All the Answers
Adelphia FAQ
Absolutely nothing! Because each student has a work internship with Lake Retreat Camp during their time at Adelphia, the entire cost of tuition, room & board, and books is completely covered by the internship. A $100 fully refundable room damage deposit will be collected during enrollment, but assuming there is no damage it will be returned at the end of the year. We recommend each student have a little money saved up for toiletries, snacks, clothes or other discretionary spending.
An applicant must be 18 by the day school begins to be eligible to attend. Those who will not reach their 18th birthday by the 1st day of school may still attend, by a parental waiver. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis. The majority of students are young adults between 18 and 26.
Students must profess Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and be pursuing a life that is honoring to Christ. Students must not be in opposition to our Statement of Faith. Although we have an affiliation with Converge Northwest no church or denominational affiliation is required for admission. Applicants with a criminal background or who have a history of sexual misconduct will not be admitted to the school due to our close proximity to Lake Retreat Youth Camp and other students.
HS graduation or GED is strongly recommended. Students who haven't achieved HS grad equivalency but desire admission are encouraged to discuss their situation with the admissions team.
We are very happy to have home-educated students attend Adelphia. Students must be 18 by the day school begins.
Adelphia limits the class to 20 students per year, so applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. If space is available, applications are accepted up to two weeks prior to the start of a term.
Applications are available online at www.adelphiaschool.com. Applications may be submitted online. Go to SUBMIT APPLICATION. Student applications are kept strictly confidential. Once your application is receive you will be contacted for some additional information. A health form, proof of age (must be 18 at the date of the first class) and proof of insurance will be required for the enrollment paperwork.
After the registrar has received your completed application materials, you will be contacted regarding your acceptance into Adelphia. We evaluate each application for signs that the applicant meets the admission requirements, shows a readiness to attend, and will both benefit from and find success in our program. You should receive a letter within 3 weeks of application. Once accepted, a refundable dorm damage deposit of $100 will reserve your place within our student body.
Occasionally, there may be a waiting list as our class is limited to 20 students. Those accepted after the class is full will be placed on a waiting list in the order of their acceptance. Should an opening occur, the next person on the waiting list would be given opportunity to pay the deposit and secure that spot.
Adelphia Discipleship School operates under the Converge Northwest Statement of Faith.
We recommend $250 per term for spending money. Meals are included, however students may wish to purchase other discretionary products in town.
Because of the nature of the work internships, students will be unable to hold regular off campus jobs.
Students at Adelphia are required to provide their own medical insurance.
Students attend class around 16 hours a week. Monday’s class is taught by resident teachers. Guest teachers teach on Wednesday – Friday.
We recognize that students learn and process concepts at different speeds. Most students can expect to complete course reading for the week in 1-2 hours and course projects for the week in 1-2 hours. So that's 2-4 hours of "homework" each week.
Guest teachers (Wednesday - Friday) will assign minimal homework and students will complete a reflection paper at the end of the week.
Our classes include exposition of Biblical books, Theology, and Christian Living. Here is a sampling…
Courses may include:
- Hermeneutics
- Jesus in the Old Testament
- Relationships
- Spiritual Formation
- Identity in Christ
- Nehemiah & Leadership
- Character of God
- Themes in Romans
- Ecclesiology
- Power of Prayer
- Global Missions
- Spiritual Warfare
- Stewardship
- Thinking Biblically About Culture
- 1st Corinthians
- Missional Living
- Clarifying Your Calling
Additional Practical Training:
Personal Skills Assessment
Financial Management
Adventure Weeks
We offer weekly and monthly on & off campus student life activities. Anything from prayer and worship events, to local sports games, movie/game nights and community outreach events. Some activities are planned/put on by our Student Life staff, and others are planned/put on by the Adelphia students themselves!
Our teaching staff includes Christian pastors, professors, and professionals, representing a wide span of experience and expertise in a variety of ministry, academic, and workplace settings. Students will benefit from a breadth of knowledge and a variety of teaching styles.
Almost every Lake Retreat staff member is involved in daily discipleship training through our work internship program, and will be working side by side with students.
We follow Paul’s teachings to the Corinthians, that we may be free in Christ but err on the side of grace in order to keep others from stumbling. Students who experience a moral failure while at school are subject to the correction and discipline of the Adelphia leadership. All discipline and correction is aimed at bringing about repentance and not just behavioral modification. Specific discipline guidelines are provided for students in the school handbook.
Students are expected to maintain a clean and neat appearance. Moderation and modesty are required at all times regardless of prevailing fashions.
All meals are included in the tuition. Our food service department attempts to plan and prepare tasty, balanced and nutritious meals, served buffet style. Coffee and vending machine snacks are available in the Student Lounge from early morning to late night.
