conferencecenters

Leaving the Blog and Heading to Facebook

2011-01-12T17:11:11Z

It's been two years since we started this blog and I have enjoyed every minute of it however, we've decided it's time to move on.

If you're like me, when you find something you really like, you want to tell your friends about it. Maybe it's a new restaurant, a new museum exhibit or an amazing live show.

Well, I want to tell you about our Facebook Fan pages and hope you’ll head over to Facebook and check us out. The Glorieta and Ridgecrest Fan pages are where we will be continuing to update you on the happenings at our Conference Centers and hope to connect with you about your experiences there.

To join the Ridgecrest Fan Page, click here.

To join the Glorieta Fan Page, click here.

I hope you'll join us on Facebook today, I'll look forward to seeing you there. And remember if you're a meeting planner check out our Ministry Serving Ministry blog where you'll find helps for planning your next event.

Feeling a Little Low?

2011-01-04T07:01:01Z

Devotional Passage: Psalm 42:1-11
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11

A man was demonstrating his amazing skill with the yo-yo. With deft movements, he manipulated the string and made the toy continue its rapid spinning while he guided it through a number of loops and positions. It bounced along the ground, and then, with a flick of the man’s wrist, it soared high into the air.

Human emotions are much like a yo-yo. They can go from the ground to the sky, from depression and sadness to joy and delight. We have no idea what caused this psalmist’s battle with depression, and his yo-yoing between despair and hope. At one point he wrung his hands and wept in despair. Then he remembered God’s lovingkindness, sat himself down, and gave himself a good talking to. Like the soaring yo-yo, he emerged again with praises to his God.

Is your life like a yo-yo today? Hand God the string, and see what can happen!

Forgive me, Father, for trying to control my life through difficult times.
My hope must ever be in You.

©Fall 2008 Open Windows devotional guide. Used by permission. For information about Open Windows, go online: www.lifeway.com/magazines

Glorieta Photo of the Week - December 31st

2010-12-31T07:01:01Z

Glorieta Conference Center Interns hard at work during the CCCA - Christian Camps and Conference Centers Association meeting held at Ridgecrest Conference Center.

Glorieta Photo of the Week - December 24th

2010-12-24T07:01:01Z

Glorieta Conference Center Christmas Village in New Mexico Hall.

Glorieta Photo of the Week - December 17th

2010-12-17T07:01:01Z

Ducks at Glorieta Conference Center find some cold water for a swim in the nearly frozen lake.

Glorieta Family Camp

2010-12-13T15:44:55Z

In our first summer of Glorieta Family Camp, we asked a few families to tell us what they thought of Family Camp. Here it is!

Family Camp Interviews from Robert Suggs on Vimeo.

Glorieta Photo of the Week - December 10th

2010-12-10T07:01:01Z

Glorieta Sales Manager Mark Heckle setting up the Christmas Village at Glorieta Conference Center.

Christmas Gift - Recipe 2010

2010-12-06T07:01:01Z

As we celebrate this Christmas season, I thought I would share with you another of my favorite recipes for making and giving this year.

Glazed Lemon Drop Cookies
Drop Cookies
    * 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
    * 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
    * 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    * 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
    * 1 cup granulated sugar
    * 1 large egg
    * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Lemon Glaze
    * 2 cups confectioner's sugar
    * 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
    * 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest with a fork.
In a large bowl beat butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add egg, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat until combined.
With mixer on low beat in flour mixture.
Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 1 inch apart, onto baking sheets.
Bake one baking sheet at a time in the center of the oven until edges are golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool 2 minutes on sheets, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
When cool, spread lemon cookies with lemon glaze and let set, about 1 hour.

Lemon Glaze: In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups confectioner's sugar, 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, and 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until smooth and of a good spreading consistency. Add more lemon juice to thin the glaze and more sugar to thicken it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and please share your favorites with us. This recipe makes about 2 dozen Glazed Lemon Cookies.

Glorieta Photo of the Week - December 3rd

2010-12-03T07:01:01Z

The Thanksgiving gathering at Glorieta Conference Center with several of the staff, volunteers and interns.

The Path to Mercy

2010-12-01T07:01:01Z

Devotional Passage: Proverbs 28:12-18
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

I shall never forget the day, as an 8-year-old child, when my father asked me if I had taken something that was not mine. I lied and denied the act. What I didn’t know was that my dad had seen me take the item. He already knew I was guilty. He wanted me to respond honestly and face up to my wrongdoing.

My punishment was nothing compared to the realization of the pain I had caused my dad.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father always knows about our sins. He wants to grant us mercy. The price for that blessing is to first acknowledge the wrong we did and ask forgiveness. The Bible says He not only forgives but forgets. We are then given a new beginning with a clean slate.

Do you have unconfessed sin in your life? The time to get right with God and any others you have wronged is today.

Father, thank You for forgiving and forgetting the wrongs I do. Help me to faithfully acknowledge my sins, seek forgiveness, and move forward with the gift of a new beginning.

