Silent Retreats
spacious silence for contemplation & Communion with God
“Solitude and silence can never be separated from the call to unceasing prayer... The Desert Fathers did not think of solitude as being alone, but as being alone with God. They did not think of silence as not speaking but as listening to God. Solitude and silence are the context within which prayer is practiced.”
– Henri Nouwen
Upcoming Retreats
Be Alone with God
Do you sometimes struggle, even subconsciously, with the idea that you can never do enough to truly satisfy yourself? Others? God? It’s easy to fall into the belief that exhaustion has value and that the busier we are, the more faithful we must be.
And yet, we know of Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and receive “rest for our souls” (Matthew 28:11-30) and that He often slipped away by Himself to pray.
There is a time-tested Christian rhythm of retreat with God in order to get re-centered — to let go of our attachments and attach ourselves to God alone. Do you sense this longing in yourself? Are you intrigued by the idea of getting away for a few days to “be still before the Lord”?
A Silent Retreat gives you the opportunity to:
Experience a spacious, non-structured retreat with extended periods of silence for waiting, listening, dreaming, watching, walking, and journaling;
Meet daily with a spiritual facilitator who will serve as a sounding board, offering perspective and prayerful discernment rather than advice. (This offering is optional.)
Allow unprocessed things in life – unresolved conversations, situations, and decisions to come to the forefront. Often what surfaces during the times of holy leisure and spiritual facilitation is profound and helpful in personal insight and focus and can move you in unexpected directions! And, perhaps nd the Lord raising you up and onto a spiritual place of rock-solid rmness for what lies before you.
Retreat Spiritual Directors
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Amy Consoli
Amy Consoli (B.S. CIS, Univ of Tampa) Following a 22-year corporate banking career, Amy felt led by God to pursue her passions in biblical discipleship, speaking and writing. She delights in walking alongside others in their desire to deeply know God. Her own transformational journey of healing and deeper intimacy with God led Amy to pursue Spiritual Direction. She received her training in Spiritual Direction from The School of Sustainable Faith, and works as a Spiritual Director at The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation in Roswell, GA. Amy is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction at Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA.
Amy went through the Battle for Your Heart process in 2015, which had a signicant impact on her marriage and life. She currently serves as a retreat speaker and facilitator. She is also a volunteer contributor to Wellspring Group materials and workshops. Amy lives in Roswell, GA with her husband, Rob, where she attends Fellowship Bible Church.
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Corbett Heimburger
Corbett Heimburger (DMin, MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary) With 30 years' experience as a pastor and coordinator of church planting, he currently serves as Pastor for Care at Greentree Community Church, St. Louis, MO.
He has served as a spiritual director for the past three years. His journey into this ministry began in 2014 during his first five-day silent retreat that was organized by Wellspring and led by Terry Mitchell. Terry's spiritual direction during the retreat helped create a sensitivity to hearing God through nature and the Holy Spirit. He is honored to be able to walk with others in their spiritual journeys.
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Ben Melancon
I am on a journey of learning to fellowship with our Maker, finding lasting satisfaction and purpose in this life and for eternity. Many long for this communion but often do not know how to cultivate this consistently. I enjoy helping people cultivate this fellowship so they can find lasting satisfaction and purpose in their journey in this life and for eternity.
At the end of college at the University of Georgia, I began to earnestly seek Jesus. This led me into full time ministry at the International House of Prayer Atlanta (now Gate City Church) as an intercessory missionary. I have been on staff here since 2005. During these years, the Holy Spirit has and is teaching me how to abide in Jesus. As time passed, people began to suggest spiritual direction to me, affirming a gifting in this, though I was unfamiliar with the term. With some counsel, I attended a two year training in spiritual formation called Transforming Center.
In 2013, I went through Wellspring’s Battle for your heart process. I am presently a retreat speaker and facilitator and now help with spiritual direction at Wellspring silent retreats.
I live in Lawrenceville, Georgia with my wife and two young children as I continue on staff at Gate City Church. I enjoy being out in creation, reading, and spending time with my family.
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Terry Mitchell
Terry Mitchell, Ph.D. is currently ministering in Atlanta, Georgia at Soul Care as a consultant, life coach and spiritual director as well as being part of Wellspring Group’s church consulting team. Terry and Larry Bolden developed and presented the first Wellspring Group retreat in November 2003. Since that start he has taught and facilitated in over 50 Battle for Men and Women’s Hearts and Engaging the Heart retreats in the US and abroad. He and his wife, Dot, live in Norcross, Georgia.
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Hannah Stevens
Hannah is honored and delighted to serve as a Spiritual Director at the Wellspring Silent Retreat. She has been immersed in the wonderful world of Spiritual Formation since 2018. She is on the tail end of completing her Master’s in Spiritual Formation and Direction at Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta. Hannah and her husband Hazen have served as staff members at GateCity Church and House of Prayer since 2007. There they have been trained in a lifestyle of prayer, contemplation, discernment, and walking with the Spirit. Hannah is passionate about coming alongside people on their spiritual journey and helping them experience where God is and what He’s up to. She loves looking for the fingerprints of God in the simple and mundane moments of life. Hannah completed her personal Wellspring battle process in 2014 and the marriage track in 2018. She volunteers as a facilitator and speaker at Wellspring retreats. Hannah resides in Lawrenceville, GA, with her husband and four treasures (ages 11, 7, 6, and 5). In moments of rest, Hannah can be found sitting on mossy rocks outdoors, getting her hands dirty gardening, or getting lost in imaginary worlds with her children.
Hearing from Past Participants
“The silence was very refreshing. The freedom to be led by God through the day was a real blessing—to wander and roam and just hang out with Him equaled restoration.”
“This retreat has been life-altering. The intense presence of God revealed through His words, His creation, and His people has been beautiful and freeing. To hear His voice of love and affirmation about who He says I am gives me the boldness to walk fully surrendered to His calling on my life.”
“I feel like this was a special moment in my relationship with God. I experienced freedom and liberation that I desperately needed.”
“I arrived running on empty. I leave with my heart more restful and at peace. I have been given a taste of the “living water” and experienced refreshment.”
“I am leaving more aware, more firm and steadfast. I think I leave here less distracted. The opportunity for fruit has grown in my ministry.”
“A pivotal week, rich with personal communion with the Living God. Gave me a deeper awareness of the richness of God's presence and the power of his words. Life changing. It's spurred me to a renewed pursuit of his presence and Word.”