Young Adults Are Invited to a Conference-wide Retreat Complete With Ropes Course, Outreach, and Rachel Held Evans
Rev. Ashley Fitzpatrick Jenkins
Anyone else miss retreats and trips from our earlier days? I remember going to Camp Glisson with my church’s youth group and climbing the Alpine Tower. I made it to the top while my friends were cheering me on at the base. My Girl Scout troop served meals to people in need at a local soup kitchen. I remember going on a Confirmation Retreat and I still have the t-shirt to prove it! I went to Washington D.C. with my 5th grade class and remember surrounding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with some of my classmates.
Both community organizations and churches are filled with activities and retreats catering to children and youth, As a young adult, I miss those times. It hit me one day that the North Georgia Conference should offer a Conference-wide young adult retreat. As I mentioned it to others, I quickly found affirmation that many agreed that it was time for a transformational retreat weekend, especially planned for young adults!
If you are between the ages of 18-39 this retreat is happening Nov. 14-16 and it is for YOU!
We want young adults from all different settings, churches, and campus ministries to attend. If you are the only young adult from your church, don’t worry! I promise that you will make friends and connect with other people around your age! Rachel Held Evans, Christian author, blogger, and speaker will be a keynote. In addition we will be doing the Alpine Tower, zip line, packing lunches for local children in need, and worshiping together.
Many people have asked how we have made programming decisions. I asked 20 young adult United Methodists what they wanted in a retreat, and what they suggested is what we are doing. Rachel Held Evans is a popular writer and theologian of the young adult generation. Glisson has been a hallmark on the lives of so many youth. Let's enjoy Camp just like we did 15 years ago - or for the first time! We will be staying in cabins, hiking the trails, worshipping God, and enjoying the High Ropes Courses. If you have never been to Glisson, it is Holy Ground.
If you are a pastor, church staff, or leader, please pass this information on to your young adults. We need your help getting the word out!
The cost of the retreat is $130 for the entire weekend, programming, lodging, and food. For a Saturday only option it is $45 which includes food and programming. For more information contact Ashley Fitzpatrick Jenkins at Ashley.jenkins@dunwoodyumc.org or at 770.394.0675 Ext. 179. To register go to http://www.ngumc.org/
Ashley Jenkins is chair of the Conference Young Adult Committee and associate pastor at Dunwoody UMC.