To prepare for the upcoming retreat at Leoni Meadows for freshman and sophomore academy students, a group of leaders gathered at the camp on Thursday, Feb. 8. That evening a group of about 15 Pacific Union College students and 20 juniors and seniors from academies around the conference gathered at the camp to spend time praying for and organizing the retreat.

The leaders planned several fun games and activities that would encourage the students to share openly and participate in spiritual activities. “I was impressed with the fact that the small group leaders were so perceptive, spiritually insightful and ready to go within 24 hours,” said Ron Torkelsen, Pleasant Hill associate pastor. “The kids responded well through the entire weekend; it was a good spiritual atmosphere.”

The next afternoon, buses and vans started to arrive at the camp, dropping off load upon load of enthusiastic young people. By the time the evening meeting convened, more than 300 youth and adults were packed into the main auditorium at Leoni Meadows. LeClare Litchfield, Collegedale Academy chaplain, was the speaker for the weekend. His theme was “Making It Mine.”

Praise music, drama and an inspirational message filled Sabbath. The young people were then divided into small groups so that they could bond with each other and dive deep into the Word of God.

After the meetings with spiritual emphasis concluded on Sabbath, everyone gathered in the camp’s main auditorium to participate in entertaining group activities, like face cake decorating, name that TV tune, trivia questions, and a junk scramble. “It was one of the best attitudes of a freshman/sophomore retreat I’ve seen,” said Torkelsen. “They were respectful, insightful and committed, as well as being a lot of fun.”

The weather did not cooperate during the retreat; it rained all weekend. The young people did not seem to mind, as they were staying busy indoors — making new friends, creating memories, and developing their relationships with the Lord. There was a call for those in attendance to dedicate their lives to God, and several of the youth expressed their desire to be baptized or to recommit their lives to Christ. “The highlight of the weekend was when five young people asked to start studying for baptism,” said Eddie Heinrich, NCC youth director. “Growing in God was what the retreat was all about.”