Join Us for our 2023 Spiritual Retreat for Military Couples
A recent study showed that military jobs have the highest rate of divorce among all other professions. Deployments can change the dynamics between couples even after everyone is home. This retreat will provide resources to couples impacted by the effects of combat deployments. Workshop topics include spiritual resiliency, the effects of trauma on the couple and family, maintaining brain health, and peer encouragement.
Our Spiritual Retreat for Military Couples will be held October 26-29, 2023, at Camp Shiloh, Texas, on the shores of beautiful Lake Bob Sandlin.
Couples will be lodging in private cabins during the Retreat. ADA compliant cabins are available on a first come, first served basis. LMSG loves our military families. However, this Retreat is intended for couples only.
Retreat Schedule
Session Summaries
Looking for promotional information? Download the 8.5x11 Poster
Couples will be lodging in private cabins during the Retreat. ADA compliant cabins are available on a first come, first served basis. LMSG loves our military families. However, this Retreat is intended for couples only.
Retreat Schedule
Session Summaries
Looking for promotional information? Download the 8.5x11 Poster
Registration is open through August 30, 2023. There is a $25 reservation fee due at registration.
Financial assistance for travel is available.
Disclaimer - Lutheran Military Support Group is an affiliated ministry of WELS and ELS synods and holds to the Christian doctrine professed by both synods, including those related to fellowship and member communion. Should a WELS/ELS Veteran want to attend our Retreat with a Veteran outside the fellowship of WELS/ELS, they are welcome to attend. We ask that the Member discuss doctrinal concerns with their local WELS/ELS pastor prior to attending our Retreat.
Financial assistance for travel is available.
Disclaimer - Lutheran Military Support Group is an affiliated ministry of WELS and ELS synods and holds to the Christian doctrine professed by both synods, including those related to fellowship and member communion. Should a WELS/ELS Veteran want to attend our Retreat with a Veteran outside the fellowship of WELS/ELS, they are welcome to attend. We ask that the Member discuss doctrinal concerns with their local WELS/ELS pastor prior to attending our Retreat.
If you have any questions about the retreat, please contact us at info@lutheranmilitary.org
Spiritual Retreat Speakers
Lori Aschbrenner
Empowering Survivors Innovator, Kingdom Workers
Lori is the mother of five children and a former military spouse. Her passion to help survivors of abuse originated from growing up in a physically and emotionally abusive home. Not knowing what a “healthy relationship” looked like, she found herself in an abusive marriage for 33 years. As she recovered from her own abuse, Lori found that she wanted to comfort others with the same comfort she herself has been given. Her goal is to train up an army of advocates to promote healing and hope.
Lori is the mother of five children and a former military spouse. Her passion to help survivors of abuse originated from growing up in a physically and emotionally abusive home. Not knowing what a “healthy relationship” looked like, she found herself in an abusive marriage for 33 years. As she recovered from her own abuse, Lori found that she wanted to comfort others with the same comfort she herself has been given. Her goal is to train up an army of advocates to promote healing and hope.
Roger Emmons
Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church
Pastor Emmons is a US Army Veteran with 30 years of experience, with deployments to Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Iraq. He served in the Minnesota National Guard and on Active Duty before retiring as an Infantry First Sergeant in 2014. Pastor Emmons was ordained in 2021 and serves in Oregon.
Pastor Emmons is a US Army Veteran with 30 years of experience, with deployments to Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Iraq. He served in the Minnesota National Guard and on Active Duty before retiring as an Infantry First Sergeant in 2014. Pastor Emmons was ordained in 2021 and serves in Oregon.
David Kasischke
Staff Minister, Our Savior Lutheran Church
Staff Minister David spent over 33 years working in the U.S. Department of Defense as a language/intelligence analyst in a number of languages and was blessed to be able to visit many areas of the world before retiring in 2010. The exposure to other people and cultures made a huge impact on his worldview and his faith in Jesus. He is now a certified staff minister, called to serve Our Savior Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. He and his wife, Betty, have three adult children.
Staff Minister David spent over 33 years working in the U.S. Department of Defense as a language/intelligence analyst in a number of languages and was blessed to be able to visit many areas of the world before retiring in 2010. The exposure to other people and cultures made a huge impact on his worldview and his faith in Jesus. He is now a certified staff minister, called to serve Our Savior Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. He and his wife, Betty, have three adult children.
