The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) hosts annual Marriage Resiliency Retreats in Alaska designed to refresh law enforcement officers and their spouses physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The ministry is specifically geared toward officers who have been injured or involved in traumatic incidents. Here, officers and their spouses depart from Mystic Lake Lodge in the remote Alaskan wilderness after the weeklong retreat.
These two gladly help prepare delicious meals for guests to enjoy around the table with one another.
Staff and leaders pour into the men and women throughout the week, encouraging them to look to God for help in restoring and strengthening their marriages.
Wide open spaces give couples a chance to decompress and focus on their relationship with God and each other.
The majesty of God’s creation is a perfect backdrop for His Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of couples who are coping with unique stresses of law enforcement work. Making sure that Jesus Christ is at the center of your marriage is the first step toward a strong relationship. Have you asked Him into your heart? Pray now.
Law enforcement officers and their spouses are encouraged to participate in relationship-building activities offered to spend time with each other.
As this couple experienced in Alaska, enjoying the splendor of God’s creation is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
This group takes in the stunning beauty of the largely untouched Alaskan wilderness before participating in a polar plunge.
In her free time, this attendee captured Alaska's stunning natural beauty in watercolors.
This couple enjoys a hike together on a sunny Alaska day.
Time in peaceful Alaska, away from the busyness and stress of everyday life, gives couples valuable time to connect on a deeper level with God and each other.
Franklin Graham stands with a group who attended one of the retreats.
This woman smiles right before she is baptized as a public testimony of her decision to follow Christ.
Isaiah 40:31 says that those, “who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (ESV). As these police officers and their spouses are pointed to Christ, they are reminded that God's promises remain true even in the midst of chaos, trauma, and broken marriages.
Couples enjoy spending time in the beautiful outdoors together.
During the Law Enforcement Appreciation Program (LEAP), couples participate in Biblically based small group sessions that help strengthen their relationship with God and others.
Attendees are welcomed with a flag that says, “I got your six”—a term that means, “I've got your back” and is often used in support of law enforcement.
Throughout the weeklong retreats, couples are encouraged spiritually and emotionally. They also participate in fun and challenging outdoor activities to reconnect with one another and find respite from everyday stressors.
Author and apologist J. Warner Wallace—a retired cold-case homicide detective—leads this couple in renewing their marriage vows. Wallace also leads sessions during the retreat.
Rafting, kayaking, and fishing are just a few ways couples spend time in God’s creation.
Participants have an opportunity to begin or renew their commitment to God and can decide to get baptized in the waters of Mystic Lake.
It’s a tradition for participants to take a polar plunge—if they so choose—into the icy waters of Mystic Lake.
