Our History

In 1992, a group of teens and adults from Louisiana traveled to Mississippi to attend Mississippi Happening #11. They came with a hope and a prayer: that the same kind of Christ-centered experience they encountered in Mississippi could one day come to Louisiana.

And so, it happened.

In January 1993, Louisiana United Methodist Happening #1 was held at Tall Timbers Retreat Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. What began with a small group of people and a desire to share the love of Christ quickly became something much bigger than anyone could have imagined.

Over the years, Happening has found a new home at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, Louisiana, where the retreat is now held annually. Generation after generation of Happeners and staff have carried the spirit of Happening forward, sharing their faith and making room for others to encounter Christ.

Today, we celebrate Happening #61—more than three decades after that first weekend in 1993. While much has changed over the years, the heart of Happening remains the same: to create space for people to encounter Christ and discover the work God is doing in their lives.

What began as a hope in 1992 has become a story still being written. And we trust that God is not finished yet.

our mission

In a world filled with noise, distractions, and competing voices, it can be difficult to slow down and listen for God. Happening exists to create space for people to step away from the ordinary, encounter Christ, and hear where He may be calling them. 

The mission of Happening is simple: "Happening is a Christ-centered retreat that invites youth and adults into a life-changing experience of spiritual growth, genuine connection, and joyful discipleship, equipping them to serve others and share the love of Christ in their everyday lives."

Happening isn't about what we can accomplish on our own. It's about making room for God to do what only He can do. 

What happens at happening?

A Happening weekend is an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and make room for Christ. From Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, Happeners are invited into a weekend of worship, fellowship, reflection, laughter, and growing together in faith.

Throughout the weekend, youth and adults share a series of talks that explore what it means to follow Jesus and live out our faith. Happeners hear from other youth, adults, and clergy, creating opportunities to hear different perspectives, ask honest questions, and recognize the ways God is working in their own lives. Through personal stories and Scripture, these talks invite us to consider what we believe, why we believe it, and how our faith shapes the way we live.

Worship is at the heart of the weekend. Through prayer, music, Scripture, Holy Communion, and more, we gather as the body of Christ and turn our hearts toward God. Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, Happening encourages Happeners to grow in grace, deepen their relationship with Christ, and discover what it means to love God and love others.

At the beginning of the weekend, Happeners are broken up into small groups. These small groups give Happeners a safe place to process and discuss with others what they are hearing and experiencing. Together, we ask questions, share our stories, encourage one another, and grow in our understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

And woven throughout the weekend are the simple moments that make Happening what it is—meals shared together, conversations that continue late into the night, laughter, music, prayer, and friendships formed in Christian community. In all of it, we trust that God is at work.

The weekend builds toward an invitation: to leave Happening not simply with memories of a weekend, but with a renewed desire to follow Christ and live out our faith wherever God calls us next.

Our Wesleyan Foundation

As a ministry of the United Methodist Church, Happening is deeply rooted in the Wesleyan tradition and its understanding of God's grace. We believe that God's grace is already at work in every person's life, calling us toward a deeper relationship with Him and inviting us to respond to His love.

At the heart of our faith is the belief that we are transformed by God's grace. Through Christ, we are invited to receive God's love, grow in holiness, and become more like Jesus. This is not a journey we are meant to walk alone. We grow through worship, prayer, Scripture, Christian community, and lives of love and service.

John Wesley taught that faith is not simply something we believe—it is something we live. To love God is also to love our neighbor. At Happening, we seek to encourage that kind of living faith: a faith that reaches beyond the weekend and shapes the way we treat others, serve our communities, and follow Christ each day.

Our Wesleyan heritage also reminds us that God continues to work in us throughout our lives. We are always growing, always learning, and always being invited deeper into the life Christ offers. Happening is one place where we make room for that work to happen.

Ultimately, our hope is not simply that Happeners leave with a better understanding of United Methodism or even a memorable weekend. Our hope is that they leave knowing Christ more deeply, recognizing God's grace more clearly, and feeling equipped to live out their faith wherever God leads them.