New page for PARENTS.
We'll update later with general hints & tips for upcoming retreats.
Next major event: Summer Mission Trip:
We will rebuild homes in Kentucky July 15-21.
There is only going to be room for 24 students.
We are currently at capacity, but have started a waiting list.
Make sure we know you're interested in case we secure more seats.
Total cost will be ~$280.
the FORMS.
KHO website (the missions organization)
KHO will meet - Sunday, May.06 and Sunday, July.08 in room 2019 (12:15-1:00pm).
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Below is a recap & highlights of our XZONE retreat to PCB over Jan.14-16, 2012.
Saturday afternoon – Our first big group session kicked off by meeting our camp pastor,
Jonny Day, and everyone receiving a tote-bag to carry their Bible & notebooks.
The theme of the retreat was revealed to be “FULL,” as in “Full of the Holy Spirit.”
Jonny’s first talk explained that we aren’t indwelled with God’s Holy Spirit until
we accept Christ into our hearts. Until then we are full of selfishness and pride (sin).
We have to actively seek Christ to replace what we are naturally “full” of.
A dozen students made first-time professions of faith. Praise God.
Saturday night was our first of three “small group” breakout sessions.
These are prime opportunities to ask follow-up questions, and build community.
Saturday night – Jonny Day kicked off his second group session with a description
of who the Holy spirit is, and what He does in our lives. We have some great videos
asking this very question of various leaders on our Youtube channel. Jonny used the
analogy of us as a clay jar. While they are made of some very common elements;
in Hebrew times they often held a family’s most treasured items
(perfume, precious metals, money, etc.) We are entrusted with the same Spirit
that raised Jesus from the dead. We hold God’s most precious gift.
We wrapped up Saturday night with our friend, Zac Clay from Truth Force.
He has the ability to bend metal bars, roll-up frying pans, and tear phone books in half.
Zac shared how we all have a gift from the Holy Spirit that should be used for the
common good of our church & community. Together, we all make the body of Christ.
Sunday morning we started with individual quiet times. Students were asked to spend
30 minutes alone with God & their Bible to read what the Holy Spirit has done
throughout history. We ended with some worship on the beach. The weather was perfect.
Jonny’s Sunday morning talk reminded us that the Holy Spirit is indeed supernatural.
He empowers us to preach boldly, and do works that we never thought possible on
our own. We were encouraged to dream big God-sized dreams, and to bring God glory
in new and fresh ways. We were left with the question, “Now what?” - If God lives in us,
and He can do all things through us, what are we going to do next?
EDIT: J.D. also commented that our value comes from having the Holy Spirit inside of us.
We can't possibly have any higher value if God's eyes than that.
Jonny spoke directly to ladies and said, "don't try to get your value from boys."
And he spoke directly to boys and said, "don't tell a girl her value lies in her looks."
Too many of us this-side-of-heaven try to find value in our boyfriends & girlfriends eyes, rather than God's.
Our last talk with Jonny Day was a word of encouragement to apply what we’ve heard.
We shouldn’t return to Woodstock unchanged with the message of Good News.
We should be “wrecked” by the Gospel. He shared a personal story of a girl he knew,
who was challenged with a family tragedy, and how in the midst of her mourning
she still knew God was with her and loved her. The Holy Spirit wants to replace all
doubt, and fill-us 100%. We need to seek God’s will, and keep our eyes on Spiritual
things. Romans 8:6 says, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on
the Spirit is life and peace.”
At the end of Sunday night, we had what we called a commitment service,
which is a fancy way to say “prayer & application moment.”
Our leadership group presented a drama called the “5 Candles.”
We had rooms set up for prayer, letter writing, and counseling.
A friend named Win shared his testimony. This generated lots of conversation,
but it was entirely appropriate and true to the Spirit of the weekend.
In short, he ran away from home, and one bad decision led to another,
and he was in a very dangerous and frightening situation.
It ended in violence & physical abuse.
By the grace of God, he was restored, but he still didn’t realize that true
faith in Jesus is a personal decision and yielding moment until recently.
Yes, it was a powerful & unique testimony, but he addressed it in an
age-appropriate manner that could apply to these student’s lives.
We ended the night by watching Francis Chan’s video on the Holy Spirit
(called the “basic” series, I highly recommend it.)
I would love to answer any other follow-up questions.
I hope you can use a few of these notes to continue the
conversation with your parents, your students, or your friends.
Thank you, and God bless!
