbie Mackenzie

We are having a retreat this weekend and I thought about all of the mistakes I have made and thought I would share from my mishaps.

Mistake #1: Poor Planning

This is where I am at right now so I am having to catch–up a little. But lucky for me I have wonderful parents who do the bulk of the planning so a lot of times I simply show up. But seriously, be a details oriented guy. Have you handed out schedules? Have you informed parents of times, money and items to bring? Have you made sure to study for the lessons? Is the bus filled up? Did you remember to pay for the retreat facilities?

Whoops… be right back!

Did you plan the games for the kids? Cover the details but… 

Mistake #2: Too Much Planning

I am not sure what your idea of a retreat is supposed to be but I have met youth ministers who spend so much time planning, implementing, and packing the schedule full that they can hardly enjoy the weekend. I wasted endless amounts of time finding the right PowerPoint background, the right video illustration, the best game or whatever. A kid is not going to come up to you a week after the retreat and say, “Dude, that poster you made three weeks before the retreat really hooked me. I love that graphic design and the helvetica font.” A caution about scheduling, less is more at a retreat. I know you think teenagers need something to do every hour but they don’t. Let them sleep in a little, take a nap if they want, go for a walk if they need or make up a dumb game if they choose. It is a retreat.

Click here to head over to Robbies's blog and read the rest of the 5 biggest mistakes you can make before a retreat.