Impacting the Youth

Here are some excerpts from a student's testimony @ the youth retreat run by some of our college-aged InterVarsity members:

"Before I came to ETR my relationship with God was in one of those spiritual pits. I based our relationship off of rules and laws. I followed all those rules without really loving God and understanding what those rules were for. I was basically raised up as a christian so i felt like there was nothing else to learn. Therefore i was in one of those pits again and just ignored God completely. I know some ppl might think im kinda young for this experince, but i say God is mysterious and his plans are unpredictable...

Jean and Jon came to share to us about relationships and how we can use that to help built up our relationship with God. Jon was talking about how rules dont even matter with God. I was confused because i always based my relationship with God off of rules...

I walked around outside, kinda questioning God. Then all of a sudden i screamed, "WHERE ARE YOU LORD!" "WHATS NEW!!!!!!!" "WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME IN THIS PIT!" "I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!" I wept outloud, as tears poured onto my hands, i felt as if God commanded me to whipe my tears off and go back to the worship room. So i slowly troutted to the worship room. They just finished singing hymns when Jon said "if anybody wants to talk to us 1-1 then do so" I got the courage to ask him if i could talk to him. We waited until everybody left and we walked up the trail. Once we were out of site i just started weeping, trying to explain what i am feeling. I told him how i feel like theres nothing new. Jon prayed with me and we talked about how right now i dont need to have knowledge...but a strong open relationship with God.

The following days i was starting to fall back into routine. I started to notice and felt bad. I asked stacey and she said that u need to be doing ur quiet times. I praise God for doing wonders in my sister. So just last night I had the longest quiet time i think im my life. I just prayed to God, sang worship songs, and just really had a spiritual time with God."

--- A Seventh Grade Student

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