God blessed our church and youth ministry greatly on the ENGAGE Retreat. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend
a joyous occasion for us. Your prayers, support, and financial sacrifice went a
long way in providing a great opportunity for our students to spend a weekend in fellowship with other students as they sought to grow closer to God.
The ENGAGE Retreat was a partnership of Homeland Park
Baptist Church, Varennes Heights Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church, and
Andersonville Baptist Church. The intent of the retreat weekend was to teach
and challenge our students how to engage with God, other believers, and
non-believers. This was done through worship rally gatherings,
personal Bible studies, specialized small groups, and fun activities while
hanging out.
The worship rallies were the highlight of the retreat.
Chris Comstock, the weekend speaker, and Justin Putnam, the weekend worship
leader, provided a fun and challenging environment for our students to learn
and grow. Chris’s messages were centered on the Gospel of Jesus, showing the
students that the first and most important encounter with God is
repenting of sin and trusting alone in Jesus and His work for them for salvation.
Then, using that foundation, he taught the students what following Jesus as His
disciples really means in a lost and dying world. His instruction gave clear
examples of how students can engage with their friends, believers and
non-believers, in a way that points each person to Jesus in the appropriate
way. Our students were also really challenged about what living as a Christian
looks and areas of sin they need to address.
Our students really loved the time to have a personal Bible
study and prayer time with God. On Saturday and Sunday morning, every person at
the camp spent time alone reading the Bible and praying to God. They were given
devotionals to help guide them through different passages. The first devotion
centered on putting away distractions which take away from following God more
faithfully. The other devotion focused on Jesus’s continual and unceasing love
for us in the midst of trial and failure.
Another fun aspect of the weekend was the “Huddle
Sessions” the students attended. On Saturday and Sunday, students went to small
groups for special discussion topics. Some of these included seeing your
identity in God, guy/girl topics, friendship, and missions. This helped
students see what being a Christian looks like in different, practical areas of
life.
The final major activity of the weekend was the
recreation time. This included sports and non-physical activities as students
were able to relax and have fun with one another.
The retreat was a great success. We’ve heard testimonies
of how God used this weekend to challenge and encourage them. Our students not
only had fun, but they have seen the beginning of real life change as they
seek to follow Jesus more faithfully. Please pray for our students as they
adjust back to normal life and seek to live as faithful Christians, please pray
for them as they seek to reach others in their schools with the Gospel of
Jesus, and please pray for me as I continue to teach and lead them.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support!
Jason