Pneuma (noo·muh) is a Greek word meaning: spirit, wind, or breath.
Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” - Mark 6:31a
the pneuma story
The word pneuma enchanted my imagination the very first time I studied John 3:8 as a new believer. I was enraptured by the mysterious words Jesus gave Nicodemus. I wanted to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” The word pneuma in Greek can mean wind, breathe, or spirit.
Jesus’s teaching here is clever in words but also profound and mysterious in substance. I’ve spent years meditating on this verse, and this shapes the essence of the Pneuma Retreat. This is why Pneuma seeks to embody all three by being outdoors (wind), sharing our lives with others (breathe), and seeking God through both His special revelation and His natural revelation (spirit).
Pneuma was founded in 2020. History will remember 2020 as a pivotal year across the globe. And despite everyone having a different experience, many would use the words isolation or loneliness. Many felt ostracized from their communities in one form or another. Almost weekly, I was conversing with Christian men, and as each shared, there was a common thread: they were carrying their burdens alone. They were carrying burdens of spiritual upheaval, existential dread, financial crisis, and more. I didn’t know this at that time, but the Lord had already begun a work in my life many years prior that would manifest itself as Pneuma Retreat. I hoped to provide shelter for these burdened men, and thus, Pneuma was founded in 2020, and the first retreat was hosted in February 2021.
Through my life & work in the creative world + my history of ministry, the Lord cultivated the foundation of Pneuma. As my YouTube channel was slowly growing in 2019, Christian men were reaching out, telling me they were thankful to find a fellow believer in the creative realm. As I got these messages, I hoped these men could meet one another. Then, 2020 came, and I saw the deep need for these men to experience a safe refuge where they might share their burdens among brothers in Jesus. I knew this couldn’t be a “normal” men’s gathering. We needed to withdraw from the chaotic noise of the world to a quiet, beautiful place to experience the joy of the Lord in the beauty of His creation among a humble, loving, truth-filled community of fellow men.
Pneuma Retreat was born out of that idea as a five-day men’s retreat intentionally oriented toward Christian men in the creative realm. However, God has brought men from various walks of life across professional realms to Pneuma, which has been a great blessing. When you attend a Pneuma Retreat, you can expect devotional time in the mornings, shared meals throughout the day, intentional conversation, and, of course, adventure. It is equally important to establish what Pneuma is not. The Retreats are not about “content creation” or being a “workshop” or “networking” or anything similar.
Now, with over 30 Pneuma alumni, we’re hoping to continue building a community of men who can continually strengthen and comfort one another. After 8 retreats, we have witnessed the Lord’s abundant faithfulness and could share many stories. Feel free to ask about them:)
