Hey everyone! Last week I briefly talked about going to the Fall Retreat with my church as a middle school leader. So, this week I want to tell you all about my experience during those three days. I just started being a middle school leader this summer, and I am so glad that I decided to become one. I am one of the leaders for the sixth grade girls, and it is something that I look forward to every week.

The best part of my experience as a leader at the Fall Retreat actually came after it all was over. At middle school youth group the following Wednesday, students were given the chance to take the mic and talk about something that happened during the Retreat. One of the seven girls that were in my small group came up and told everyone that she made the decision to follow Christ this past weekend. It was just awesome. Even though being a leader isn’t always the most glamorous, and there are days where it is hard, moments like that make it all worth it. After that girl from my small group spoke, Adam (the Youth Pastor) asked if anyone else had also made the same decision. A good amount of students raised their hands, and I saw three other girls that were in my small group raise their hands. It was an amazing feeling to see the impact that this weekend had on them. I remember talking to them about questions that they had while we were in small group time, and when I asked them what they took away from the session that we had, all of them were excited to share with the rest of the group. I know that I am not the one that made them believe, but I am forever grateful that I was able to be there for the changes that took place in their hearts. So even though I was woken up from 1 am to 3am for noise complaints, barely got any sleep, and became the designated bug killer for the weekend, it was one of the best 3-day weekends of my life (and I have to mention the fun lip sync battle between the guy and girl leaders… the guys did “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys, and us girls did “Bet On It” from High School Musical 2). Also, it was incredible to be in a room with 83 students who all enjoyed worshiping the Lord through music. The sound was so so so beautiful.

As a student attending the Fall Retreat, I never appreciated all that my leaders had done to make the whole weekend as great as it always is. Part of that is because I did not know all of the planning and execution that took place before, during, and after the Retreat. As a leader, I saw the whole thing come together. There is so much planning ahead of time, and it starts months before the actual event itself. I was also included in helping to set up for games/competitions, which I enjoyed doing. Going throughout the weekend as a leader, I had a whole new perspective. I realized that this weekend was just about me and my friends. It was/is about bringing people to Jesus, and helping to further those who are already followers of Him (along with having fun while doing it). After experiencing this camp as a leader, I am more grateful than ever to all of the leaders who have helped to make the Fall Retreat was it has been, and what it will continue to be.

One thing that God taught me through my friend Dave Powers (our awesome speaker AND worship leader for the weekend) was this: we need to view God as our friend. We can’t only love Him, we need to also like Him. God is our Lord and Savior, but He also wants to be our friend. Dave was telling us about how one day God told him that he only viewed Him as his boss/taskmaster. While it is important to seek what God wants us to do, we need to have a relationship with Him outside of that. Dave asked us this question, and I really thought about it: “Where are you and Jesus in terms of friendship?”

Dave also gave us a scenario. He told us to imagine someone (famous) that we really like. He then told us to imagine that person calling us up saying “Hey, this is _____. I’m about to go to ____ (fill in somewhere you want to go) to have the time of my life. Do you want to come with me? If you meet me at ____ (location) we can take my private jet and go together, but you have to leave whatever you are doing, wherever you are right now.” He then asked us if we would do it, even if that meant leaving the Fall Retreat or something else that we like to do. You see, in the words of Dave, “These people are all ‘chumps’ compared to Jesus.” And he is 100% right. So then I had to ask myself, “Would I have the same reaction if God told me that I had to leave everyone that I love and everything that I am used to, so that I can go to another country to serve Him?” I know that it may sound dramatic of me to say that, but it is important to ask. Because even though we know that God is greater than all of the people that we like, would we have the same reaction to Him asking us that question as we would to our favorite celebrity? Just some food for thought.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Songs:

1. “Hope in Front of Me” by Danny Gokey

2. “Guilty” by The Newsboys

3. “Your Love Never Fails” by The Newsboys