Written by David Sexton on February 2, 2024.
The 2024 Alliance Bible Fellowship Men’s Retreat was held at Fort Caswell in Oak Island, NC, January 19-21, 2024. The weather at Fort Caswell was sunny, windy, and cold, but the fellowship and bonfire were warm, the coffee was strong, and the conversations were deep.
Fort Caswell is on a huge property situated on the site of an old military fort, located on a beautiful peninsula at the junction of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The accommodations were mostly bunk rooms, allowing for more relationships to form (in spite of the professional snoring.) The cafeteria was a good place to meet and eat. The food was plentiful and the servers were friendly. We enjoyed varied Saturday afternoon activities on campus and in the surrounding area.
Our theme for the retreat was Courageous Men. Pastor Mike Shellman did a wonderful job with each of our sessions, listed below:
Session 1: Courageous Men Stay Ready
Session 2: Courageous Men Stand Firm in the Faith
Session 3: Courageous Men Find Strength through God
Session 4: Courageous Men Do it all in Love
After each session, our men broke into small groups to discuss and apply what they had just heard. (Thank you to our small group leaders.)
Throughout the weekend, Jacan Ward, Jimmy Finch, and David Crank led us in song as we joyfully sang praises to our God. The worship was loud and powerful. The chapel was perfect as our voices resonated off the walls and the pitched wooden ceiling.
Thanks to God for safety as we traveled. Many thanks to our wives and families for encouraging us to attend, even as the snowstorm was approaching. Thanks to our church leaders and staff for their tremendous support.
If you weren’t able to attend this year, we have a spot for you next year. You will be blessed by the teaching and the fellowship and will benefit from the opportunity to form new relationships with the men of Alliance.