Table Servant

What you will be doing

• Team Meeting

  • After quickly getting settled in your assigned cabin area, report to the main conference room for a "first time servant" orientation meeting.  
  •  You will help set-up the conference room and there will be a time of prayer for your table along with your TL/ATL partners. This time of prayer will be followed by a team meeting and devotional.

• Welcoming Men

  • Following the devotional, table servants will greet the arriving Brothers and the goal is to help the men feel comfortable and welcome.  Greet them with a warm smile, valet park their cars and help them get settled in a cabin.
  • Don’t be alarmed if some of the men don’t want another man carrying their bags or parking their car. Model grace and kindness as their first impression. Try to keep bottom bunks (if using bunks) available for older or larger men.

• Serving Food and Drinks

  • As the conference begins, your main responsibility is to joyfully and humbly serve the men snack, drinks, and keep the table clean/orderly.
  • There will be a staging area set-up from where snacks and drinks are stored. Try and learn what the men at your table like so you can serve them more personally.
  • Please read the Table Servant story of “Patrick” who tells of his story of serving his table and how his heart was changed during the weekend.

• Where to Sit During the Weekend

  • Do not sit at your table during the speaker presentations. Rather, sit in the chairs around the perimeter of the room while the speakers are at the podium.
  • Following each talk, there will be a time of silent reflection and a time for journaling. Please respect this time and do not serve the men during this time of reflection and journaling.
  • After everyone has finished journaling, the facilitator will initiate the table discussion. At that time, you may serve the table with beverages/snacks although serve with minimal interruption to the conversation.
  • After everyone is served, have a seat at the table for the table discussion. However, please limit your input into the conversation and allow the TL/ATL to facilitate the discussion. Following the table discussion, there will be a time for larger group discussion for the Brothers to share thoughts from table discussions.

• Pre-Meal / Post-Meal Clean-up

  • When we break for meals, please remain in the conference room for a few minutes to straighten up your table, books, chairs, etc. Pick up empty wrappers, water bottles, and trash.
    • At the end of meal times, be the first back to the conference room to greet your table mates and offer coffee or a drink.
    • Following meals and breaks, politely encourage men back to their tables once the music set begins. Though many will be engaged in conversation and fellowship (an important aspect of the retreat), we must keep on schedule.
    • At the end of each day, straighten up the tables and clean up the conference room by removing trash, empty bottles, etc.
    • Check the restrooms periodically to see if they need towels, tissue or need to be cleaned up.
    • Wear aprons and name tags at all times.

• Table Seating Map Help

  • The purpose is to create as much diversity as possible at the table and to ensure that friends or acquaintances are at separate tables. If you have a first time brother in attendance at the weekend you are serving, please respond promptly when you receive an email requesting information on your guest. 

• Prayer Vigil Help

  • The 48 hour Prayer Vigil is revealed on Sunday morning and can be very impactful for Brothers to see that spouses, family, or friends have been praying for them. Please help fill the slots by passing the opportunity along to anyone who would like to pray for the weekend.

• End Retreat Clean-up

  • Following the closing on Sunday afternoon, please remain for an additional 20-30 minutes to help clean up the conference room. We have a wonderful relationship with our camp partners and want to leave the facility in good order.

Arrival Details

• Clear Your Calendar for Weekend

  • Most importantly, clear your personal and professional “to do list” by Thursday so you arrive rested and spiritually prepared to serve and to share the love of Christ with the men at your table.

• Arrival Time

  • Arrive at 7:45 Friday morning or at the time your local chapter has asked you to arrive.

• Final Details

  • Bring one salty, one sweet, and one healthy (grapes are excellent) snack for tables. This means one bag of chips, jar of nuts, package of cookies, candy, pound of grapes, etc.
  • No use of cell phones, checking email or internet at any time within sight of Brothers.
  • Please know the weekend is as much about you and your growing relationship with the Lord. We pray that you will grow to know Him and his love for you more intimately!