The Retreat House Story

Retreat House began with a simple question.

In 2015, while returning from a trip to East Texas to explore the possibility of creating an overnight retreat center, Greg Smith asked his wife, Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, a question that would change the future of their ministry: "Why not a day retreat center?"

While an overnight retreat center had long been the dream, Greg's question opened the door to a different possibility. What if retreat, renewal, and spiritual companionship could be woven into the life of the community itself?

As that vision began to take shape, Lil found herself searching for the right home. She knew the space mattered. Retreat House needed to be more than a program. It needed to be a place. Through a series of conversations, prayers, relationships, and what many would describe as providential timing, an opportunity emerged at Saint Barnabas Presbyterian Church in Richardson. The church's former manse—a house situated on the property but separate from the main church building—offered exactly what had been imagined: a welcoming home where people could gather, reflect, and be renewed.

With the support of Saint B’s, a growing circle of spiritual directors, prayer partners, volunteers, and community members, the vision slowly came to life. Together with many others who offered wisdom, labor, prayer, and encouragement, the community established the foundations of what would become Retreat House Spirituality Center.

Officially opening its doors in 2017 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating spaces of rest, renewal, spiritual direction, and meaningful connection, today, Retreat House is home to a growing network of spiritual directors, teachers, caregivers, and contemplative practitioners who offer retreats, workshops, gatherings, spiritual direction, and opportunities for personal and communal transformation. Rooted in hospitality, loving-kindness, brave vulnerability, cultivation, sacred story, and spiritual companioning, Retreat House serves people from many backgrounds, traditions, and life experiences.

More than a building, Retreat House is a contemplative community. We believe that meaningful transformation often begins when people are given space to slow down, listen deeply, ask honest questions, and discover they are not alone. Through spiritual direction, contemplative practice, community gatherings, and shared learning, we seek to nurture a spiritual ecosystem where seekers, practitioners, and community partners can gather, grow, and support one another.

The question that inspired Retreat House continues to guide us today: What would it look like to create space for people to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most?

We believe that invitation remains as important as ever.

Painting by Tim Mooney (God’s people in the Tree of Life)