Oklahoma Christian University Counseling Center is hosting the seventh annual Growing Healthy Relationship Retreat for seriously dating, engaged and married couples.
According to Oklahoma Christian Counselor Brenda Gunter, the yearly retreat helps couples to develop better relationship skills and a stronger Christian relationship with one another.
Gunter is an organizer for the retreat.
“The goal of it is for couples to build a stronger relationship – a stronger Christian relationship,” Gunter said. “It’s a really good thing.”
The retreat alternates the focus every year between communication and conflict resolution.
Oklahoma Christian alumna and Resident Director Megan Reed attended the 2013 and 2014 retreats with her now fiance, Riley Hansen.
“They give you lots of little practical advice,” Reed said. “Some of the things they told us was go on a date every week and be intentional about talking about your relationship and not just about other stuff that’s going on.”
This year the theme of the retreat is Healthy Conflict: Key to Intimacy, and will be broken into four sessions covering key healthy relationship topics such as defining true love, establishing effective communication, healthy conflict management and building a Christ-centered relationship.
Each retreat features a guest married couple who leads the sessions.
“The thing I like is I know the couple coming this year to speak together,” Gunter said. “I think that’s really helpful to both the guys and girls attending the retreat.”
Cary and Tracy Balzer will be this year’s couple speakers.
Cary is an associate professor in the Division of Biblical Studies at John Brown University, and Tracy is the director of Christian Formation at John Brown University. Both Cary and Tracy are published authors of religious books.
The retreat also incorporates games and activities for the couples.
“We also do games with couples where they work together as a couple,” Gunter said. “It’s usually a lot of fun.”
Reed said the retreat is especially beneficial, and she encourages seriously dating, engaged or married couples to consider attending.
“It was some really great intentional time for us to think about how we’re doing as a couple while listening to someone who knows about that,” Reed said. “You need that time to have intentional conversations.”
The retreat is on Oct. 23 from 5:30-9 p.m. and Oct. 24 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
This event is free to all Oklahoma Christian students. All couples attending the retreat will be asked to commit to attend a follow-up date night on Nov. 19 in order to check up on the strategies developed during the retreat.
To register for the retreat and for more information email Delene Brewer.
“I think it’s really helpful in learning how to communicate with each other and be on the same page with each other,” Gunter said. “It really allows couples to build a strong Christian relationship.”
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