Come to MBC

Join us this summer for bible teaching, engaging kids and youth programs, live music, and family time together at the beach or around the campfire.

Between September and June, you can experience one of our many MBC Retreats, customize your own group experience, or stay with us in our MBC BnB.

Grow

At MBC, we want to provide experiences and resources that will strengthen your faith journey with Jesus Christ. Explore these resources available and plan your visit to MBC soon!

Serve

MBC is blessed with an incredible team of staff and volunteers. There are many opportunities to serve year-round. Consider joining us in our mission to help grow resilient, biblically rooted families to the glory of God.

Give

Your financial support of Muskoka Bible Foundation enables our mission to write a better story for family in Canada. We long to see resilient, biblically-rooted families thrive in a society of shifting values; to the glory of God!

Widjiitiwin

The Widjiitiwin program fulfills Muskoka Bible Centre’s vision by partnering with community leaders in priority neighborhoods providing children, youth, and families with camp and retreats to help them experience life changing and lasting transformation through encountering God’s great love for them.

Grieving Parents Retreat
Home 5 MBC Retreats 5 Grieving Parents Retreat

Grieving Parents Retreat
formerly known as the HOPE Retreat

November 21-23. 2025

Are you grieving the loss of a child?

Muskoka Bible Centre is offering a biblical, Christ-centred retreat for grieving parents. The retreat is built upon Romans 15:13- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Practical teaching, interactive discussion, meaningful music and small retreat size (maximum 24) all work together to help hurting parents find perspective, healing and hope. This retreat is designed for couples or single parents who come with support. 

Our hosts, David and Lisa Elliott, lost their 19 year old son, Ben, to leukemia in 2009. They are not grief experts. Rather, they come to this retreat as wounded healers. Over the course of five teaching sessions they cover a wide variety of topics such as:

  • Understanding the effects of losing a child

  • Caring for yourself while caring for others

  • Navigating grief in the midst of marriage, family and other relationships

  • Releasing the past in order to reinvest in the future

  • Navigating challenging emotions such as regret, guilt and shame

  • Learning to put our hope in the Lord in order to heal

If you have any questions, please reach out to Shelagh Raymer at shelagh.raymer@muskokabible.com

Register Online

Teachers

David & Lisa Elliott

Dave & Lisa Elliott
Read about David & Lisa Elliott

David and Lisa Elliott are happily married and have served together in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. They have been blessed with 4 children (3 on earth, 1 in heaven). Since the death of their son, they have facilitated 20+ grief support groups. Lisa is the author of two award-winning, grief-related books: The Ben Ripple; Choosing to Live through Loss with Purpose and Dancing in the Rain; One Family’s Journey through Grief and Loss.

Visit Lisa at: lisaelliottstraightfromtheheart.wordpress.com

Weekend Itinerary

Friday

New Itinerary Coming Soon!

 

Saturday

 

Sunday

 

Accommodations

Please refer to our website for accommodation selections*. 20% discount on accommodations for MBC retreats. 

All prices are plus HST

Meals & Program

Program, 6 meals and 2 snacks — $316.70/person.

All prices are plus HST

Program Only

$150.00/person.

All prices are plus HST

* Accommodation options are subject to availability. Please call the office at 705-789-0123 if you have any questions.

Media Kit

If you need any promotional material to share, you can download posters and slides from the links below.

David & Shelagh Raymer

Poster (PDF, 8.5 x 11 inches)

David & Shelagh Raymer

Presentation Slide

“An excellent opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey of grief; to learn from each other, encourage each other and to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and promises. Hearing how God has showed up through hurt strengthened our faith! This retreat offered hope for the hurting and practical ways to move forward through grief.”

-Hope, 2023

“I reluctantly attended this retreat because I did not want to ‘walllow’ in my grief. I’m so glad I did. It was emotionally challenging but spiritually recharging.”

– Hope, 2023