and Mentors at Public High School and College Campuses
The Youth Department at the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference organized the first retreat for high school juniors and seniors and postsecondary students attending public campuses on February 9-11 2018, HiC+. The focus of HiC+ is keeping your faith. Students attending public campuses are challenged with a secular environment, isolation, and busyness. It makes it difficult to have personal time with God, be part of a faith community, and be engaged in the Seventh-day Adventist mission.
The HiC+ weekend retreat was held at Indian Creek Camp in Liberty, Tennessee. Willy Ramos, an international evangelist and author, spoke at the event. Ramos was raised in the streets of south Florida, and says he “was ultimately rescued by a Jewish carpenter named Jesus.”
The youth and young adults who attended the retreat were blessed by the testimony Ramos shared. Justin Nichols, Middle Tennessee State University student, posted on Facebook, “Indian Creek Camp was an experience that I am thankful that I did not miss. Pastor Willie Ramos has a heartfelt testimony that can show how much a loving God can change your life for the better. Gracias a todos que vinieron. ¡Que Dios les Bendiga!” Tleah Edwards, young adult from Nashville First Church said, “This weekend has been a powerful one.”
In order to make this weekend possible, many individuals contributed time and resources to sponsor students or lead the event. A senior member who attended a public university years ago, read about HiC+ and decided to sponsor a student and his mentor to attend. One of the high school attendees commented, “I changed my work schedule to attend HiC+. I don’t regret it. Thank you for the invitation!” Whether you prayed for this event, sponsored a student, or shared HiC+ with someone, you partnered with HiC+ and God in mission. Thank you!
The highlights of the retreat were the altar calls to follow Jesus given by Ramos. Two students decided to be re-baptized, and most students stood up when invited to be “CrossFit;” the theme for the retreat.
There are two other events created with students attending public campuses in mind. The Campus Catalyst took place in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 7, 2018. The goal was to encourage the congregation and other visitors to support students attending public campuses. The second event is the Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) leadership retreat. The purpose of this retreat is to equip the ACF leaders for mission. You can get more information on ACF chapters and dates of events by visiting youth.kytn.net.
is associate youth director for Kentucky-Tennessee Conference.
Kentucky-Tennessee | May 2018
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