In the past two summers, IWU Track and Field Head Coach, Caleb Snyder, and Assistant Coach and 2013 IWU graduate, Kyle Abney, have taken a group of student-athletes to the mountains of North Carolina for a time of discipleship, team bonding, mental preparation, and most importantly, personal and spiritual growth in preparation for the upcoming season.
 

Over the course of the three-day retreat,  Snyder, Abney, and all of the IWU student-athletes practiced what are called the "Inward Disciplines," found in the book by Richard Foster titled Celebration of Disciplines, wherein he outlines four inward disciplines:  prayer, study, meditation, and fasting.
 

The idea for this annual retreat came to Snyder a few years ago while taking a "Spiritual Life and Leadership" course in the IWU Seminary department. 
 

 "It was an opportunity for me to open my ears and eyes to what else God might have for me," Snyder said. "One of the things that was part of the class was reading Celebration of Disciplines. Almost immediately when I started reading, and when I got halfway through this book, I felt that God was leading me in the direction of taking a group…to the middle of nowhere and practicing these 'Inward Disciplines,' and making that the sole focus of the trip."
 

After completing the course, this desire remained on Snyder's heart and mind. Finally, in June 2017,  he, together with Abney, took a leap of faith. They booked a cabin in North Carolina and headed to the mountains with 10 student-athletes in tow.
 

"It was important for us to get to a place where there were no distractions," Snyder said. "I'm sure you can do that in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana, but it's a really cool opportunity to take these student-athletes to a place they've never been, experience God's creation in a way they've never seen it, and challenge them to really open their eyes to the world around them like they never have before." 
 

According to Abney, the results of the three-day event over the past two summers been physically, mentally, and spiritually fulfilling.
 

"In training, we always look to go to the next level," Abney said. "We're always improving. We're always trying to take that next step. But I feel like this trip was a very intentional way to break the mold of what we've been doing in past years and get insanely intentional about it. It was a new thought, a cool idea, and it was massively beneficial. 
 

"It's a time of intentionality. It's almost like a spiritual/boot camp to set the tone for the year. Out of the 10 to 15 range of athletes, [every event] is covered. Having throwers on that trip or having people with leadership on that trip sets a tone and sets a foundation to carry throughout the year."
 

Throughout the retreat, the group spent five to seven hours a day practicing the disciplines, discussing the disciplines, and reflecting on how these disciplines could be applied in their daily lives. Furthermore, they engaged in other spiritual activities such as diving into Scripture, going on prayer walks, and meditating. 
 

Chad Ellens, a May 2019 graduate, loved his time in North Carolina, stating that the trip helped him grow closer to God as well as his teammates.  
 

"In life, we talk about putting God first in our life, but he often slips to a low priority," Ellen said. "The North Carolina trip helped us practically understand what it means to "seek first" and to actually live out that mindset. Our days consisted of early morning quiet times, deep biblical study, and honest and vulnerable discussion. We saw the direct results of seeking God wholeheartedly: how there is joy in his presence, freedom in his Word, and how there is no greater purpose than living for him. This trip really set a spiritual tone for the year, and made a difference in my walk with Jesus. "
 

Much like Ellens, current IWU senior Kendra Frieden also felt that her relationship with the Lord grew stronger, and on top of that, she believes that the retreat has helped the team bond together in ways that would not have been possible without making the trek.   
 

"The track and field spiritual disciplines retreat has been one of the major highlights of my time at IWU," Frieden said. "God used the North Carolina trip to transform my understanding of spiritual growth and the opportunities He offers us every day to encounter Him in the simple things of life.  Traveling with other members of my team for the past two years has caused a dramatic shift in our team atmosphere and perspective. By engaging in prayer, studying scripture, and spending time processing through our goals for the year, our leadership team has found clarity in learning how to guide our team towards a community of believers not only pursuing excellence in our sport but truly seeking first His kingdom and righteousness first."
 

Ellens and Frieden are just a few examples of IWU student-athletes who have been changed forever because of this retreat. 
 

 "We have seen multiple people grow substantially from this trip," Snyder said. "Brennan Coil was one last year with significant growth. Chad Ellens – that one was significant. But for a lot of them, it was an opportunity to connect the dots in their faith. Yes, it is a ministry opportunity for some of the people that go, but…our goal as coaches is to instill these habits and make them practical and allow them to see the importance of things that they've heard about their entire lives but never really set aside time for. It's really been a cool thing."
 

While winning and being successful in the realm of track and field athletics is important to both the athletes and the coaches, this trip really showcases the significance of what being a Christian student-athlete at IWU is all about. 
 

 "The goal was to take a group of people who are capable of leading our team in amazing ways, get away from noise, hurry and distraction, enjoy God's creation, and put ourselves at the feet of the Father so that we can hear Him and align our hearts and minds with His desires for us," Snyder said. "As coaches, we desire to turn head-knowledge into heart-knowledge and give student-athletes the tools to grow in their personal relationship with Christ. This retreat has made a huge impact in those efforts."