“Greater Things” Thursday #43: Youth Retreats

Lebanon Road’s 2011 theme is “Greater Things.” For an introduction and video to this theme, click here. Each Thursday, we are highlighting a different area in which we are seeking greater things.

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Twice each year, our young people head out to a retreat center, state park, or church camp for a retreat. Each spring and each fall, they get away for a Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning time of worship, study, fellowship, fun, and very little sleep.

This weekend, our youth minister, JD Buckner, will be leading the young people on their fall retreat. It’s very encouraging that our own members help with all of the food and, most of the time, they also teach the lessons. The young people always return from these weekend retreats uplifted and ready to serve the Lord in an even greater way.

One of the aspects of these retreats that always encourages me is that there is a strong emphasis on the Bible. Yes, there is a lot of fun during the weekends, but JD does a great job of focusing the weekend around a particular Biblical topic or text, and our young people are led through some great studies and discussions about the Scripture.

Back in the spring, the theme for the retreat was “Unity.” Here are a couple of pictures from that retreat.

This weekend is the fall retreat. The young people will be looking at the book of James. One of the unique aspects of this retreat is that the lessons will be taught by some of the dads of those in our youth group.

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Obviously, the planning is done and there is not much that can be done in that way. But for “greater things” to occur, we who are not attending the retreat need to spend some time in prayer for the weekend. I am praying that our young people not only have fun during the weekend, but that they truly grow closer to the Lord through the lessons and through the interaction with each other.