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The men were urged to use the journey as the start of their time
alone with God so could cycle, walk, sail or canoe, but not drive.
Those who took up this opportunity, found it hugely beneficial.
Shannon Wood who was largely responsible for organising the retreat found that he started out feeling weighed down by all the things he had left undone, but as he cycled nearer to Orford, he was able to hand back his concerns to God and arrive feeling a real sense of freedom and anticipation.
"Even as we arrived there separately, we were journeying together and that brought a sense of camaraderie that was echoed throughout the 24 hours," says Dave.
He and his team had been inspired in the organisation of the retreat by a book called Wild at Heart by American, John Eldredge. Here, Christian men are urged to listen to the call of the battle to fight, the adventure to live and the beauty to win. Eldredge claims that today the concept of male and female can almost be interchangeable, but that men and women reflect different characteristics of God, and the masculine traits need to be reasserted.
"When you walk into church everything is very pretty with flower arrangements and the man up the front wearing a dress!" says Dave. "The language we use is emotional and Christians are urged to be gentle, sensitive and nurturing, focused on home and family rather than accomplishment and career. None of this sits well with today's working men. They have issues that aren't being addressed in the church."
Initially identifying this some three years ago, Dave formed a men's group to provide a safe place for men to discuss some of the concerns they have. The group meets monthly in each other's houses, with the host being the leader for that session. After a cup of tea there will be 30 minutes dedicated to prayer, and then a discussion or study.
"We run it with minimal fuss," says Dave. "Men work better if things are structured. We don't do chit-chat like women do."
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