As one the components of the F.E.W.S (Fellowship, Education, Worship, and Service), education is crucial when helping foster the spiritual growth of youth and young adults. Everyday they are bombarded with questions from themselves and society, and often they don't know where to turn for answers. The youth of the Church need to take time out to be able to refocus on their lives and their faith, to engage in fellowship with other Orthodox Christians their age, and to talk about issues they are experiencing and what those issues mean to them.  The following are some ideas for retreat topics.   The Asterisks (*) denote those retreats which are listed Retreat Outlines sections:

1.  Journey is a weekend retreat designed to provide participants with the opportunity to strengthen and develop a healthy Christian outlook.  The topics of discussion in Journey show how life is a journey no matter what lifestyle you lead.  This retreat also explores very important Christian ideals such as:  worship, discipleship, service, stewardship, and fellowship.  There is also a portion of the outline of this retreat that is dedicated to involving participants in actual service to others outside the retreat.  This service might be used as work towards a service award.

 2. Passages:  This retreat is designed to be an overnight event.  It is based on the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, when he said, “When I was a child I thought like a child.  When I became a man I gave up childish ways.”  The purpose of Passages is to challenge the participants to acknowledge the growth they’ve experienced in their lives; to explore and clarify their values and attitudes; to accept themselves and others as unique individuals beloved by God and others; and to transform their values and attitudes into an active, Christ-centered lifestyle. 

 3. God's Time is a retreat outline that emphasizes the importance of individual and Christian values and appreciating other peoples values.  The need for friendship, and God’s love and friendship for us are also a part of Kairos.  It is important at all stages throughout life to attempt to understand the love that God has for us and how great it truly is.  This retreat also provides a forum for discussing ways that we can show our love for God as well.  The ideals of this retreat also point out the fact that we need to explore how we sometimes do not always respond as we should to God’s love for us. 

4.  The Way Christians are supposed to live in obedience to God and in love for all including enemies is the focus for this retreat. 

 5. Choices:    There is a copy of this retreat in this resource.  Some of the things included in this discussion are:  an in depth look at the things that go into decision-making, giving emphasis to important things to think about as Orthodox Christians in this process; identifying major choices that participants will have to be making in their lives; recognizing how our choices affect our lives and the lives of those around us; defining synergy and applying it to Christian life; and applying biblical  ideas of love and service to their relationships with others. 

6. Legacy: Explore all the things each of us receives in our lives (the good and the difficult) in terms of stewardship and what we should and can do with it.

7.   Expectations:  Discuss “Expectations” for the future (i.e. next year of school, college years, relocating of household, financial needs versus wants) and how all of these things impact our outlook of life.  In what way does each of these things have meaning for an Orthodox Christian?  Be sure to mention the need for salvation and have people share what they might think this is.

 8.   Prayer:      Help participants realize possible growth in their personal prayer life.  How might they be praying already and not realize it?  Why is prayer important?  Explain prayer as a life force and a life long struggle and what its goal is: communion with God.  Brainstorm with all present on how each might further develop a sense of God in their daily lives, especially in times and places where perhaps they might find themselves forgetting:  at school, while shopping or taking care of chores, at work, while hanging out with friends.

9.   Lives of Saints:     Discuss the continuity of Saints of the early Church and Saints throughout the history of the Church down to the present day.  Focus on Saints that the Youth identify with:  St. Peter the Aleut, St. Innocent, St. Herman.  Also talk about those more contemporary they may not have heard of, and what their lives were like.  Discuss how the saints are with us every Liturgy and why they are examples for us to follow.

10.  Spiritual Time Management:  Emphasize the balance of life and how our faith is supposed to permeate into every part of our lives.  Describe how the youth of Church are called to be witnesses for Christ, just like the adults of the Church.  Encourage participants to read spiritual books in their spare time.  Give some examples of books you find helpful and how they help you.  Express the need for developing an active relationship with God. Empasize the importance of having an ongoing relationship with a spiritual father to guide them in their spiritual journey.

11. Orthodox Christianity: Not Just One of the Others:     Compare and contrast Orthodox doctrine and practice with other faith traditions including Christian denominations and other world religions.  Discuss the "pros and cons" of each, emphasizing while life as an Orthodox Christian may be difficult, it is the only way that truly makes sense. Discuss possible ways of living in peaceful respect for other peoples religious lives and still pursuing an Orthodox Christian life without compromising their own faith.  As part of this retreat it might be helpful to teach the traditional understanding of Orthodox hierarchy and how world Orthodoxy in its structure is multiethnic and diverse yet still Christ centered.

