One Thing – Men's Retreat
Men ages 18+
Fri, Oct 20 & Sat, Oct 21, 2023
Pineywoods Camp & Retreat Center
About the Speakers · Schedule · Activities · Cost & Lodging · Scholarships · FAQs
Men! We are excited to gather from all campuses of Houston’s First for our Men’s Retreat this fall! A lot has happened in the world and in our lives since our last retreat in 2019. We are eager and prayerfully expectant for all the Lord has in store for us at the 2023 Men’s Retreat!
The retreat’s theme is “One Thing”, and it’s based on Philippians 1:27. As Christians we are charged to stand firm together in our faith and live worthy of the gospel. This retreat we will unpack what that looks like for us men in our communities, work, and family. Join with other men for an action-packed time of adventure, inspiration, connection, and worship. This retreat is for men 18 years and older from any of our campuses – and guests, too.
Retreat speakers are:
- Pastor Gregg Matte, Senior Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist
- Pastor Malcolm Marshall, Campus Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist – Sienna
- Pastor Jason Swiggart, Campus Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist – Cypress
Plus, a bonus Saturday morning session with Pastor Leon Brooks, Campus Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist – Downtown!
Worship led by Chris Colee
About Pastor Gregg Matte
Gregg Matte is the senior pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church.
Before coming to Houston in 2004, Gregg founded Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University — the largest college Bible study in the nation.
In addition to his role as senior pastor at Houston's First, Gregg serves on the Boards of Houston Christian High School and Breakaway Ministries. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Houston Christian University, and has served as Chairman of the Board, as well. He is also the author of several books and devotionals.
Gregg married Kelly in 1997 and together they have a son and a daughter, Greyson (2001) and Valerie (2008).
About Pastor Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall is the campus pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Sienna.
Malcolm has served as a Youth Pastor, Adult Bible Study Teacher, Downtown Houston YMCA Chaplain, Director for a Street Evangelism/Community Outreach Ministry, and Stepmaster for Step Ministry Teams in Dallas, Las Vegas & Houston.
He’s certified to share the Gospel in any prison in Texas, and he regularly speaks on behalf of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as the lead chaplain for the NBA’s Houston Rockets. In addition, he also ministers the Gospel of Jesus Christ via hip-hop as nationally known recording artist Excelsius.
Malcolm is happily married to the bride of his youth, Stacey. They are the proud parents of one son, Jaren, and two daughters, Madison & Sydney.
About Pastor Jason Swiggart
Jason Swiggart is the campus pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Cypress.
Jason came to Houston in 1988 as a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for a summer internship… and he is still here in H-Town!
Jason served for 8 years in youth ministry before joining the Houston's First staff in 1995. During his time with Houston’s First he has served as Minister to Married Young Adults, then as the Ministries Pastor, shepherding ministries from Preschool through Senior Adults, and now as the Cypress Campus pastor.
Jason met Paige, his wife, on a blind date and were married in November 1991. They have three adult sons Chambers, married to Erin, Harrison, and Preston.
About Pastor Leon Brooks
Leon Brooks III is the campus pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Downtown.
Leon has been in ministry for the past 26 years. He has been on staff at Houston's First Baptist Church for nearly 4 years where he first served as the Minister of Campus Development at the Downtown Campus, and now serves as the Downtown Campus pastor.
Leon is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary.
He is married to LaShawn Brooks for almost 22 years, and they have five children. In his spare time, he loves playing basketball with his children.
Retreat Schedule Overview
- Fri, Oct 20 @ 10a-2p – Optional golf scramble (details below)
- Fri, Oct 20 @ 3-7p – Check In (you can arrive any time after 3p)
- Fri, Oct 20 @ 4p – Optional charter bus departs from The Loop Campus (details below)
- Fri, Oct 20 @ 6:30-7:30p – Dinner
- Fri, Oct 20 @ 7:45p – First Session Begins
- Sat, Oct 21 @ 5p – Retreat ends*
*Note: For Summit and Sojourn Single men (single men ages 20s to early 40s), there is a bonus optional dinner and session ending at 7p.
