January in Montreat

Montreat Conference Center is pleased to bring you our monthly newsletter January in Montreat. Please find updates from our president, highlights on programmatic offerings, and ways that you can engage with Montreat below. Specifically, in this issue we are talking about Small Group Leader applications, our upcoming Discovering Renewal event, and news from the last quarter of 2025.

In Case You Missed It by Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center Greetings from Montreat! We ended 2025 in a flurry of movement and did our best to keep you all up to date. Wise perhaps to begin with an “in case you missed it” update on happenings during the last quarter of the year before casting our attention to the new year. Use the link below to catch up on our recent Lilly Endowment grant, the new lodge project, our new vice president for development, and more. READ RICHARD’S FULL LETTER PROGRAMS & EVENTS Small Group Leader applications are now open for both Montreat Youth Conference and Montreat Middle School Conference. If you are over 21, can contribute part of your summer, and are interested in helping youth engage in critical conversations about their faith, then this opportunity is for you! Apply now on our website. Last month we announced that Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the New York Times bestselling book Jesus and John Wayne, will be joining us during Women’s Connection 2026! We invite you to learn more about Kristin and the event on our website. Registration opens in early February! Learn more. Did you know that, in addition to the Assembly Inn, Montreat Conference Center is home to six lodges which can be rented for multi-day retreats? From Walnut Lodge, which sleeps 7, to The Winsborough, which sleeps 68, we have something for groups both large and small. Find floor plans and more by clicking here. We share updates related to offerings for youth & young adults, adult conferences, and retreats in a series of topical email newsletters each month. Sign up to receive one, two, or all three directly in your inbox by clicking here. EXPERIENCE MONTREAT We invite you to take time to rest and recharge this spring during Discovering Renewal, our annual retreat which focuses on Sabbath rest and simple, spiritual practices. Offered activity tracks include baking, board games, contemplation, fly fishing, hiking, visual diary, yoga, and a mixed track for those who can’t pick just one! Learn more. Looking for a unique souvenir or gift? The Montreat Store has a little bit of everything! This month, we would like to encourage you to check out its selection of finger labyrinths handmade by Lisa Kaufer of The Muddy Fork. Available in numerous shapes and sizes, these tools offer a space for spiritual reflection that you can retreat to at any time. Call for hours or additional info. If you choose to hike during the winter season, please be aware that temperatures can vary drastically by elevation. Many of Montreat’s mountain peaks may be snowy, even it if things are relatively warm at the beginning of the trail! Always exercise safety and best judgement when hiking in the Montreat Wilderness. Find out more. We share updates for locals, news about the Montreat Wilderness, and information pertaining to spiritual exploration in three monthly email newsletters specific to each topic. Select which ones you would like to receive in your inbox by clicking here. Montreat Patrons Make Montreat Possible! Montreat Patrons are those individuals, churches, or organizations that make a gift of $500 to the Montreat Fund. These gifts have a direct impact on programming and recreation here in Montreat! From big circle mountain dances in the Barn, to speakers for conferences, Montreat Patrons have the ability to impact those Montreat memories that we hold close to our hearts. BECOME A PATRON TODAY See How You Can Get Involved! Each year, hundreds of volunteers support Montreat by participating in its programs or working to enrich its physical spaces. If you participated as a volunteer in 2025, thank you! If you didn’t have the chance to volunteer, but are interested in getting involved, please visit our website to explore current volunteer opportunities. VOLUNTEER WITH MONTREAT Montreat Conference Center, a ministry of the Mountain Retreat Association, is a national conference center located in Western North Carolina with roots in the PC(USA). Learn more at www.montreat.org.

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RNS Weekly Digest: Philip Yancey, beloved evangelical author, retires after admitting affair

Philip Yancey, beloved evangelical author, retires after admitting affair

Philip Yancey, a beloved evangelical author and speaker, will retire from public ministry after admitting to a long-term affair. “My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage,” Yancey, 76, wrote in a letter to Christianity Today. “It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families.” Christianity Today, where Yancey had been a columnist and contributor for decades, reported the news of his retirement.   Known for his thoughtful and poignant books on faith, with titles like “What’s So Amazing About Grace,” “Disappointment with God,” and “Where is God When it Hurts,” Yancey’s writing connected with millions of evangelical readers, helping them wrestle with doubts about their faith and the hardships of life.  Religion & Politics Two events remember the 5th anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot, appealing to two divine truths Judge rules Americans United can't intervene in Johnson Amendment case With limits on campus protests, quieter vigils are the growing voice of protest Photos of the Week: Orthodox Christmas, Epiphany Worshippers gather on the eve of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, hosted by the Ethiopian Jandereba Generation, at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP photo/Amanuel Sileshi) In Opinion Trump's foreign policy is a disaster for America and the world 'Marty Supreme' is a classic American Jewish dark comedy When the church, like an aquarium, is built for the predators And finally, New pipe organ signals rebirth of Episcopal parish after fire, flood and 'plague' The organ arrived from Utah on a warm August morning. Greeted by holy water, incense and slide whistles, it came in a 53-foot-long truck that was double-parked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Church of the Epiphany’s priests clambered up on the truck’s loading dock, tossed on stoles and blessed the long-awaited instrument. Their prayers were punctuated by the sound of confetti cannons shot off by about 30 parishioners. Then, for hours, children, adults and elders into their 90s hoisted pipes and boxes up flights of stairs to the church’s second-floor sanctuary. The biggest spectacle was the entrance of the 600-pound organ console, which parishioners and organ builders spent over 30 minutes wrangling up an external staircase. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026 RNS, All rights reserved.