Megan McMahon
MA, Mental Health Practitioner, Footnotes Counseling Services
Megan McMahon is a Christian counselor who specializes in trauma recovery, anxiety, and depression. She is a Veteran of the US Army, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. Seven months into her deployment, she was medevacked back the States and was medically discharged. In spite of her own stubbornness during her transition, she learned a great deal about herself and the emotional impacts of recovery through equine counseling. Megan is dedicated to helping other Veterans on their journey toward peace.
Megan McMahon is a Christian counselor who specializes in trauma recovery, anxiety, and depression. She is a Veteran of the US Army, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. Seven months into her deployment, she was medevacked back the States and was medically discharged. In spite of her own stubbornness during her transition, she learned a great deal about herself and the emotional impacts of recovery through equine counseling. Megan is dedicated to helping other Veterans on their journey toward peace.
Brad Price
President/CEO - Lutheran Military Support Group
Brad is a Texas Army National Guard Veteran with a deployment to Iraq in 2005 as a Cavalry Scout. He enjoys providing support to our Christian Warriors, their families, and pastors as LMSG’s executive leader.
Brad is a Texas Army National Guard Veteran with a deployment to Iraq in 2005 as a Cavalry Scout. He enjoys providing support to our Christian Warriors, their families, and pastors as LMSG’s executive leader.
Steve and Sarah Schroeder
Faculty, Northdale Christian Academy
Steve Schroeder is a US Army Veteran serving much of his career as a Blackhawk Pilot until retiring in 2020. His wife, Sarah, served as a homemaker early in their marriage, caring for the couple's four children during Steve's many deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Schroeder's continue their life of service as teachers at Northdale Christian Academy in Florida.
Steve Schroeder is a US Army Veteran serving much of his career as a Blackhawk Pilot until retiring in 2020. His wife, Sarah, served as a homemaker early in their marriage, caring for the couple's four children during Steve's many deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Schroeder's continue their life of service as teachers at Northdale Christian Academy in Florida.
Justin Shrum
Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church
Pastor Shrum is a US Navy Veteran with service at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and on the USS San Jacinto. His enlistment included deployments to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranian regions. Pastor Shrum is married to his wife, Stacy, and they have two children. Kora, who is heaven with Jesus, and their adopted son, Judah. Pastor Shrum's love for those in uniform led him to serve in an additional role as a Chaplain assisting law enforcement officers in his county.
Pastor Shrum is a US Navy Veteran with service at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and on the USS San Jacinto. His enlistment included deployments to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranian regions. Pastor Shrum is married to his wife, Stacy, and they have two children. Kora, who is heaven with Jesus, and their adopted son, Judah. Pastor Shrum's love for those in uniform led him to serve in an additional role as a Chaplain assisting law enforcement officers in his county.
More about our Spiritual Retreats
The founders of LMSG were aware of the vital need for post-traumatic stress awareness, suicide prevention, and education on spiritual wounds that accompany combat experience for the Christian Warriors in our congregations. A recent Veterans Affairs study showed that an average of 17 Veterans take their lives each day. This study also indicated that between 10 and 29% of Veterans, depending on service era, will experience post-traumatic stress at some point in their lives. We developed our Spiritual Retreats in response to this need.
Our retreats are grounded in Lutheran doctrine and include workshops, devotions, and worship services. Workshops are led by WELS and ELS pastors, mental health professionals, and peer support individuals who have served in the military themselves or supported Military families in their professional lives. Our retreats are offered at no cost to attendees.
“The ‘by name’ communion and forgiveness of sins was very moving and meaningful.”
2023 Spiritual Retreat for Christian Warriors
Warriors who serve in combat zones are impacted by their service. Some return with PTSD, others return with other symptoms of trauma, but all are changed. For some, these changes are not realized for years to come.
You are not alone but Satan wants you to think that you are. There are Christian Warriors like you who understand. Combat changed us too. This retreat is specifically designed for the Combat Veterans in our congregations. Build camaraderie with fellow believers and Veterans while engaging in subjects related to the challenges of returning home a different person.
The registration for this event is closed.
