NexGen Retreat Recap 2/4-2/6

Who: 100 incredible Middle and High School Students and 24 adult and college-age volunteers

Where: Warren Willis United Methodist Youth Camp

What: Annual spiritual formation retreat consisting of corporate worship services, focused biblical teaching, small group discussions, games and community building activities, service opportunities in the local community

The 'Big-Picture' Theme; The work of God through the person of Jesus Christ has called us to engage the 'Kingdom of God' that is coming forth in our world and in our lives. Our responsibility is to engage it right here and right now.

Friday night; 'Kingdom Understanding'

• God's Kingdom is not bound by geography
• God's Kingdom is not easily defined
• Matthew 10:7 & Matthew 6
• Where we see the goodness of God at work in our world by our efforts or otherwise is where we affirm His Kingdom and engage

Saturday Morning; 'Kingdom Sight'

• Exodus 33 (high school)
• Isaiah 6 (high school)
• John 14 (high school)
• Acts 9 (both MS & HS)
• Optical Illusions illustrations
• Do we have scales on our eyes?
• We must ask for the eyes of Christ so that we may see more clearly His kingdom

Saturday Afternoon; 'Kingdom Urgency'

• Matthew 5 (high school)
• Why and what must we 'be' in order to engage God's kingdom
• Acts 9 (middle school)
• you're not too young to make a difference
• bystander effect (stop expecting others to do it for you)
• God is making his appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Saturday Night; 'Kingdom Life'

• we all have a choice
• we choose constantly between the world and the Kingdom
• Dave shared his story of life in the world and the movement into a life in the Kingdom
• Students urged to choose

Some of the Music from the weekend;

• Freedom is Here - Hillsong United
• Fail us Not - 1000 generations
• Where the Spirit of the Lord is - chris tomlin
• Love is Here - Tenth Avenue North
• Desert Song - Brooke Fraser
• Brighter - Brandon Grissom
• Revelation Song - Kari Jobe
• Our God - Chris Tomlin
• The time has come - Hillsong United
• You'll come - Hillsong United
• Give me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath
• With Everything - Hillsong United
• How He Loves - John Mark Mcmillan
• You Can Have Me - Sidewalk Prophets

Some Highlights and memorable moments;

• Friday night 'Muck-Fest' Huge, nasty, messy free-for-all with 100 students, water bombs, florida snowballs, shaving cream etc..
• Seeing our '2 groups' become one at saturday night worship
• Having a middle schooler say they wanted more small group time! Praise God!
• Sunday Morning closing worship with our church family! the attic was standing room only with over 300+ students, parents and leaders! (Don't tell the fire marshall)