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What did
the men who participated in the first year say about M4D?
Today's Emerging Christian Church is looking for exactly what Oasis
Ministries offers through M4D. Those of us in our second half of
life look to a program like M4D that teaches us through our lived
experience how to find the God who longs to be in our lives as
wisdom for us Elders. I was able to become friends with a new God
who spoke to me through his world of nature and our community of
Christian men.
***
The course of my life has been positively altered thanks to the year
spent in Men4Direction. I expect the impact to continually unfold as
I put into practice lessons learned and discovered. The men with men
experience was profound.
~Roland Stock
***
M4D provided a focused opportunity to rethink and renew my
relationship with God. Using the four directions as metaphor and
providing experiences available in nature were powerful ways to
better understand this relationship.
~Jim Herbert
***
The
experiential component was significant as it had the effect of
opening us to ourselves and each other. Too often, it is
particularly easy for men to "hide" behind ideas or opinions. The
exercises and practices drew us out personally and as a group.
***
Clearly, the liminal space that Joel provided was key to this
spiritual retreat. He is a master spiritual teacher and guide and I
truly felt honored to share in this journey with him. Being in
nature (as opposed to ways to avoid it) and sharing this spiritual
journey with other men of similar age was quite different from most
"spiritual retreats." Clearly, the brothers' willingness to be
vulnerable with one another helped me with some of the issues that I
struggle with as well.
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Share with a Friend -
download a
one-page flyer about the M4D program
download
a brochure with application (.pdf)
View Video made from our
inaugural year
by participant, Rich Sayers
(with Gary Jacabella on flute)
~
Men4Directions
~
An OASIS Ministry to Men
Curious?
View bibliography(.pdf)
Men4Directions
is a
renewable year-long program* of Oasis Ministries intended to help
men grow in faith, self-awareness, and spiritual wholeness. The
program includes small group community, quarterly retreats, and
solo-time in the wilderness to engage with Spirit and Soul.
* In an effort
to deepen community and foster long-term growth, participants are
welcome and encouraged to continue on the M4D journey in subsequent
years. While cyclical, the M4D model may also be thought of as an
on-going spiral allowing us to descend to new heights together.
Participants are given the option of reregistering at the start of
each year.
Seasonal Retreats in July,
October, February and May
Did you miss the opening in July?
It's not too late to sign up.
Click here to learn more
Why Men? We can all use help finding our way from time
to time. Men are no different. Men need the support of one another
to be honest and real about life. Through small group discussions,
monthly consultation with a "spiritual brother", and contemplative
practice, men are encouraged to know themselves, listen to the still
small voice within, and to honor their souls.
The result just might be changed lives and a new world.
Why 4 Directions? The directions refer to east, south, west,
and north— compass points along our journeys. It’s not a linear
approach, but a circular path that honors the rhythms of life. The
cycle of the day, too, is acknowledged: morning, noon, evening, and
night; four seasons of each day, a life-time in the making.
Here, then, is what we offer:
A Year To Grow—4 Seasonal Gatherings, A Commitment to
basic practices in-between, and a wilderness Vision Quest.
4 Seasonal Gatherings
Gathering
1 Looking SOUTH at vitality, the heat of the day, imagination
Gathering
2 Looking WEST at our shadows, the dark side of our lives,
mystery, soul
Gathering 3 Looking
NORTH at wisdom, the stillness of winter, competence, and
strength.
Gathering 4 Looking EAST toward new beginnings, the advent of
life, the rising of the sun, birth and rebirth—a contemporary
version of a vision quest will accompany this final gathering—a
24-hour fast and solo experience in the wilderness.
4 Commitments that Make it Happen
-
Covenant - a promise among brothers to study, pray, share,
and grow together for one year.
-
Community -quarterly retreats in the woods to listen,
discuss, and discern with others (in between times will be
bolstered by one-on-one elder mentoring and peer support)
-
Contemplation – a commitment to the regular practice of
silence and solitude (nature)
-
Compassion—serving others in some way on a regular basis
between the meetings
Interested?
View bibliography
(.pdf)
Express your interest in
participating in M4D by contacting
betsykeller@oasismin.org; 717-737-8222
Download
a brochure with application (.pdf)
Share with a Friend -
download a
one-page flyer about the M4D program
View
Seasonal Readings Visually
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Location:
Krislund Camp & Conference Center (www.krislund.org)
89 Krislund Drive
PO Box 116
Madisonburg, PA 16852
814-422-8878
On 1902 acres of scenic mountain valley land,
Krislund is located 7 miles south of exit #173 on Interstate 80 and
21 miles east of State College.
Meetings will be held at Krislund's newly remodeled Upper Lodge. |
Retreat Dates:
July 16-17, 2011
(2pm Saturday - 11am Sunday)
October 21-22, 2011
(6pm Friday - 3pm Saturday)
February 17-18, 2012
(6pm Friday - 3pm Saturday)
May 18-21, 2012
(6pm Friday - 11am Monday)
Leadership:
Joel Blunk,
Associate Pastor at State College
Presbyterian Church (State College, PA) and graduate of Oasis
Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program.
Questions? contact Joel Blunk
(814) 238-2422, State College, PA
onejtb@gmail.com |
TUITION PER YEAR: $750
Plus
Application fee of $100 (non-refundable after program begins) sent with
registration form.
If
application fee received by May 18:
discount $50
from application fee
If
application fee received after June 15:
add
$50 to application fee
The balance of tuition
may be paid in full at any time, or may be paid in five equal
installments of $150 in July, September, November, January, and March.
(Some scholarship assistance available. Call to inquire.)
Participants are asked to pay for and attend all
sessions.
Payments by MasterCard, Visa and Discover are welcome.
If
withdrawing your application from the program, the Application fee less
$50 is refundable if withdrawing prior to July 1, 2010.
To register, send the following information along
with payment to
Betsy Keller (betsykeller@oasismin.org)
Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development
419 Deerfield Road
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Name_____________________________________________
Home Phone
(___) _____________
Work Phone (___) _____________
EMAIL:____________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________________________________
CITY/TOWN __________________________ STATE __________ ZIP
__________
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
____________________________________
I HAVE A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR (His/Her NAME)
_______________________________
[] DESIRE A SUGGESTION FOR A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Enclose APPLICATION FEE ($100)
(check payable to “Oasis Ministries” OR VISA / MC/DISCOVER also
welcomed)
VISA/MC/DISCOVER #
_________________________________________
EXP. DATE ___/___ 3-digit SEC. CODE (on back of card) _______
Please attach a short statement
(approximately one page,
single-spaced)
answering:
1. What prompts your interest in this
program?
2. What specifically do you hope to gain from the program?
3. What readings and personal experiences have influenced your
understanding of spiritual guidance?
4. Include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of one, or more,
persons whom you’ve asked to be supportive of you throughout this
process.
Please ask each supporter, as a “reference,” to write and send to the
Oasis office a brief statement sharing how he/she thinks this program is
right for you. (You may give them a copy of this brochure.)
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