Retreat Details

When: October 4-6
Where: Brookhaven Christian Retreat center near Tyler, TX (www.brookhavenretreat.org)
Cost: $149* (includes 3 meals on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday, retreat t-shirt, and Dr. Francisco’s book) *Please contact Pastor Mark with any questions or for scholarship assistance.

Retreat Theme

Resurrection Fact
Christianity stands or falls on Christ’s resurrection. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Paul wrote, “our preaching…and faith is in vain…and you are still in your sins.” It is no small wonder, then, that so many of Christianity’s critics–from philosophers to atheists to Muslims and more–either reject or try to explain it away. This seminar covers a wide variety of popular and sometimes technical assaults on the Christian faith with a view towards thinking about and applying a defense for the hope within us (1 Pt. 3:15).

• Session 1: The Resurrection as Foundation and Proof of Christianity
• Session 2: Critics of the Resurrection
• Session 3: A Case for the Resurrection as Fact
• Session 4: Additional evidence

About the Speaker

Dr. Adam Francisco has served as professor of history, Christian apologetics, and Islamic studies on university and seminary faculties in New York, Indiana, and California. He is now the Executive Editor of 1517 Publishing and one of the hosts of 1517’s most popular podcast—The Thinking Fellows.

Adam is also a specialist in the history and practice of the defense of the Christian faith (otherwise known as apologetics). He has spent more than twenty years studying the subject and has two books on it—Making the Case for Christianity and The Resurrection Fact. While his often teaches it to pastors, missionaries, and undergraduate students, his passion is to inspire and train laymen and women how to be prepared to give a reason or defense for the hope we have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). He has done this for over a decade in a variety of churches and other settings for Christians of all ages.

Most recently, Adam has begun teaching on the subject of worldview and culture. He got his start when he served as a faculty member for a seminary’s PhD program designed for missionaries. He has since tailored it for general audiences of Christians who seek to understand contemporary secular culture and the various non-Christian worldviews on offer in the public arena. His goal is more than just to describe, however. He is particularly interested in understanding culture and worldview so that Christians might be equipped to speak the gospel to the contemporary world.

Adam isn’t only concerned with academic things, however. He teaches Sunday School, is involved with veteran affairs (he’s a veteran himself), and stays busy by repairing things around the house. He and his wife have four children, a bull mastiff, backyard chickens, and, often, a recently-caught reptile. They love to go to the beach to surf, the mountains to hike, or the gym to practice Muay Thai, Jujitsu, or wrestling.

Retreat Schedule

Friday Night, October 4
5:30 PM    Arrive at location, check into rooms, and get settled
7:00 PM    Welcome introduction and tone setting
7:30 PM    Group lesson by Dr. Adam Francisco
8:30 PM    Free time & Fellowship

Saturday, October 5
8:00 AM    Breakfast
9:00 AM    Group lesson by Dr. Adam Francisco
11:00 AM   Alone time to purposefully process the group lesson
11:30 AM   Lunch
12:30 PM   Outing to the Biggs’ Family Farm (fishing, pistol/rifle range, skeet shooting, other activities)
5:30 PM    Dinner
6:30 PM    Group lesson by Dr. Adam Francisco
8:30 PM    Free time & Fellowship

Sunday, October 6
8:00 AM    Breakfast
9:00 AM    Group Lesson: Wrap up
10:00 AM  Departure

Important Info

What to Bring

• Pillow
• Sheets, blanket or sleeping bag
• Folding chair / camping chair
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen
• Personal toiletries – soap, shampoo, toothbrush/paste, deodorant
• Towel
• Rain gear / jacket / hat
• Bible / notepad / pen
• Book
• Snacks
• Cooler & beverages*
  (*Alcohol is permitted in the evenings during “free time”, if consumed responsibly and in moderation. If you would like to bring beverages to share, you can.)

When to arrive: 

• You can start arriving as early as 5:30 PM. Please check in for your name tags, books & shirts. There will be no meal Friday evening, so eat before you arrive, or bring something with you.

Bring some extra cash: 

• The Ashcraft family allows us to use their farm at no cost. However, there is wear and tear we put on the place. We will be collecting cash donations to help offset the cost to clean up and repair the hand gun and rifle range.
• The staff at Brookhaven does a great job of taking care of us. On Sunday we will take up a tip to reward the staff for their generosity and hard work.
• Some of us that will be arriving on the early side may order some pizza before we get started.

Saturday Notes: 

• On Saturday we will be going to the Biggs’ Family Farm for manly activities such as fishing, skeet shooting, range shooting ( rifles/ handguns), and hiking, canoeing, etc.  If you have any outdoor games, please bring them along, such as corn hole, horseshoe and washers.
• The address of the farm is – 21509 FM 16W, Lindale, TX 77571
• https://goo.gl/maps/V75J7DewYjS2 You can print directions by clicking on this link.
• One addition this year will be archery. If you have targets and bows, feel free to bring those to help support the activity.
• For skeet shooting, please bring shot gun shells and sporting clay targets to share (preferably the White Flyer brand of targets because they are biodegradable).

Directions

(748 County Road 3909 Hawkins, TX 75765)
From Dallas: Take Interstate 20 East (I-20E) approximately 100 miles and take exit 562 (FM 14). Go north on FM 14 through Hawkins. Five (5) Miles North of Hawkins, turn right at the four-way stop onto FM 2869. Go 1.5 miles east on FM 2869 and you’ll see the Brookhaven sign on the left. Turn left onto CR 3909 (blacktop road) and proceed ¾ mile to the Retreat Center. When the road splits, keep straight to enter the Retreat’s parking lot.

More Info

For more information, please contact Tedd Klovstad.

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