Fall Retreat!
We have just returned from our annual Fall Retreat, a weekend for staff & students to get away from the craziness of life and campus to a secluded camp in Western PA for a weekend of bible teaching, worship, hanging out and having fun!
This year, we had over 200 students from all over Western PA, and 50 from the Pittsburgh Metro area!!! We had 6 campuses represented – amazing! There has never been so diverse a group represented at Fall Retreat so the staff team has been doing lots of celebrating!
We each got to spend time serving behind the scenes (Maria & Kirstin bought ALL the food and planned the meals & Jason taught a seminar on reaching out to unbelieving friends) and engage with students from Pittsburgh about where they are and what God is doing in their lives.
One significant conversation that I (Maria) was able to have was with Gabby, a senior who’s praying about studying abroad next semester. She’s considering South Africa and Melbourne, Australia as her two destinations and has been wrestling through which the Lord would have her choose. I was able to encourage her to make a wise decision based on how the Lord has wired her and by what her passion is for. It was awesome to just tell her that no matter which decision she makes, that the Lord will not be disappointed in her, but will
continue loving her and revealing Himself to her. It seemed to move her heart to hear those words as she struggles with self confidence and assurance. Please pray for her! We’d love for her to come to Melbourne to help encourage other students there!
It was a bittersweet moment as we sat with the students Sunday morning and took a group photo, to think that in just 3 months we will be heading to Australia for a year! We’ll miss sending off the seniors but trust that our relationships are built on the Rock and will continue, and we’re excited for how, even as we leave, the students will take on more leadership and bring even more Pittsburgh Metro area students to Fall Retreat next year!
***Just a reminder to send us your email address to receive our monthly Prayer Letter via email, especially for when we’re in Australia!
Prayer Requests
- pray for us to find balance in our schedules and time for ministry & family & rest
- pray for us as we are juggling multiple responsibilities in ministry here in Pittsburgh as well as trying to prepare to go to Australia (we leave Christmas day!)
- pray for wisdom in how we spend our time, and quality time with one another
- pray for the students to walk with Jesus and keep Him at the center of their lives.
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