Questhaven Retreat

Welcome to the Home of The Christward Ministry

This non-denominational Christian retreat is nestled among chaparral-covered hills in San Diego County. These holy grounds encompass 640 acres of coastal wilderness traversed by several miles of nature trails offering views of the Pacific Ocean, shaded oak sanctuaries, wayside shrines, seasonal wild flowers and a variety of birds and wildlife.

Devotional Services are held every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. in the Church of the Holy Quest.

Classes and workshops are offered regularly on prayer, meditation, healing, and artistic expression.

Weekend retreats are held to celebrate the annual festivals of Easter, Michaelmas, and Christmas.

Spring & Summer 2009

Dear Friends and Spiritual Family,

These words are framed next to the portrait of the Christ in our beloved church:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things on earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the Light of His Glory and Grace.
--Lilias Trotter

By looking into the eyes of our Lord and repeating these words in my heart, I quickly connect to Him. In meditation it has been my most successful way to connect with God. I have often pondered how I can get that kind of attunement more readily in my daily life. Do you know that Flower A. Newhouse spoke on prayer and meditation more than any other topic? Over 150 times! Flower said, "Meditation is the way. It is responsible for all that I know."

Upon hearing this statement by Flower, I wondered how many of us are practicing the various methods of meditation that she brought to the world. With a little research, we found over 30 specific meditations as well as countless prayers and themes to help keep our moments with God creative and growing.

Flower emphasized meditation with a purpose--as a way to attainment. While certainly it is a time for being silent and listening to God, there are specific techniques and methods to deepen not only our connection with the Eternal but also what we receive in that communion. It is not just a time for contemplation with God. It must be planned and purposeful. Much like the way the poem takes me to higher levels, there are other venues to help deepen our contact and bring needed direction to our spiritual journey.

Flower said, "If we are not meditating, we are regressing." These words struck deep into my need for strengthening my meditation work. She also said that we should look forward to meditation, as it was the most important part of our day--adding that we should never come to it as if we felt it was a chore. These statements lit a fire in my consciousness to rediscover meditation as Flower experienced it--not as a task, but a tremendous spiritual opportunity and adventure.

What an important time in the world to begin teaching her wonderful methods of drawing closer to God. We are currently busy making support materials and kits to help the sincere seeker learn ways to move into the Presence of God more deeply, including Flower's western approach to meditation. Starting from the very beginning with silence, prayer, and our alignment with God, to our growth in consciousness (Jacob's ladder), to our world treatment exercises, we are building instruction models for us all to improve our efforts. This initial project is called Ways Into God's Presence: Finding Your True North. Other phases will be added to this material to help individuals move to more advanced practices as needed.

Out of this work will come new resources, lessons, classes, and books to help each of us find the joy that comes with each deepened connection with God. The upcoming Vernal Retreat will unveil much of this material. We are eager to share our discoveries--there is even a rediscovered meditation pamphlet (last published in 1935) by Flower.

Flower begins this book by saying, "Great gifts may bless us, but they are unable to appear until we prepare a way for their manifestation." That way of preparation can be meditation. Let us rediscover its true value in creating a sanctuary in our hearts where we commune with God.

May the warming rays of summer fill your soul with Divine sunlight.

Your Brother in Christ,
Reverend Blake Isaac

Inspiration Magazine, Spring/Summer 2009 (pdf)

Questhaven Retreat is dedicated to serving one's vital need to prayerfully repledge themselves. Here, in the quiet haven of peaceful hills, individuals from all walks of life may come to reconsecrate themselves to God and Christ, and find answers to their innermost quest. Sunday Services 10:45am.

MysticismDiscipleshipMeditationAngelsNatureReincarnation

What's New

Finding Your True North
Finding Your True North
Ways Into God's Presence

The Collected Works of Flower A. Newhouse, Vol I
The Collected Works of Flower A. Newhouse
Vol I

Inspiration Magazine
Inspiration Magazine
Spring & Summer

Announcements

Finding Your True North

Finding and expressing your spirituality is a creative walk that you must discover for yourself. It begins with a desire to know God. It requires you to let go of self and to be a channel of God's love, guidance and Truth. This takes training and patience as you awaken to the Divine potential within you. Each of us has much to learn this lifetime. Are you ready for such an adventure?

Introducing "Finding Your True North" - a new training program including a comprehensive resource kit to help sincere seekers discover new Ways into God's Presence. Learn More...

Sunday Programs

Each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. our regular devotional service is held in the Church of the Holy Quest. The following list provides recordings of recent services.

March 1 Our Search for Christ by Lucy Wold
March 8 Baptism by Jonathan Wiltshire
March 15 Wilderness by Myrna Triggs
March 22 Miracles by Elizabeth Wood
March 29 Sermon on the Mount by Blake Isaac

April 5 Christ enters Jerusalem by Phyllis Isaac
April 12 Christ Victorious by Jonathan Wiltshire
April 19 The Way of the Mystic, Rev. Hal Lingerman
April 26 Within the Lighted Garden We Walk, Miara Wiltshire

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Truth and Beauty
May 3 God is Future, Dr. Pietro Grieco
May 10 Maytime: The Open Door to the Inner Mysteries of Nature, Rev. Elizabeth Wood
May 17 Ripples on the Water: The Evolving Lifetimes of Our Soul, Rev. Blake Isaac
May 24 When Your Loved One Dies, Rev. Phyllis Isaac
May 31 Earth-Our School for the Creatures, Rev. Myrna Triggs

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June 7 The Creative Life: Manifesting Truth and Beauty, Rev. Jonathan Wiltshire
June 14 Renewing Our Connection with God: Practicing the Presence, Rev. Blake Isaac

June 20-21 Practicing the Presence of God - VERNAL RETREAT
June 28 For the Beauty of the Earth, Gwen Hulbert

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Channels of Light
July 5 We Hold These Truths in Our Hearts, Dr. James Hulbert
July 12 Out of darkness, a Brilliant Light: Helen Keller, Miara Wiltshire
July 19 William Wilberforce: The Virtue of Compassion, Police Lt. Dan Willis
July 26 Soul: Your Channel of Light, Rev. Jonathan Wiltshire

Ongoing Activities

Wisdom Classes, led by The Reverend Blake Isaac, are held on alternating Tuesdays, at 7:30 p.m. in Chapelito. Next class will be June 30th.

Pranic Healing Clinics are conducted on the first Sunday of each month in the Academy from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The next clinic will be July 5th.

Servers in Action Days are on the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. until noon. The next one will be July 11th.

Classes on The Christward Ministry teachings:
Read-Discuss on Mondays: (2nd and 4th) at 7:30 p.m. in Oceanside.
Wednesdays: (1st and 3rd) at 1:30 p.m. in the Questhaven Academy.