Roots
Restore. Connect. Refresh.
Roots Retreat 2026
The journey continues
This year, the retreat is coming to you!
A Space to Reflect, Reconnect & Grow.
Different format. Same community.
Retreat Overview
A pre-word from the course designer, David Russo.
David is the founder and director of Abiding Practice. He assists in spiritual direction, leadership consulting, and organizational spiritual formation.
Roots 2026 Info
What:
A curated retreat designed to create space for refreshment, direction, and connection through the spiritual discipline of silence.
Retreat Themes:
Part 1: Silence Strengthens Our Internal Leadership
Part 2: Silence Strengthens Our External Leadership
Part 3: Silence Helps Us Discern Individual Direction
Why:
To “live simply before God” and ensure that the “useless trivialities of life begin to drop away” to find clarity and refreshment.
Who:
ALICT alumni are invited to gather with a group, such as their ALICT cohort, friends, family, colleagues, church small group, or ministry team to participate.
When:
Before and on 2 July 2026
Duration:
2–4 hours total
One extended session or three shorter sessions of about one hour.
Where:
Online or in person
How:
ITL provides the retreat material.
You facilitate it with your group.
Important note: There will be an online retreat meeting on 2 July, for ALICT alumni to come together, reflect on their experience, share testimonies, and encourage one another.
How it works, in simple words.
Roots Reflection takes place in your space with your people, and Roots Event takes place online.
Jump to the Q&A’s for more info!
- Roots Reflection
You, together with others (in person or online) meet and work through the materials made available by the ITL-ALICT office on your own time.
- Roots Event
Takes place on 2 July 2026 via Zoom, after the Reflection sessions. Everyone joins online. Pre-register your spot here.
Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)
Who can be part of my Roots Retreat group?
You can facilitate a Roots Retreat session with any group you are already connected to. This could be your ALICT cohort, an ITL X-Team or national alumni group, your ministry team, colleagues, church group, small group, or another community you are part of.
The heart is to create space for people around you to slow down, connect, listen to God, and be refreshed together.
What do I do if I don’t have a group?
If you would like to use the retreat material but do not have a group, consider mobilising a group of people; it can be as small as three people. However if you do not have the capacity to, please reach out to admin@itl.org.za and we will suggest a group to connect with or try to point you in the right direction. Furthermore, if you would like to do it on your own that would be possible, however the material is designed to be done in a group.
Do I need to facilitate a session before 2 July 2026?
Ideally, yes. Alumni are encouraged to facilitate their Roots Retreat session before 2 July so that we can reflect together during the online gathering on what God has done through these times of connection, renewal, and encouragement. However, if you are unable to facilitate a session before then, you are still welcome to request the material and use it at a later stage.
Can non-ALICT people join my retreat group?
Yes. The retreat session can include people from your ministry, workplace, church, or community. It does not need to be limited to ALICT alumni.
Can I attend the online Roots Retreat gathering on 2 July if I did not facilitate a session?
Yes. All alumni are invited to join the online gathering on 2 July for a time of connection, reflection, and refreshment. However, you will likely get more out of the gathering if you have engaged with the material beforehand or facilitated a session with a group. It is also an opportunity to bless your wider circle and create space for deeper connection in your own context.
What material will ITL provide?
ITL will provide a curated programme to help you facilitate a Roots Retreat session. The material will include Scriptures, reflection prompts, guidance, and a flexible structure for leading the time.
Do I need to be an experienced facilitator to lead a session?
No. The material is designed to be accessible and easy to use. You do not need to be a professional facilitator. You simply need a willing heart, a group to gather with, and a desire to create space for people to connect with God and one another.
How do I request the Roots Retreat material?
Once you have identified a group, please email admin@itl.org.za with a short description of your group and request the Roots Retreat material.
What will happen during the online gathering on 2 July?
The online Roots Retreat gathering will be a time for alumni to come together, reconnect, reflect on their experience, share testimonies, and encourage one another.
Can I facilitate more than one Roots Retreat session?
Yes. You are welcome to use the material more than once, especially if you are connected to different groups or communities.
Do I need to report back after facilitating a session?
It would be helpful. Alumni are invited to share a photo of the group with the ITL Office, and can additionally share a short reflection, testimony, or feedback after their session, especially before the online gathering on 2 July.
Can I use the material after 2 July?
Yes. Although the main campaign timeframe runs until 2 July, alumni may still use the material afterwards in their own context. However please do inform admin@itl.org.za when you use the material.
Can the session be done online?
Yes. If your group cannot meet in person, you can adapt the material for an online gathering. However in-person gatherings are preferred.
How long should the retreat session be?
The session can be adapted to your context. You may choose to facilitate it as a shorter gathering or a longer retreat-style meeting, depending on the needs and availability of your group.
Roots Reflections
Request Materials
You can request Roots material by filling in the form, or by sending an email to admin@itl.org.za
If you want to join a group, but not facilitate, please connect with your ALICT-network (cohort, X-team, etc) or contact us to help you get in touch.
The Big Online Event:
2 July 2026
ITL will also host an online Roots Retreat gathering on Thursday, the second of July. This will be a time for alumni to come together, reflect on their experience of facilitating these sessions, share testimonies, and encourage one another.
Ideally, alumni who request the material will facilitate their group session before 2 July, so that we can reflect together on what the Lord has done through these times of connection, renewal, and encouragement.
We are expectant for how the Lord will use this opportunity to refresh, reconnect, and strengthen His people.
Time: 3 PM South African Time
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