Retreat House MN - What is it?

The second question I get about Retreat House is What is it?

Simply put, Retreat House will be just that. A house used for retreats. Our vision is for better teams and communities. Our mission is to provide space for business, ministries and organizations to retreat and focus on education and team building.

The big, complete vision of Retreat House is to have a property where we can host teams for retreats, provide a community gathering space in a cafe or coffeehouse and minister to the working poor by providing low cost, short term housing to a family. We will use a three tier approach to work toward our big, complete vision of Retreat House.

Tier One:
We would provide a space for retreats. What would be the difference between our space and a community center or hotel? Our space wouldn't be sterile. It would feel like you're away, like you've driven hours to get out and away from the noise and busyness of the city, but have only driven 30-45 minutes. It's amazing how you can see defenses and walls fall when you get out of your usual office and gather in a comfortable and welcoming space. This will be where we begin because it is the heart of Retreat House. Let's gather. Let's talk. Let's get to know one another. 

Tier Two:
We would open a community gather space in the form of a coffeehouse or cafe. Not only would this allow us to provide catering for our retreats, but it would give a space that is open to the public to gather on a regular basis. The kind of place where people in town come to gather around a table for coffee and to solve the world's problems. 

Tier Three
We would provide low cost, short term housing for one working poor family. Our hope is to work with local churches to find a family that is too well off for a shelter, but not quite well enough off to obtain housing. The family would pay a low rent that would contribute to the maintenance of their housing, plus a portion of their rent would also be put into an account. The intention for the money in the account would for it to be used as a down payment or security deposit on permanent housing. 

Values
There three values that will influence the way we approach Retreat House.

1. Radical Hospitality
The Rule of St Benedict 53:1-2, 15 states: “Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for he is going to say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt. 25:35). And to all let due honour be shown, especially to those who share our faith (Gal. 6:10) and to pilgrims. In the reception of the poor and pilgrims the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because it is especially in them that Christ is received.”

2. Support organizations that work to provide jobs for people to make a living wage
When purchasing supplies and decorations for Retreat House, we will make every effort to make them through organizations like Feed My Starving Children, Trades of Hope, Thistle Farms, etc.

3. Partner and patronize other local, small business whenever possible
We will need services for maintaining the property, catering services, etc. We will start by looking at local, small businesses and whenever we are able, we will patronize them.

To accomplish our big, complete vision is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. The success of each tier will influence how soon we are able to begin working toward the next tier. We imagine it'll be at least 3-5 years between each tier. We hope to accomplish Tier One in 2017.

That is what Retreat House is. We're putting one foot in front of the other and seeing where doors open and God leads. 
Thank you for coming along for the ride! 
Let's see where it takes us!