Activities & Additional Options
Activities include Human Foosball, Basketball, Sand Volleyball, 9 Square, GaGa Ball, Tether Ball, Canoeing, and a cornhole tournament.
Bring your own equipment for these activities: Soccer, Football, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, and Fishing.
Spots are limited and advance sign up required in the registration for these activities: Axe Throwing, Top Shot, and Adventure Park ropes course*.
* There is an additional $25 fee for the Adventure Park ropes course. All other activities listed above are included in the cost of the retreat.
Axe Throwing**
- This is a FREE activity that will occur during the “free time” on Saturday.
- Dig deep and call upon your inner woodland beast for this activity! Axe throwing can be done by anyone of any size. Axeperts will be on-site to provide you a brief safety instruction and show you how to safely handle an axe and chuck it with accuracy, while giving you tips on how to capture that illustrious bullseye!
- Closed toe shoes must be worn. Spots are limited. Advance sign up required in the registration.
Top Shot Competition**
- This is a FREE activity that will occur during the “free time” on Saturday.
- A fun competition involving guns, knives, and arrows! Competing on 4-man teams, each team will vie against one another for the highest score and “Top Shot” honors! The teams will send one man to each of these four areas of competition:
- Knife Throwing
- Archery
- Long Rifle Target Range
- Skeet Shooting
- Spots are limited. Advance sign up required in the registration.
Adventure Park ropes Course**
- $25 additional cost.
- This activity will occur during the “free time” on Saturday.
- This is a 3-story, high-ropes challenge course with over 50 elements & multiple exit options including: Quick jump, Trapeze jump, Automatic zip line and Dual 500-foot zip lines.
- 275-pound weight limit for zip lines. Closed toe shoes required. Spots are limited. Advance sign up required in the registration.
** NOTE: The designated “Free Time” will only allow you to participate in two of these three optional activities: Axe Throwing, Top Shot Competition, Adventure Park ropes course.
Golf Scramble
- $80 additional cost. Cost includes breakfast, lunch, cart, tee-time, and prizes!
- This activity will occur on Friday, Oct 20th. Tee-times begin at 10a and will finish by 2p.
- Friendly golf scramble competition.
- Oakhurst Golf Club in Porter, TX.
- Spots are limited. Advance sign up required in the registration.
Charter Bus
- $35 additional cost. Cost includes round trip from The Loop Campus of Houston's First Baptist to Pineywoods Camp, and dinner served on the bus coming home.
- Don’t like driving at rush hour or for long periods of time? Take the bus for a fun, relaxed ride to/from the retreat! The bus comes equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, and a restroom.
- The bus will leave from The Loop Campus South Parking Lot at 4p on Fri, Oct 20th. (The bus WILL NOT wait for you!) The bus will leave Pineywoods Camp at the completion of the retreat (approx. 5p) on Sat, Oct 21.
Cost & Lodging
Cost varies depending on type of lodging. All lodging has air conditioning.
- Dorms: $115 (Early bird - $100) — Rustic dorm style cabins with bunk beds that sleep up to 20 men. Each contains 4 restrooms. Equipped with A/C and heat. No towels or linens provided. Handicap accessible rooms available. Perfect for a Life Bible Study to get.
- Motel: $140 (Early bird - $125) — Rustic motel type of room. Layouts vary, but will contain a queen bed, 1-2 bunk beds, and a queen sleeper sofa in some rooms. Only 1 man will be assigned per queen bed or sleeper sofa. Rooms will sleep 3-5 men, depending on room style. Equipped with A/C and heat, and a private bathroom. Towels and linens provided. Limited number of motel beds available.
- There are no single or double occupancy options.
- No day passes are available.
