Missouri-Arkansas Youth Retreat

by Melissa Downey

On March 13-15, 2009, six adults and fourteen high school through college-age young people from the Apostolic Faith churches in Van Buren, Arkansas, and St. Louis, Missouri, gathered at Pinecrest Camp and Conference Center in Fredericktown, Missouri for their first youth retreat. The retreat began on Friday evening with a short devotional based on Jude 3, followed by a time for prayer.

In the Saturday morning session, the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches was used to initiate discussion on “pride and cliques.” The session was followed by lunch, and then everyone had time to enjoy the camp facilities, including miniature golf, archery, and sand volleyball.

In the late afternoon, there was another session dealing with friendship. This theme was illustrated at the end with the young people attempting to untangle themselves from a huge human knot, showing the necessity of working together to accomplish the task. After dinner, there was an opportunity to go swimming, which included a vigorous game of water basketball. The Saturday evening activities ended with a bonfire, roasted marshmallows, and a movie.

On Sunday morning, there was a youth camp style service, in which the young people enjoyed singing together and participating in various skits. The young people were challenged to be on fire for Jesus, and to guard their hearts from becoming lukewarm. Following the service, the retreat ended with a delicious lunch in the cafeteria.

Those who participated in this special weekend went home encouraged and refreshed, and are already anticipating next year’s youth retreat!