Spring Abide Retreat

April 30th - May 3, 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

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.

Withdraw & Abide

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

Thursday

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

1800hrs: Dinner

1900hrs: Bonfire

Friday

0800hrs: Optional Group Workout

0900hrs: Retreat Kickoff/Group Session 1

1100hrs: Solitude with Jesus

1230hrs: Lunch

1330hrs: Group Session 2

1430hrs: Free Time

1800hrs: Dinner

1700hrs: Mountain-Top Worship Night

Saturday

0800hrs: Group Prayer Hike

1000hrs: Group Session 3

1100hrs: Solitude with Jesus

1200hrs: Lunch

1300hrs: Session 4

1400hrs: Free Time

1800hrs: Dinner

2000hrs: Bonfire

Sunday

1000hrs: Retreat Closing

See you This Spring.

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