On April 1st, 2018 Walnut Ridge turns a year old under Johnson management. It is absolutely amazing to look back and see the transformation the camp has undergone within its first year. Throughout the summer, we painted every single room on campus, cleaned every nook and cranny possible, and mowed for four hours every single week.
Needless to say, there was a lot of work to be done (and still to be done). Thankfully, our ministry is surrounded and supported by individuals who love to serve. We have had numerous volunteers donating their time, and some even donating money, in order to see the vision of this retreat center blossom and come into fruition.
And it has. We officially opened our doors to outside groups in June of 2017. From June to April, we had 42 groups utilize our facilities and we have another 26 scheduled so far through October. God has truly blessed our ministry and we can see him at work every week or weekend that we have a retreat group here. Whether it’s a youth, men’s, women’s or family retreat – God is present and active.
We have seen countless deep and meaningful conversations between group members. We have seen hundreds of people worshipping our Father in Willow Hall. We have seen meal after meal be served from the kitchen in the Hilltop Lodge. We have seen pure joy in each guest experiencing our facilities.
But what we truly see through every laugh, every praise, and every connection is our Creator. He created us to connect with one another and to connect with Him. There is no better place to get back to the root of connection than here at Walnut Ridge Christian Retreat Center, where His nature will lead your soul to rejuvenation through the Holy Spirit.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet water, He refreshes my soul.”
Psalm 23:2-3
Beyond our retreat schedule, we also hosted our first wedding. Not only was it absolutely gorgeous and flawless, but God brought in the masses. 250 people were able to witness a holy matrimony between two God-fearing individuals, right here, in the heart of Indiana. We are so excited to see the marriages God will bless as they begin their journeys together at Walnut Ridge. 1 down, 10 to go!
So, while amazing things have happened within our first year as a Christian retreat center in Indiana, I think it is safe to say that the best is yet to come. As we continue to serve various groups, our prayer is for God to meet them exactly where they are. Whether they are young adults, families, young kids, men, or women, our desire and prayer is for God to speak to them each individually and personally – in a way they have never experienced before.
We ask that you join us in prayer for every person who steps foot on Walnut Ridge. We thank you for partnering with us as we embark on this journey. We look forward to seeing you soon. We’ll meet you outside our Indiana Christian Retreat Center!