- Early Bird Discount of $15 off total registration ends Thursday, Aug 31st.
- Registration deadline is Sunday, Oct 15 at midnight.
Retreat price includes lodging, 3 meals, snacks, most activities, t-shirt, and digital downloads of all sessions.
Scholarships
- We offer confidential* scholarships because we don’t want finances to prevent any man from getting to go to this retreat. There are two requests we ask of the men who receive a scholarship:
- We ask scholarship recipients to make some sort of investment towards their retreat weekend. This can be whatever amount you’re comfortable paying – but we ask for a minimum contribution of $10. We will scholarship the remaining retreat amount.
- We ask scholarship recipients to volunteer at the retreat. We guarantee that you won't miss out on any of the retreat! There are a variety of volunteer opportunities that you can choose to help with:
- Prayer (commit to pray before retreat & intercessory prayer during the retreat)
- Hospitality (arrive by 12:00 PM on Fri - set up for retreat)
- Registration (arrive by 2:00 PM on Fri - set up and run registration)
- Food/snacks (manage snacks throughout the retreat)
- Activities (assist in free-time activities such as Top Shot & etc.)
- The scholarship includes lodging (in the dorms), dinner, speaker sessions and the option to ride the charter bus to/from Pineywoods Camp (if seats remain available).
- Not included in the scholarship: a la cart options, such as the golf scramble, Adventure Park ropes course, and motel lodging option, which are all additional fees.
- To register and receive a scholarship, contact Julianne Kho with the Men’s Ministry at 713-957-7681 or Julianne.Kho@HoustonsFirst.org. Payment can be done with cash (in person), or debit/credit card (in person, or over the phone).
*NOTE: Your scholarship will remain confidential to all retreat attendees, but we will still need to gather your name and contact information for your registration.
FAQs
Any man 18 years or older may attend this retreat. You do not have to be a member or connected with Houston’s First Baptist church. We encourage you to invite a friend, father, son, co-worker, and/or neighbor to come with you!
Yes! In the registration, you can request who you would like to be your roommate(s). We will do our absolute best to honor your roommate request, but due to the nature and size of this event we cannot guarantee all requests will be fulfilled. Thank you for your understanding.
Yes, we will maintain waitlists for the motel rooms, and all activities/options that have limited spots, which are: charter bus, Adventure Park ropes course, golf scramble, axe throwing and Top Shot Competition. If spots become available on the activities/options, we will contact waitlisted men in the order they contacted us to request a spot on the waitlist. If you are contacted about an open spot, you will need to respond back within the specified time limit, to secure your spot.
We strongly encourage you to spend the night, to benefit from the full experience of the retreat and to deepen your fellowship with other men in attendance. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a discount if you choose not to spend the night. You would have to pay the minimum price of $115 (or $100 if purchased during the Early Bird pricing period).
Day passes will not be available. If you choose to come only on Saturday, Oct 21st, you still need to register and will need to pay the minimum price of $115 (or $100 if purchased during the Early Bird Pricing period).
There are no single occupancy options.
Click the link here for the retreat packing list.
Yes, retreat registration and/or any optional fees are fully refundable through Monday, Oct 2. Registration can also be transferrable to another individual. To receive a refund, or transfer your registration to another individual, contact Julianne Kho in the Men’s Ministry at 713-957-7681 or a Julianne.Kho@HoustonsFirst.org.
Yes. We never want finances to prevent a man from attending a Men's Ministry event. Please see the “Scholarship” section for details.
Yes! If you would like to donate toward our scholarship fund, click here, or select the donation option in the registration.
All retreat sessions (main sessions and breakouts) can be accessed on our men’s ministry app. You can download the app for any platform here. Once on the app, select the “Teaching” icon to access the retreat talks.
Questions?
For any retreat related questions, contact Julianne Kho in the Men’s Ministry at 713-957-7681 or Julianne.Kho@HoustonsFirst.org.