That’s what Pathway encountered (just before the latest blizzard) when we held our Youth Retreat at Gimli Bible Camp during the weekend of Nov 25-27/16.

Even though the winter outdoor games were out of the schedule, we made great use of the facilities, including their indoor gym. A group of 20 youth joined us this year. We were also excited to see Veronica back with us (last year’s intern), Riley with us again (after serving in Easterville and at last year’s Winter Retreat), and also to have Rachel join us and lead our worship time (she has served with Pathway in both Easterville and Garden Hill). What a great time it was to renew friendships 🙂

This was a technology-free weekend as all participants handed in their phones, their iPads, and their tablets. It was an weekend intentionally set aside for community. We all know that technology, while pretending to keep us connected, can also be very isolating. We chose instead to talk, to play, to pray, and to visit together in the moment.

We took a look at everyone’s individual faith journey and the series of small decisions that are made on the way to the path of discipleship as well as steps that keep our faith growing and vibrant–things like prayer, baptism, service, accountability, worship, community, confession, intimacy with God, evangelism, and mentoring of others. Our group had a worship time on Sunday and celebrated communion together.