REACH! Spiritual Leadership Retreat 2006

On October 14, eighty-five college students set out on an adventure.

The Destination:  Allenspark, Colorado
The Goal:  REACH Up to God, REACH Out to one another
The Means:  18 hours in a van and 3 days in the mountains surrounded by others who know and love Jesus and want to know Him better!
The Result: Changed Lives!
Below are just a few of the reflections of students who attended the retreat.  We hope they encourage you and challenge you to pray with us as we continue to REACH out to college students with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

“I came to the end of last week and because of circumstances beyond my control, I was spiritually, emotionally and physically exhausted.  I was empty!  I knew I was to be a cabin leader and I had nothing to give, nothing to pour out love on the girls in my cabin.  On Friday night I cried out to God and told Him that if He didn’t show up and be the Hero, I would fracture relationships & hate the retreat.  God did show up as my hero! He brought me to the end of myself so that I had to depend on Him to love the girls in my cabin.  He used me to pull one girl out of her hurt long enough to talk to a few of us about her life!  She accepted Christ!  She surrendered her life and God made her a new creation!  I got to be a part of a miracle this weekend because I was unable to do any of it myself.  Praise God!” - Stacy Anderson, Cabin Leader

“I had a head-to-heart revelation during the quiet time session. In the midst of discouragement, fear and doubt, I always thought I was only under attack. Through a previous session, God told me that He walks through those times with me; He has never left. In fact, it is in those times that He is the closest to me.  I just have to open my eyes and see Him in the things and people around me. When I’m in those times that I feel like giving up, He gives me a fresh start, cheers me on, tells me that He loves me and is for me. In fact, if I just let go of myself and reach for Him (and only Him), He will be faithful to work out His purpose and glory through me as I learn to listen, follow and obey Him.” - Retreat Attender

“God didn’t give me some wonderful feeling, He didn’t reveal some new truth to me, He simply remained the same and reminded me of some of His promises.  I had gone through a long time of spiritual dryness, no real desire to seek God, to study His word.  I was just so numb and so dead to passion for God.  So coming here I was asking God to please change my life, do something amazing, stir up my emotions.  I think I was looking for a feeling, relating my closeness to God based on a warm fuzzy feeling.  If I wasn’t feeling joyful, happy and madly in love with God, I must not be close to Him.  Out here I was allowed time to just be still before God and dig into His word.  Through the Psalms He reminded me of His goodness – His faithfulness is over all He does!  Those who fear Him shall not long for anything more, they shall not want.  I want to remember these truths and remember that it is what God says in His word that is true, not what I think or feel about my relationship with Him.” – Jeff Johnson

“God taught/reminded me that everything He has done and everything I should do is for His glory. I was created to glorify Him. He sent His son to die not just because He loves me, but because He would be glorified through my salvation. And when Jesus comes back again, it will be to glorify God. In my own life I need to glorify God with my actions, my attitude and the state of my heart. I need to live a lifestyle of worship that keeps God at the center and on the throne of my heart.”  – Retreat Attender