The Southwest Ohio Christian Ashram is part of the United Christian Ashram movement. Christian Ashrams seek to help all people deepen their experience of the dynamic reality of God in daily living. The experience seeks to balance devotional practice, study, worship and service in a committed life together. Our aim is to be the Kingdom of God in miniature – a quest for spiritual living. We presuppose a heart open to God. All of us can have an experience in which we, as sincere seekers, end up with a heart overflowing with love of God and our neighbors. Jesus Christ is the Center of the Ashram.
It will be held on March 13-14, 2026 at the Germantown Methodist Church (525 Farmersville Pike, Germantown, Ohio)
What is an Ashram?
The word “ashram” – meaning “apart from work” or “retreat” – is a word that comes from Sanskrit. Following a personal retreat experience in India, missionary E. Stanley Jones recognized the significance and value of a time for alternating discipline and rest, seeking spiritual health and renewal. Returning to the United States, Dr. Jones adapted this ancient retreat approach to be centered on Christian teaching and ecumenical community.
The Ashram movement is a non-denominational spiritual retreat that helps Christian live their lives and live the claim, “Jesus is Lord!”
The Southwest Ohio Christian Ashram is a two-day event held at Germantown Methodist Church.
What happens at an Ashram?
In order to make our Ashram a heart warming, mountaintop experience, time is set aside for worship, sharing, silent meditation, prayer, relaxation and fellowship. The Ashram is interdenominational with a goal of removing all barriers in Christ by providing fresh insight, commitments, and spiritual growth.
Open and Overflowing Heart
The Ashram begins with the sharing of blessings, needs, and spiritual desires that they have coming into the Ashram. It then ends with sharing how each one has been blessed, challenged, and equipped for continuing growth and ministry during the retreat. This special time of praise to God and encouragement of one another prepares us all to return to our lives ready for what God has for us to do.
The Prayer/Share Groups
Every person attending the Ashram is assigned to a group led by a Prayer Group leader. In this groups, members can share and pray for more specific needs. After the Ashram is over, groups often continue to pray for each other and keep in touch.
The Lay Witness and Church in Action
This is an opportunity for a person to give his or her witness as to how Christ has transformed his or her life. The Church in Action period provides an opportunity for this same kind of witness as what people are doing or can do in the church. One of the main ministries of the Ashram is to equip the saints in ministry in the church.
Healing and Wholeness
Often a pivotal moment during the retreat, each Ashram includes a time when participants are given the opportunity to receive physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing through prayer and community support.
Love Offering
A Love Offering will be taken on Saturday evening to help defray the expenses of the speakers.
Meals
The registration fee includes four meals (Friday dinner as well as all meals on Saturday).
Leadership
Every Christian Ashram has an Evangelist and a Bible Teacher. The Evangelist helps opens participants hearts God’s Spirit with dynamic, bold, and relevant messages in their proclamation of the Word. The Bible Teacher provides substantive, Scripture-based lessons for reflection and discussion.
We are blessed to have as our Evangelist Don Stephens. Brother Don resides Westernport, Maryland. He is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College (’75) and has been with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) since 1994. He has spent the last two decades teaching “Worldview and the Kingdom of God” in YWAM schools across Europe and the United States. With a background in professional music, missions, and youth ministry, his messages use Scripture, story, music, art, and film to explore the Kingdom of God. Retired now, he continues to serve God as an Evangelist and Bible Teacher to the Mountaineer, Western Pennsylvania, Buckhannon, and Brookville Christian Ashrams. Don is an accomplished and spirit-led pianist and multi-instrument musician.
Our Bible Study leader is Gary Wheeler. Brother Gary has been a pastor since 1986, serving churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia. He is currently the pastor of Germantown Methodist Church. A graduate of Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary, he is also active in the Walk to Emmaus movement. Gary is an author of ten books, including “Hanging On in an Upside Down World,” “Living Right Side Up: Jesus’ Guidelines For A New Life,” “Unseen Warfare,” and the four historical fiction books of his “The Messengers” series. Gary is the Director of this Ashram as well as the Mountaineer Christian Ashram. He is married to Myra, and they have four adult aged sons. He is also a Private Pilot.
Who should attend an Ashram?
The Christian Ashram is for people of ages 4th Grade and higher (sorry, we do not have nursery care or a separate program for young children), and from all walks of life, single or married, with children or without. As we open our hearts to God and to each other, we begin to see our lives changed.
Check here for the brochure/registration form or email our registrar.
Cost
The cost for the Ashram is $40 per adult ($35 for Grades 4-7) and includes four meals.