Asbury students deepened their faith, strengthened their biblical worldview and experienced spiritual renewal through Asbury University’s all-expenses-paid Set Apart Retreat to Colorado Springs, Colo.
Snow-covered mountains, meaningful conversations and unforgettable moments marked Asbury University’s recent Set Apart Retreat to Colorado Springs, Colo. Designed to help students step away from the busyness of everyday life, the retreat created intentional space for spiritual growth, biblical worldview formation and Christ-centered community.
The Set Apart Retreat program gives every Asbury undergraduate student the opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid retreat within their first four semesters. Supported through the generosity of the Price Foundation and other donors, the retreats remove financial barriers and allow students to focus fully on spiritual formation, surrender and understanding how to live out a biblical worldview in everyday life.
Two words to describe this Set Apart Retreat are ‘holy unity.’”
“On every Set Apart Retreat there is unity, but this group demonstrated John 17 unity. We witnessed students lay aside pride and preferences for the greater good of another. We witnessed students fighting for one another’s freedom and healing in Christ through intercession and accountability. Moreover, students individually and communally lived, ‘not my/our will, but Yours be done,’ and Jesus came!”
Throughout the three-day experience, students explored the beauty of Colorado Springs while building deeper friendships and strengthening their faith. The group visited Garden of the Gods, admired breathtaking mountain views and challenged themselves on a snowy high ropes course. Faculty and staff members led small groups in seven-to-one ratios, creating space for intentional conversations and mentorship.
The retreat blended full-group sessions, workshops and small-group discussions that encouraged students to ask hard questions, reflect on their purpose and cultivate a stronger biblical worldview. Students also enjoyed moments of fun and adventure while connecting with peers outside the rhythms of campus life. While many students experienced rest and renewal during the retreat, those outcomes emerged naturally through the deeper work of discipleship, reflection and spiritual community.
Asbury’s ‘Set Apart’ retreats have had a profound effect upon our students and our broader campus culture.”
“In our continued desire to ‘raise the spiritual temperature’ at Asbury and particularly among Gen Z students, these retreats have left an indelible imprint on Freshman and Sophomores and shaped their trajectory thereafter. My very first encouragement to incoming students is always to sign up for a ‘Set Apart’ retreat as soon as they can.”
Experiences like the Colorado retreat reflect Asbury’s commitment to holistic student formation. By combining biblical worldview development, spiritual discipleship, meaningful community and unforgettable experiences, Set Apart Retreats help students grow closer to God while equipping them to faithfully engage the world around them.
It was incredible to see God’s beauty in Colorado and an amazing experience that shaped my walk with God.”
Set Apart Retreats take students to destinations such as Colorado, Florida and Tennessee, offering opportunities for spiritual growth in both mountain and beach settings. Every retreat includes spiritual guidance from Asbury faculty and staff alongside time for recreation, reflection and connection.
These retreats continue to impact the lives of hundreds of students and remain an important part of the Asbury experience because they encourage students to deepen their relationship with God, strengthen their biblical worldview and discover greater purpose within Christian community.
Asbury’s Set Apart Retreat is a one-of-a-kind experience. Every student can attend a Set Apart Retreat — all-expenses-paid trips to locations like Florida, Colorado or Tennessee that focus on biblical worldview formation and drawing closer to God — within their first four semesters at Asbury. The entire cost of Asbury’s Set Apart retreats is covered by the generosity of the Price Foundation and others, ensuring there is no financial barrier for students to participate.