ANONYMOUS
"I walked into this weekend carrying a heavy mix of nerves, fear, and uncertainty, not knowing what to expect but trying my best to stay open-minded. From the very moment we arrived, any anxiety disappeared. Troy and Amy welcomed us with open arms into an environment completely free of judgment, where I felt truly safe, heard, and supported. Having the entire retreat be completely private just for the two of us gave me the security I needed to let down my guard, rather than holding back or staying reserved like I normally would around strangers.
The personal, spiritual foundation set the tone immediately. Visualizing the '100-pound backpack' made me realize how much weight I had been carrying that was never mine to bear, and I learned to hand over the things I cannot fix for my wife directly to Jesus. Resting on Psalm 62:7 and Jeremiah 2:13 showed me that Christ is the only one who can truly fill my cup, and that my selfish habits were leading nowhere. Diving into our identity in Christ was life-changing; I had been letting lies cloud my mind every single day, and learning to replace the lie of 'I am a failure when I make mistakes' with the truth that 'I am a new creation' completely rewired how I view myself. Failure is merely an event, not my identity, and Christ is enough.
When we moved into repentance, God challenged me to look at the plank in my own eye and stop hiding behind passive apologies. I realized I was expecting things from my wife while failing to put in the effort to meet her needs. It led me to make a real 180-degree pivot: learning to lower my voice, speak softly, stay present instead of shutting down, and fully own my 100% without demanding anything in return.
The communication tools we received gave me practical ways to walk that out without feeling overwhelmed. As someone who often struggles to find the right words, reflective listening was tough at first, but it completely changed how I listen to my wife. Getting to hear how she truly feels without interruptions has transformed my posture. Offering simple presence by asking, 'Are you looking for solutions right now, or do you just need me to listen?' has taken massive pressure off both of us. Combining that with 'I' statements and establishing our timeout code word gave us a game plan to fight for unity instead of letting tension drive us apart. In fact, we faced a conflict right after returning home, but having these tools allowed us to attack the problem together as one flesh rather than letting the enemy get a foothold.
Saturday evening delivered moments of deep healing that I will never forget. Sitting through worship, meditating on the lyrics, and then writing out our ledgers and watching the papers burn in the fire gave me chills and brought me to tears. Physically seeing our debts destroyed made releasing the past real, and it’s a practice I want to keep alive in our marriage. Praying out loud over my wife, praying over our family legacy, and hearing her speak prayers over me anchored our home in a deep peace that I had never felt before.
The hospitality went far above and beyond. Chef Troy was a master on the Blackstone, every meal tasted incredible and was clearly prepared with genuine love, and the private wooded setting made for a true retreat. The personal touches—from the personalized Bibles with our names and messages engraved on the back, to the Craig Groeschel book, the journals I still write in, and the handwritten cards—showed just how much prayer and intentionality went into every detail.
Because I tend to struggle with consistency, knowing that we have the 12-week mentorship follow-up ahead gives me the structure and accountability I need so these new habits take root permanently. I left this weekend truly changed, and I recommend this intensive without hesitation to any couple wanting genuine spiritual breakthrough and restoration."
