Couples from across the Midwest gathered at Camp Au Sable for a weekend focused on strengthening marriages through biblical principles, encouragement, and intentional time together.
Held under the theme “Grace Meets Grit,” the marriage retreat welcomed 75 couples traveling from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Illinois for a time of renewal, connection, and spiritual growth.
Hosted at Camp Au Sable, attendees were surrounded by the beauty of northern Michigan while enjoying the hospitality and support of the camp staff. The peaceful setting created an ideal environment for couples to step away from the pace of everyday life and focus on investing in their relationship with God and with one another.
Featured speakers Royce and Laurie Snyman brought decades of ministry experience, practical wisdom, and heartfelt authenticity to the weekend. The Snymans served in Michigan ministry for 45 years before relocating to Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. Drawing from both Scripture and personal experience, they challenged couples to apply the principles of the Beatitudes directly to their marriage relationships.
Throughout the retreat, the Snymans explored what it means to live out Christ’s teachings in daily married life. Sessions focused on choosing humility over pride, mercy over resentment, peacemaking over conflict, and perseverance during life’s challenges. Using the Beatitudes as a framework, they emphasized that healthy marriages are not built by accident, but through intentional dependence on God’s grace and faithful commitment to one another.
Family Ministries direct and event organizer Amie Hubbard said “Strong marriages are built when grace meets grit.” That idea was shared throughout the weekend to encourage couples to lean fully into God’s grace while also embracing the daily work required to love each other well.
The retreat’s goal was to strengthen relationships by deepening each couple’s connection with Christ and equipping them with practical, life-giving principles they could apply in their homes every day. Through worship, teaching sessions, fellowship, and moments of reflection, couples were reminded that God’s design for marriage continues to provide hope, healing, and stability.
Many attendees described the weekend as refreshing and encouraging, offering renewed perspective and practical tools for navigating the realities of married life. The combination of biblical teaching, laughter, transparency, and community created an atmosphere where couples could reconnect and grow together.
By the close of the retreat, couples left with more than memories of a peaceful weekend in northern Michigan. They departed with renewed commitment, strengthened relationships, and the reminder that marriages flourish when grace and perseverance work hand in hand.
The “Grace Meets Grit” retreat served as a meaningful reminder that while marriage requires effort and endurance, God continues to bless couples who intentionally seek Him and apply His principles in their daily lives.
Communication Team
