It’s hard to put into words just how uplifting this year’s Men’s Retreat was. We featured a lineup of in-house speakers who brought us the Word of God and shared powerful testimonies of how He is radically changing their lives. We had 76 guys make it out to Albion this year.
Our theme this year was Living Before the Throne. Too often, men find themselves serving the thrones of success, approval, comfort, guilt, fear, or self-sufficiency. In contrast, Hebrews 4:16 calls believers to approach God’s throne of grace daily to find help in our time of need. Throughout the weekend, we explored who sits on that throne, how His grace transforms everyday life, how we can approach Him with confidence through Christ, and how to live with an eternal perspective.
Friday Night — Seeing the King on the Throne: Robert Leinen opened the retreat by reminding us that the more we understand God’s character and attributes, the better we grasp that we were created in His image—designed to reflect Him to the world.
Saturday Morning — Submitting to the King: Pastor Brent interviewed Tim Barnes, centering on Proverbs 3:5–6: trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and not leaning on our own understanding. A man’s heart must be surrendered, rooted in grace, and reliant on God’s direction. It challenged us to ask: What areas of our lives do we need to surrender? Which relationships need grace? What ungodly habits need to go?
Saturday Evening — Approaching the King: Pastor Brent sat down with Derek Reisbeck to discuss how our confidence before the throne rests in Christ alone. Because Jesus understands all our temptations and struggles, we find true grace and mercy in His presence—and once we experience God’s help, our calling is to lead others to Him.
Sunday Morning — Representing the King: Jonathan Bridges closed the weekend with a reminder that following Christ isn’t about personal comfort; it is a call to missional living. Scripture clearly outlines what God expects from His followers, leaving us with one essential question: Do you believe the Bible is true?
We are already looking forward to next year! Mark your calendars for August 20–22, 2027—we are already in talks with a guest speaker.
Here is the Men’s Retreat Booklet available for download.