Retreat (Suryeonhoe)

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term suryeonhoe (修鍊會) means "a gathering for cultivating and disciplining the heart." It refers to a meeting in which church members leave their daily lives for a set period, stay together in one place, and devote themselves intensively to worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. It corresponds to the English "retreat," and depending on the church it may also be called a suyanghoe or a "camp." In the Catholic Church, a gathering of the same kind is called a pijeong (避靜, "withdrawal to a quiet place").

Biblical and Historical Background

Churches that hold retreats often cite Jesus' words to his disciples, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (Mark 6:31), as well as the record that Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16). In Western Christianity, the retreats of the monastic tradition and the outdoor tent revivals (camp meetings) of nineteenth-century American Protestantism are regarded as comparable precedents.

In Korea, the sagyeonghoe (査經會) of the early church, gatherings in which believers met for several days to study the Bible, served a similar function. The Great Pyongyang Revival of 1907 is also said to have broken out during a sagyeonghoe held at Jangdaehyeon Church in Pyongyang.

Practice in Korean Churches

Retreats in Korean churches are usually summer and winter retreats timed to coincide with school vacations. The Sunday school, the middle and high school (youth) department, and the young adult department hold them for roughly three days and two nights at prayer centers, church retreat centers, youth training centers, and similar facilities. A typical program includes the following:

• Sermons and tongseong gido (simultaneous audible prayer) at evening services
• Praise led by a worship team
• Sharing in small groups
• Recreation

Children's departments sometimes combine their retreat with Vacation Bible School.

There are also retreats for adult parish districts, for church officers, and for ministers. Denominational bodies such as presbyteries and district conferences sometimes bring several churches together for joint retreats. Mission organizations such as Korea Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Korea, and Youth With A Mission Korea also hold retreats for college students and young adults during each school vacation.

Emphases vary widely from church to church. Some retreats follow a revival meeting model that places weight on evening services and prayer, while others center on Bible study and training, or on rest and meditation. Some churches, such as the Anglican Church of Korea, also use the term pijeong. During the spread of COVID-19 from 2020 onward, many churches canceled their retreats or replaced them with online gatherings.