Ages 11-18 · Book 6, Faith · 4,299 places

Youth Retreat

A weekend retreat built around one question: what do you do when you are the only one like you in the room. Sessions, free time, and a Sunday that does not evaporate by Wednesday.

Built on Ellis Abel and the Disciple — “Difference isn't weakness. It's a gift.” The story carries the value; your church supplies the doctrine.

The five sessions

Session 1
Day one: the story, and the question the week will answer
Session 2
Day two: the hard moment, and a challenge nobody finishes first try
Session 3
Day three: the difference in the room that turns out to be the asset
Session 4
Day four: serve someone outside the group and say nothing about it
Session 5
Day five: each camper names the step they take home on Monday

Questions leaders ask

Does youth retreat in your area teach a particular denomination?

No. Ellis Abel is a character series built on named values — belonging, courage, accountability, self-mastery, empathy and faith. Book six treats faith as the choice to move forward while it is still hard. The story carries the value; your church supplies the doctrine. That is why the same material is used across traditions.

What ages does this work for?

Ages 11-18. The story is read aloud, so a child who cannot read yet is still fully in it, and the discussion questions are written in two bands so one leader can hold a mixed-age room.

Can volunteers in your area run this without training?

Yes. Every session has a leader script with the questions written out, a note for when nobody answers, and a timing column. A volunteer handed it the night before can run it.

How long is a session?

Thirty to forty-five minutes, structured as story, small group, and one step the child names out loud before they leave.

The rules that make it work

The story carries the value, the church supplies the doctrine

Ellis Abel is a character series. It teaches faith as perseverance and stops where doctrine begins, so a parish, a Baptist club and a co-op can all run it beside their own teaching.

Difference isn't weakness

The line on the cover of book six is the operating policy, not a slogan. A child whose participation looks different is participating.

Faith is a decision, not a mood

Children are told to feel confident and cannot make themselves. They can decide to take one more step, and that is teachable, repeatable and honest.

Volunteers are the constraint

Every session is written for an adult who was handed it the night before. Questions written out, timing in the margin, and a note for when nobody answers.