©Fall 2008 Open Windows devotional guide. Used by permission. For information about Open Windows, go online: www.lifeway.com/magazines

Are We There Yet?

2010-11-22T07:01:01Z

“Are we there yet?” It’s a question most all of us have uttered at some point in our lives, often with excitement, sometimes with impatience. It’s a question that often surfaces not long after a family pile into a vehicle for what they hope will be an unforgettable vacation.

Glorieta Conference Center, owned and operated by LifeWay Christian Resources, is excited to offer a new type of family vacation – Glorieta Family Camp! 2011 will mark the second season for these one-of-a-kind weeks.

For many families, the words “camp” and “vacation” do not seem to go together. However, at Family Camp, families spend a week in deluxe housing, eat dinner to a different “theme” each night, and have access to a coffee shop and free wireless Internet. Throughout the day, families experience a true time of togetherness – canoing, playing laser tag, hiking, horseback riding, or just hanging out away from the comforts of their homes.

Family Camp provides opportunities for kids to be kids – and adults to be kids again! From our famous pancake toss breakfast to spending an afternoon jumping on inflatables; from crazy games to family trivia, Family Camp is hands-down, good fun for the entire family.

For the more adventurous, there are opportunities for sleeping under the stars. Families can also choose different excursions on “Choose Your Own Adventure Day” that range from whitewater rafting and train rides to Jeep tours and horseback riding.

For the Garrett family of Texas, this was, “a place where all of the family could participate in a Christian and fun environment.”

In addition to the climate of the mountains of New Mexico, the Hicks family of Arkansas chose Family Camp because “of the variety of activities for our family, as well as the time for worship and Bible study. This camp was everything we desired as a family,” they said.

Glorieta Family Camp is a programmed, all-inclusive vacation specifically designed with your family in mind. Whether you are a traditional, single-parent, or blended family, there is a place for you at Glorieta. It has also proven to be a great destination for multi-generational families – there are no age limits for our campers!

The Nehrt family of Michigan unanimously agreed “this has been our best family vacation ever.”

If you are looking for a Christ-centered, family-focused, exciting vacation, check out Glorieta Family Camp. We’re sure it will have everyone in your family excitedly saying, “Are we there yet?”

For more information about Glorieta Family Camp, visit www.glorietacamps.com, call 1-866-794-CAMP, or email us at familycamps@lifeway.com.

4 Strategies to Retain Guests

2010-11-15T07:01:01Z

Do you ever get so focused on finding that new guest that you overlook the discipline of retaining the guests you have? It can happen to the best of us.

Here are some practical strategies that will help.

1. Empower your employees - let them fix the small stuff. Employees are typically the ones that your guests are dealing with on a day to day basis while they are at your property. Sometimes a small issue can become big while an employee is looking for their manager to provide a solution.

2. Listen and Act - take the time to hear what you long-term guest's are saying and let them know you were listening by acting on what you heard. Guests will love seeing the results of their feedback and that will make them ambassadors for you.

3. Solve problems and meet needs - if your dealing with guest group's inevitably your meeting planner will encounter problems. It will only strengthen your relationship if you are helping to solve those problems and meet those needs.

4. Be Hospitable - If you aren't, your employees won't be. If you and your employees treat people well, your property will become a place that people want to be. Make sure your policies don't limit your hospitality to guests. Hospitality is the key to re-booking business.

Remember -
     * Make it easy for groups to come back another year
     * Keep in touch - make sure your meeting planners know they are wanted
     * Remember that history is valuable
     * Fight for your group - it's about ministry not convenience

If you take the time to consistently, thoughtfully and intentionally care for your guests, you will succeed in keeping them.

Glorieta Photo of the week - November 12th

2010-11-12T07:01:01Z

The beauty of the southern Rocky Mountains in the fall from Ski Santa Fe.

Telling Your Ministries Story

2010-11-08T07:01:01Z

Your ministry has a story to tell: who you are, what you do and where you are going. Social media provides you more opportunities than ever to tell that story and who better to tell it than you.

The following will help with the how, when and where to tell your story and share your ministry.

* Go where your target audience is. It's important to identify the social mediums your audience gravitates toward so you can meet them there.

* Dialog with your audience. Add content that your audience will value. Ask thought provoking questions and solicit your audience for feedback on your posts. Alway's respond to any and all comments.

* Start a groundswell. Your organization has a ready-to-go fan base - your digital media fans and followers. People become loyal digital fans when they have a positive experience with you. Ask them to post about you to their friends on Facebook and Twitter.

* Get your staff involved. Your staff more than likely already have their own Facebook or Twitter accounts and maybe even a Blog. Ask them to spread the word to their followers about what's happening in your ministry.

So, what's stopping you? Get out there and tell the stories of your ministry.

Glorieta Photo of the week - November 5th

2010-11-05T06:01:01Z

Staff participate in an encouragement exercise during Glorieta's annual staff retreat.

Pictured from Left to Right are: Art Snead, Sherry Hoogendoorn, Billy Reed, Hal Hill, Mark Heckle, John Hoogendoorn and Donise Reed.