Deeper Journey

Deeper Journey is a two-year, eight-retreat experience held at Sandy Cove Christian Conference & Retreat Center located on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland in conjunction with CrossPoint Ministry. It provides a comprehensive Christian spiritual formation experience in light of the unique challenges of life and ministry in the 21st century. The eight, quarterly retreat series offers an integrated approach of biblical theology and Christian psychology within a worshiping community. Each retreat highlights at least one spiritual discipline and provides space for the engagement of the discipline.

Deeper Journey is well suited for committed believers already familiar with Scripture and the foundations of the faith. The worship is simple, the teaching is rigorous, the small groups stretch our emotional capacity and relational skills, and the personal time challenges our preconceived notions, inviting us to experience our relationship with the Triune God in new ways. Deeper Journey is both a time of retreat and a training program to develop faith sustaining rhythms for life in Christ, alongside the transformed and transforming presence of others, while intentionally engaging spiritual practices.

Deeper Journey is designed for those who are serious about nurturing and protecting their souls. If this is what you desire and can give a day and a half every three months, we invite you to let us know of your interest in the next Deeper Journey community!

Deeper Journey 4 with Brett & Susan Payne

2025: April 6-7; June 8-9; October 12-13

2026: January 18-19; March 29-30; June 7-8; October 11-12

2027: January 17-18

Arrival starts at 2pm on Sunday, with the first session beginning promptly at 3pm. Last session ends at 5:30pm on Monday. Attendance at all eight retreats is expected and refunds for missed retreats are not guaranteed.

Tuition: Individual Room is $3,000 and a double room is $2,400 per person. In addition there is a one time registration fee of $100.

Retreat #1 – Essential Dimensions of the Soul in Spiritual Formation – Explores foundational dimensions of the soul’s formation in Christ.
Spiritual Disciplines: Silence & Solitude

Retreat #2 – The Voice of God in Spiritual Formation – Examines the role of Scripture in formation and the challenge of truly listening to the voice of God.
Spiritual Discipline: Contemplative Reading of Scripture

Retreat #3 – Communion with God in Spiritual Formation – Attends to the gift of communion with God with an emphasis on the role of prayer in formation.
Spiritual Discipline: Meditative & Contemplative Prayer

Retreat #4 – The Necessity of Self-Clarity in Spiritual Formation – Explores the invitation for a deeper self-understanding in Christ through the use of the Enneagram. Attention is given to the dynamics of personality in formation.
Spiritual Discipline: Examen

Retreat #5 – Stages of Life and Faith in Spiritual Formation – Explores Christian maturity through the lens of human and spiritual development.
Spiritual Discipline: Awareness

Retreat #6 – The Role of Desire in Spiritual Formation – Explores the importance and necessity of desire in the journey of transformation.
Spiritual Discipline: Discernment

Retreat #7 – Rhythms of Life in Spiritual Formation – Attends to the need of formulating a rhythm of spiritual practices that honors God, nourishes the soul and blesses others.
Spiritual Disciplines: Simplicity & Sabbath

Retreat #8 – Sustaining the Journey of Spiritual Formation – Provides a summary overview of the previous seven retreats with an emphasis on elements needed to sustain a personal journey of Christian spiritual formation.
Spiritual Disciplines: Gratitude & Rule of Life