Our Story
RLP was born out of a yearning for a different kind of community. A group of education leaders from across the country hungered for a community that brought their faith in Christ and vocational passion for educational equity into one space. The group gathered virtually during COVID, and RLP was born. The first in-person retreat was hosted in 2022. After a powerful convening and demand for more, volunteers and funders stepped up to support the initiative, and three more retreats were hosted at Lone Rock. To date, nearly 60 leaders have participated in an RLP retreat.
As RLP has grown, many have felt called to explore how its impact might be multiplied by expanding from sporadic retreats to a year-long journey with the same group of people. Lasting spiritual formation has always happened in intentional community, and we see an opportunity to build on the results we’ve already experienced- and all that God has already done- to create the conditions for deeper transformation.
Early Results
We are beginning to see the fruit of God’s work in our community. When asked about their experience participating in an RLP retreat:
98% would recommend RLP to a friend of faith
100% experienced healing and restoration
88% forged new and deep relationships across differences
95% intend to act more on God's call for their lives
88% reported that their faith and/or relationship with God deepened
A New Kind of Community is Formed
“When it comes to my identity, there are so many dimensions. To name a few….I’m a husband, father, grandfather, and son. I’m also an educator, leader, philanthropist, and professor. At the same time, I’m a man of faith, service, and color. Just like everyone else, my identity is multidimensional, and one of my life’s goals is to exist in times and places where all of me is allowed to SHOW UP…at the same time. Such was the case during the inaugural RLP retreat in the Colorado mountains. I, along with 20 others, came together to SHOW UP, first – for ourselves, individually – then for one another. In two days, which were exquisitely designed, we came together to discuss, sing, grapple, worship and serve with one another. It is rare to find a place where ALL OF ME is welcome. Now that I have experienced it once, and prayerfully will again in the future; I suspect I will get better at creating similar spaces and places for those I serve.”
- Irvin Scott, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of Leading with Heart and Soul.
