Known: 2026 Gathering of Silence Retreat

Ministers like me have quoted parts or all of First Corinthians 13 at many weddings. You know the routine: love is patient, kind, this and that, and not that or the other. But of all the things we have, faith, hope, and love are the remaining three. Of them, love is the most important. Some clergy readers may have recited the whole chapter from memory while reading those last two sentences.

Each year, ministry leaders from around Virginia (and occasionally, from elsewhere) gather at Crossroads Camp and Conference Center in Lowesville, VA, for a time of respite, renewal, or just plain ol' rejuvenation. I provide devotional materials and serve as a spiritual guide and coach to anyone interested.

This year's theme is plucking a verse out of the familiar passage mentioned above. I'm looking at verse 12, "For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known" (NRSVUE).

On the mountain, we experience a lot of silence. It is the perfect environment to hear the still, small voice of the One who has known us most deeply all of our lives. On the mountain, we experience a truly thin place, where God can speak, listen, lead, comfort, or hug. Whatever you need the most, God will be most happy to share with you there.

Mark your calendars now for October 12-15. Registration is done through me at Peptalk Ministries. Registration is open now and will remain open until September 30th. Registration is simple: email me at dave@peptalkministries.com. Sponsorship dollars will dramatically reduce your costs, and we will work out those details later. Trust me, your wallet won't take much of a hit. Your heart and soul, however, will receive tremendous gain.

Come join us on the mountain this October, and have a fresh encounter with the One who has fully known you.