12. Illumine our Hearts: The Need for Scripture in Our Lives:        From an historical standpoint be sure to explain how the Church wrote the Bible and clarify that the Bible did not create the Church.  Discuss how for Jesus and the writers of the New Testament the "scriptures where the books of the Old Testament and what is currently known as the "apocrypha." Discuss and practice reading Scripture pointing out how it can have positive affect on daily life.  Work with people who have always wanted to read the Epistle or Hours in Church, but have been too shy to ask or have just never gotten a chance.  After the retreat, see about holding classes to teach reading in Church.  Check with your parish priest.  

13. Vocations:  As a resource be sure to review the study unit "God is Calling You: Exploring Your Place in God's Plan" which focuses on both ordained and non-ordained vocations. Mention the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and discuss how we might better fulfill this.  What are we called to be?  Also talk about God’s gift of life to us as a talent that we are called to increase. 

14. Self Esteem:  What does self-esteem mean to Orthodox Christians?  While we are called to value the precious gift of life given to us by God, we are called also to acknowledge that apart from God we are nothing.  Discuss how it is possible to live life as a servant of Christ in all humility and still get along in life.  Explore, in an attempt to get to the heart of the matter, what humility truly is.  Give examples of what might be considered false humility and how it is being or acting apart from one’s true nature.  Allow participants to explain in their own words why this might be harmful to people, and even to themselves.  Explore some ways that one might repent from this sinful state. 

15. Freedom:  Explain how rights and responsibilities of life are interdependent upon each other (if someone has the right to life then we are responsible for allowing them that right).  Though we are free we are bound to acknowledge our servitude to our fellow man.  Who is our fellow man?  What does it mean to be free?  Our Lord said, “then you will know the truth and it will set you free.”  Explore ways that it might be understandable that the only way to truly be free is to totally give one’s self up to the service of Christ and his Holy Orthodox Church.

16. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness:      What does this part of the US Constitution mean for us as American Orthodox Christians?  While these things are good, they are not an excuse for hedonistic pursuit of pleasure.  Discuss what happiness is and why it is necessary, and/or if it is truly necessary, for our well being.  Explore what the similarities and differences might be of being content, and being happy.  Does God love people who are unhappy?

17. Serving Others:  Since Christ came to serve and not to be served what does this mean for us?  Have all participants assist in listing examples of ways in which they all might better serve their fellow man.  Explore situations in which it might be difficult to serve someone or to be nice to him or her.  Discuss how true service is that which comes from the heart.

18. College Life 101:  While we may not have the all the answers, for people looking forward in the not too distant future, curious of what college life will be like, we can help prepare them for some of the unique challenges it may pose to them. Where and how often will I be able to make it to Church?  Talk about OCF and how it might help them stay in touch with the Church.  Have college students level with those preparing for college. 

19. Holy Icons:   In life, especially Christian life it is necessary to have the proper perspective.  It makes all the difference in the world.  Discuss how it is important to have the right perspective of others.  Show how it is important to look and relate to our fellow man as an icon of Christ and what this means for us. 

20. Organization:  Discuss organizing life in terms of sacramental participation more deeply and more often.  Explain how more and deeper participation in the sacraments helps us to come closer to Christ.  Explore how forming and maintaining a rule of prayer to aids us in preparing to participate in the Sacraments of the Church.  Also talk about how these aids in preparation are not mere formality, nor are they rigid standards in which we are to enslave ourselves.

21. Philosophies: Point out various ancient philosophies and their teachings:  Platonism, Aristotelianism; and in modern days:  Nihilism.  Discuss how these may or may not be healthy perspectives for Orthodox Spiritual life.  Talk about the meaning of the word philosophy (love of wisdom) and how this is pertinent for Christian living.  Highlight scriptural references to wisdom:  Proverbs, Psalms, Gospels; and explore what this tells us about our Lord.  Discuss the life of Justin Martyr and his understanding of philosophy and Christianity.  Have participants share with one another what they think wisdom is.  Come to conclusions that explain how it is possible for one to live a Christian lifestyle from birth till death as one who is, “wise as a serpent and yet as harmless as a dove.”