February Men’s

Abide Retreat

February 24-27, 2026

Johnson City, Tennessee

Apply for Registration

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Withdraw & Abide

Throughout all four Gospels, we see Jesus repeatedly withdrawing to the wilderness to be alone with His Father. Our retreats are designed to follow this example.

The Abide Retreats are held on a peaceful 30-acre horse farm in East Tennessee.

As you spend time in God’s creation, we intentionally cultivate an atmosphere where Christ is at the center of everything we do.

What to Expect

  • Group teachings rooted in God’s Word

  • Solitude for prayer, worship, and meeting with Jesus

  • Free time—hike, read, work out, play games, or simply rest. This is where friendships grow and souls are refreshed.

  • Great food

  • New friendships

Most importantly: You will encounter Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, His Word, and through His people.

Forced overtime, training during time off, court obligations, deployments, and traumatic calls. Such are the demands of your profession. You experience exhaustion on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. We are designed for rest, yet many of us struggle to apply it to our lives.

What does it mean to find rest in Christ? How can we apply this promise to our life? Our upcoming Spring Abide Retreat aims to delve into God's Word, guiding you to discover His promise for rest and peace in your life.

Our retreats are uniquely designed by current and former first responders and military members to meet the specific needs of our profession and calling.

What Guests say after attending a retreat

  • 94% of guests felt more hopeful about their future after leaving a retreat.

  • 93% of guests felt a renewed sense of purpose in their callings.

  • 95% of guests reported that their relationship with Jesus deepened.

  • 100% of guests would recommend an ETL retreat to friends

FAQs

  • Our retreats are free of charge thanks to our incredible donors.

  • 10 total

  • This is a men’s retreat for first responders (current and former), members of the military, and veterans.

  • The two closest airports are Asheville, NC and Tri-Cities, TN. If you are planning on flying in we may be able to assist with transportation.

  • Guests stay in a shared bunk rooms with their own private bunks.

  • We take the sanctity and security of our retreats very seriously. The application process allows us to verify each guest before they receive their spot.

  • If you have any further questions or just want to chat, email Josh Cook at josh@enterthelion.co

Itinerary

Wednesday

1600hrs: Check-In (Flexible for guests traveling)

1800hrs: Dinner

1900hrs: Bonfire

Thursday

0900hrs: Retreat Kickoff/Session 1

1100hrs: Solitude Time

1200hrs: Small Groups

1230hrs: Lunch

1330hrs: Free Time

1600hrs: Session 2

1800hrs: Dinner

1700hrs: Worship Night

Friday

0900hrs: Session 3

1100hrs: Solitude Time

1200hrs: Small Groups

1230hrs: Lunch

1330hrs: Free Time

1600hrs: Session 4

1800hrs: Dinner

1900hrs: Retreat Closing

Saturday

1000hrs: Send-Off

The retreat is just the beginning. Lasting growth happens through continued community, accountability, and intentional next steps.

Following each retreat, every guest has access to:

  • Four one-on-one follow-up calls with an ETL team member to process what was learned, discuss challenges, and develop a plan for continued growth.

  • Three Corral gatherings—small group online meetings with fellow retreat alumni that provide encouragement, accountability, and a place to continue walking together.

  • Ongoing ETL Alumni Community with opportunities for Bible studies, prayer, webinars, and future events to help you stay connected.

Our goal isn't simply to provide a meaningful weekend; we want to equip men to continue pursuing Christ long after they leave the retreat.

After the Retreat

See you This Winter

Check out some of the testimonies and highlights from last years retreat!