Last month our Ignite Junior High and Rooted High School groups went on their annual Santa Cruz fall retreat. The Santa Cruz retreat is a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with each other and with God as they begin the new school year. Koby Johns was the speaker for the retreat and students were asked six questions to help them reflect on what they learned.
- What did you learn about your identity during the weekend?
- What did you learn about God and how did you experience him?
- What does it mean to you that God seeks and saves the lost?”
- How does being “rescued” change the way that you react to people, the church, and the Christian community?
- As a follower of Jesus, what did you learn that can help you be a more committed disciple, child, friend or sibling?
- What from your experience will change the way that you live and represent Jesus at school, youth group, and home?
Haley Mozier (Junior)
I was reminded that I am rescued by God and that God never stops showing up. He keeps pursuing us no matter what. I experienced God through our community. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with friends, grow closer, and feel God’s love through people throughout the entire weekend. God keeps pursuing us and meeting us where we’re at. It’s so significant because it’s not just us seeking God; rather, it’s God seeking us and pursuing us even when we’re far from Him, off track, etc. Being “rescued” encourages me to keep pursuing people in the same way that God pursues me. I learned to keep pursuing my friends, siblings, etc. Pursuing people even when they’re not reaching out or showing that they want to be connected is a way to show them God’s love through us. My experience reminded me to be kind and pursue people at school, youth group, and home. It is a way to represent Jesus through my actions and character.
Gabe Johns (8th Grade)
At the Santa Cruz retreat, I learned that I am farther away from God than I believed I was. I learned why I matter, which helped me get closer to God by the end of the weekend. I learned why God is different than other culture's beliefs in higher powers because He showed up by actually walking on Earth in the form of a man in His Son, Jesus. In our second chapel, I felt the Holy Spirit was present and working in my friend in the way that the speaker's message really touched him. The fact that God seeks and saves the lost makes me feel loved that someone would do that for me. Being rescued helps me react with empathy rather than frustration to people because they are my brother or sister in Christ. I learned to show people that you care about them by being patient and following the command to love my neighbors. Don't try to fit in with other people just because they're popular, but instead stand out because you're you. God made you in your own special way.
Ashley Jordan (8th Grade)
I learned so much about myself. I learned that I can be awkward around some people, but once the conversation starts rolling I can relate to so many things. I learned that I love hugs and spending time with people I have a newfound friendship for. I grew so much closer to people that I’d never thought I’d talk to. I learned that It’s okay to cry and laugh at the same time, in the same place, with the same people that I hope will be with me and support me throughout my journey. I learned that God can act through you in many different ways. When I was on the bus, I wanted to talk to a certain group of people with the hope of getting to know them better. But it didn’t work out that way, and I ended up trying to make conversation with a girl I never thought I’d be friends with. Now that girl is one of my best friends in the entire world. God knows the plan he has for me, even if it starts with an awkward conversation.
God will never stop looking to find you. Even if you keep running away from God, He will chase you down and protect you from sin and everything Satan wants to happen to you. Even if you don’t want anything to do with God, He wants something to do with you. It could work in the opposite way, too. If you are searching and searching for the love of God, and you think nothing is going to happen, stay strong. God has yet to surprise you and won’t stop until you’re sitting up there with Him. If you’re lost and looking for God, He’ll find you. You just have to trust Him in everything He does, no matter what. Now, knowing that I’ve been rescued from all the sin I could imagine, I’m not afraid to tell people that I’m thinking about them. Now I know that some people are really struggling, and I could be the person that lifts them up by telling them that I’m praying for them. Even if I’m not that one person, I could be a small step toward their journey to God. That is truly amazing if I get to be a part of it. Raising my hand in worship was always scary to me, I don’t know why, but I didn’t think I could do it. Now I can’t think of a reason not to raise my hand. If God sacrificed His life to save us, I could easily raise my hand to praise Him.
I learned that to be in constant communication with God, I have to pray. Whether it is a small little prayer or a very long one about the troubles I may have, it makes me feel a lot better knowing God is listening and is by my side, answering my prayers. I also learned that it is okay to ask your friends to pray for you because friends will always be supportive and won’t think twice about praying for you. This experience changed my life. I now know that the Holy Spirit is in me, and God’s voice is never far. God was kind to everyone He encountered, and I wish to do the same. We don’t know everything happening in a person’s life, and something nice you say might make their day. That is one thing that I’d like to do to represent Jesus in the future. Being kind is never wrong, and God proved that.
Bekah Vaccaro (8th Grade)
I learned that I matter just because and that I don’t need to do things to make myself matter. I experienced God on Saturday night. I could really feel Him in the room and I felt safe being surrounded by people that I love and that love me. Being rescued means that God will come after me even when I don’t realize that I am lost. Being rescued helps me remember that if I need help I should reach out to people so they can help me. I shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help because they are also rescued and can give me good advice. I learned that I can be lost inside the church. I am changed by the fact that we are all lost and we are lost in our own ways.
Rebekah Rooney (8th Grade)
Something that I learned is that seeking the approval of others is not going to get me anywhere. I need to try to be like Christ because that’s what the Bible tells us to do. The love of others won’t sustain me but the love of Christ will. I was reminded that God doesn’t need me to give Him a reason to love me. His love for me is unconditional, and that’s the way I should love others. I experienced His love from the people around me. I saw Him surround me with the most incredible people who love me and support me and who will help me grow in my faith. No matter how far we stray from God He still loves us and will be waiting for us with open arms. It gives me freedom from my sin, guilt, and shame. The fact that I am rescued gives me so much joy and I want to share my joy with other people. My goal is to live my life for Christ and to love others well. I want God’s love to be evident in me, my life and the way I love others. No matter where I go or what I do I should be living proof of God’s love. I strive to love everyone just because, not because of anything they do for me, but because that’s the way Jesus loved.
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