Frequently Asked Questions

IS THERE A COST?

Yes. The cost for the weekend is $175.00 per participant. The cost includes three nights lodging, meals, and all materials necessary for the weekend and transportation to the closing. Financial assistance may be available and should be requested when the participant’s application is filed. We ask only that you exhaust other sources of funding first. These include: 1) your sponsor, 2) your church, and 3) Christian friends,

We want to be clear: there should be no financial reason NOT to go on your weekend. We want you to be there and we will do all we can to make sure you can come.

WHERE ARE ACTIVITIES LOCATED?

Cleveland Trés Dias weekends are held at Camp Burton (http://campburton.org/) in Burton, OH. Transportation to your weekend is to be provided (or arranged) by your sponsor.

WHO MAY TAKE PART?

Anyone, a minimum of 21 years old, who is seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We ask that those with serious medical issues consult their doctor before attending. The weekend involves walking between venues and the days are long and packed with activities, although none of the activities are strenuous.

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WEEKEND?

A series of 15 talks are given by laity and clergy to cover the “short course in Christianity”. These talks are grounded in Scripture. Candidates worship and study in the presence of the Holy Spirit to glorify God. Many participants report that the weekend provided them with a space in which to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and themselves. Many meet God in a new way during the weekend.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A TRES DIAS WEEKEND?

TRES DIAS is an adult (age 21 and over) weekend that concentrates closely on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. While TRES DIAS explores the basic Christian beliefs, it is best described as a spiritual encounter with Christ. Many who have attended the weekend have experienced a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ as they sense His love in a dynamic way.

WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY? I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING THAT OCCURS ON A WEEKEND CAN BE SHARED AFTER THE WEEKEND IS OVER

That’s not true at all! Any activity that occurs on a weekend can be shared freely. All that we ask is that nothing of a PERSONAL NATURE that was shared on a weekend should leave the weekend.

  • In many cases, the speakers will share some very personal and intimate aspects of their lives. They share their stories with the understanding that it won’t become gossip.

  • By the same token, other participants many choose to share something personal, so we owe it to them – and to you – to honor the confidentiality of personal sharing.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE WEEKEND?

After the three day experience, Trés Dias encourages people to share their witness, to glorify God, to serve through their church and to come up alongside each other in living out the Christian life in their own environment. In addition, we encourage people to join in accountability groups and monthly reunions for continued accountability and nourishment in their Christian walk. Many new members are excited to serve on upcoming weekends and attending these events makes their interest apparent.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARTICIPANTS?

  • To be open to respond to what you experience.

  • To be willing to begin an introspection of your Christian life.

  • To feel secure in the knowledge that you are accepted where you are.

  • To know that a specific response is not expected of you.

  • To be curious enough and thirsty enough for spiritual exploration and nourishment to acknowledge a need to commit a weekend of your life totally to Christ.

  • To “participate, not anticipate.”

HOW DO I APPLY?

Every participant must have a sponsor who has attended a Trés Dias or similar weekend (ie; Walk to Emmaus or Cursillo). Your sponsor provides support before and after your weekend. If you feel it is God’s will for you to attend, your sponsor will take the lead for your registration.

IS TRES DIAS A DENOMINATION?

No, not at all. Trés Dias is not a substitute for active, contributing membership in your church. In fact, Trés Dias desires that members reenter their churches as leaders and many discussions occur on the weekend describing the ideal of Christian action centered in the local church. It is our prayer that God use Trés Dias as one of His many tools to help awaken the need for Christ in your life and/or strengthen the walk you already have with Him. We encourage candidates to be obedient in returning to their environments including their home church to spread the gospel of Christ.

IS TRES DIAS A CULT?

This is an important question to ask. It is critical that you be comfortable about with whom you’ll be spending a 3-day weekend. If we can step back in history, the early Trés Dias participants felt that the weekends were such a blessing that they didn’t want to spoil what were considered very special parts of the weekend. As a result, people began referring to “secrets” within the weekend that were not to be discussed with potential participants for fear of ruining some aspect of the weekend. Over time, and particularly with the advent of the Internet, stories of secrecy began to spread, resulting in rumors that Trés Dias must be a cult, since secrecy is one of the hallmarks of a cult.

In response to those stories, much effort has been made to be completely open. While some individuals continue to mistakenly perpetuate the idea of secrets, there are no secrets in Trés Dias. We would like to be clear that on a Trés Dias weekend everything is to be done for the participant, not to them. The easiest way to think about a Trés Dias weekend is as a beautifully wrapped present. Telling you what is in the wrapped package, would partially rob you of opening the gift and experiencing it yourself.

In the interest of full disclosure, “The Essentials of Trés Dias” has been posted, for at least a couple of decades, on the Internet for anyone to see and review. (The Essentials of Trés Dias is the document that every Trés Dias community must adhere to). As you review the Essentials, you’ll note that each of the talks, the required meditations, the dynamics, etc. are all listed for anyone to see. There are no secrets in Trés Dias.



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