Richard and Nathan Foster, Gina Ochsner, Dennis Littlefield, and I have been working for most of this last year on the details of a retreat for writers. Letting the Light In: Writing for the Growth of the Soul is for Christian writers who “need the vision to wrestle honestly with the complexities of the human condition and the skills to articulate those realities in ways that are crisp and imaginative.” Hosted just outside of Newberg on Camp Tilikum’s 93 beautiful, lake-front acres, the gathering is also sponsored by Renovaré and Barclay Press.
The 2017 Christian Writers Retreat is the first annual retreat of its kind at Tilikum and will bring together a broad spectrum of Christian writers and speakers. Along with Ochsner and the Fosters, presenters and writing mentors include Bill Jolliff, Mark and Lisa McMinn, Ed Higgins, and Linda Clare. One-on-one mentoring will also be available to retreat participants.
Richard Foster and his family lived at Tilikum in the 1970s when he was on the pastoral team at Newberg Friends Church. During these years he wrote the book, Celebration of Discipline. From this connection to Tilikum, the idea came to develop a special place for Christian writers. That idea has resulted in work on a cabin for Christian writers and in this retreat – the first of what may be many annual gatherings for Christian writers.
Lodge Housing and Commuters: Tilikum has overnight housing for 40 guests to stay in the Lodge (usually 2 per room with a private bath). We also have room for 6 guests to commute. The registration page has two links, one for overnight and the other for commuters. The cost is $350 for overnight guests and $150 for commuters, if registered by September 10, 2017.
Click here for more information and to register for the 2017 Christian Writers Retreat.
Eric Muhr