Youth Fall Retreat

This was an amazing weekend! It began with gathering for prayers at our church, Clayton Crossings, on Friday October 24th, before loading the vans to travel to Camp Cale in Hertford, NC. This was such a special trip because everything was being controlled by Clayton Crossings Youth Ministry under the leadership of Ryan McDaniels, our youth leader.

Plans for this Adventure

We have over 40 middle and high school students excited about traveling to this fall retreat. One of the most amazing things is that many of our college students will join us coming from their various colleges with boots on the ground to provide leadership of activities and engagement in various ways throughout the weekend. One of the youth leaders, Megan Pettet not attending this weekend shopped for the food and other items needed for us. Judith Oliver has been given the task of organizing the meals at the camp. A schedule has been developed for the college students to set up, prep for cooking and cleanup after each meal. Others served the prepared meals to the students as they traveled through the serving line. Ms. Judith daily facilitated the process to be used and assigned me to assist wherever needed for each meal. Thank God those things worked out like a smooth oil machine because we all worked as a team.

Growing in Faith and Fellowship

Ryan provided opportunities and messages from the Word of God for the students to be engaged and see how Jesus has been moving. The leaders and students would break up into small groups to reflect first on individual perspectives of what was learned, then we discussed how each of us could apply God’s Word into our lives. This has been such an amazing time of fellowship, especially when given quiet time to focus on and hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to each of us. I also appreciate how this camp has allowed time for the students to get to know each other in developing and building relationships.

Call to Action

The takeaway from this retreat is to encourage students to spend time with God every day.  We discussed various ways that one could make this a reality even with busy schedules. It has been decided, because Jesus sacrificed his life for our sin that we might be free to come into the presence of God and to live with him throughout eternity.