Depending on the extent of the dietary requirements, we may be able to accommodate the student’s needs. Based on our consultation and review of a student's needs, Adelphia will come up with a plan that works for both the student and the school. We will try to provide a wide variety of food options, however, if the dietary need is complex, a student may be asked to provide their own food alternative/substitute. Efforts will be made to provide pantry, refrigerator and microwave space for the student to prepare his or her own food. In certain circumstances, additional charges may be warranted. Due to practical limitations, catering to a students dietary PREFERENCES will be assessed differently than dietary NEEDS as necessitated by a physician.
All housing is on-site in a dorm setting. Most rooms have beautiful lake views. Students will be assigned to rooms with 2-4 roommates. All rooms have shared bathrooms and showers. Both the men’s and women’s dorms have a large lounge area. All rooms have space for clothes and storage.
Students may stay in dorm rooms during the school year, as long as they are a student in good standing. Students must vacate rooms by 5 p.m. prior to Thanksgiving Break. Students are welcome to remain in dorms during Christmas, Easter, and Spring Breaks, although meals cannot be guaranteed if they are not specifically scheduled to work.
Housing switches during the month of April to our Summer accommodations, and student will move out of the dormitories. Space will be more limited during the summer months, so students should plan on paring down belongings accordingly.
Students must supply their own twin size sheets, blankets, comforter, pillow and towels.
There are free laundry facilities available in the dorms, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Storage space is limited. Students will be provided with a space for storage and clothing.
Wireless Internet access is available for student use in the Fireside Café, but not in the dorms.
Students may bring personal laptops for use outside of the classroom. They are not required.
Adelphia Discipleship School is located on the Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center campus, near Maple Valley in Ravensdale, Washington. The Adelphia campus is located on 50 acres with 900+ feet of picturesque lakefront property. Students will find the facilities comfortable and inviting. Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center was established in 1946 by Converge Northwest (formerly Columbia Baptist Conference). For more information about Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center, visit www.lakeretreat.org. Phone: 425.432.4293. For more information about Converge Northwest, visit: www.convergenw.org.
To receive the full benefits of the year at Adelphia, single students are required to live on campus.
Married student housing may be available on a limited basis. Consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Registrar for more information.
The Bible makes it clear that being a disciple of Jesus means loving and serving His Bride, the Church, which is one of our core values at Adelphia. Therefore regular church attendance is non-negotiable in the life of the believer. More information on local church options, locations, etc. will be provided at orientation.
Yes. Students benefit from regular ministry participation by receiving both class credit and experiencing God’s work in their heart and the lives of others.
At Adelphia, we emphasize community. We encourage students to spend time together relaxing, eating, and recreating together. Time when students are not in class is spent in personal study and recreational opportunities.
Students have weekends free from class, but often will have work internship responsibilities. Meals are available throughout the weekend.
The Adelphia campus is located on 900+ feet of picturesque lakefront property. We are just 40 minutes from Seattle and 45 minutes from two major ski resorts. Students may ski, snowboard, canoe, fish, visit Pike Place Market or participate in an inner city ministry, all less than an hour away.
Adelphia has a large closed-in recreation area for basketball, volleyball and other indoor games.
Students may leave campus overnight on weekends, for non-scheduled school events, but they must sign out prior to their departure. Students are expected to be on campus during all class and school related functions and throughout the school week unless permission is granted for a reasonable exception.
The mailing address is:
Attention: Student Name
Adelphia
27850 Retreat-Kanaskat Rd. SE
Ravensdale, WA 98051
Students are required to keep their room and common areas clean. All students will be assigned a daily duty to help the community of Adelphia run efficiently. Student also participate in weekly service duties as a team.
Students must vacate rooms by 5 p.m. prior to Thanksgiving Break. Students are welcome to remain in dorms during Christmas, Easter, and Spring Breaks, although meals cannot be guaranteed if they are not specifically scheduled to work.
Yes, students may have vehicles at Adelphia, providing space is available. Student vehicles must be registered with the school office. The school is approximately 4 miles from shopping and banking.
There is one-stop shopping approximately 4 miles from Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center. Additionally, students will find coffee, pharmacy and banking in this area. Additional shopping is available in Covington, Issaquah and Enumclaw, all a 20-30 minute drive from Lake Retreat. The closest shopping mall is in Auburn, a 30-minute drive.
An urgent care facility and pharmacy are located approximately 4 miles from the Adelphia campus. Major medical care is available within a 20-30 minute drive. For emergencies, Lake Retreat receives excellent 911 services.
Lake Retreat receives coverage from almost every major mobile provider, with the exception of T-mobile and Sprint, which are more limited.