Event Category: The East Coast Young Adult Winter Retreat
Date: 1/10-1/12/2025
Location: America's Keswick Retreat Center in Whiting, NJ
Theme (Title): Pursuing God
Total Participants: More than 110 people registered for the retreat from more than 15 chapters. (Washington, Shippensburg, Philadelphia, LA, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Akron, NYU, Queens, Trenton, New Jersey, Highland Park, Catonsville, Boston, Baltimore, and others)
Planning committee: Joseph and Rebecca H. ( NY), Susan Y. (WA/Boston), JoyMaria K. (WA), Daniel S. (WA). We had weekly planning meetings from September with biweekly prayer meetings with young leaders from all involved chapters. The theme of the conference, recommended by Pastor Juan S., was Pursuing God. Through much prayer and discussion, we decided to study the pursuit of God through Peter's life. The theme was truly to pursue God, who has been pursuing us first and always.
Friday Night Message was given by Joshua K. from Philly, Trenton, on Luke 5:1-11, the first pursuit. Saturday Morning's message on John 21:1-19 was given by Joseph L. Jr from NJ, the pursuit when we feel a distance from God. Saturday evening program began with life testimonies and continued with praise and prayer night. Praise was led by an outside church team and Andrew Forbes (NY/WA), who led us in ACTS prayer during the praise night. Many people came up to pray in adoration for God and others later came up to be prayed over, receiving grace and peace and resolve to pursue God. Life testimonies were shared by Joshua B. (NY), Josephine K. (Trenton), and Mark T. L. (NY, Koln). Sunday morning began with Testimony Sharing in small groups. Sunday Worship service message was given by Pastor William L. from Downey UBF. His message on 2 Peter 1:1-11, encouraged us to pursue God to participate in the divine nature and power of God's promises. When we live apart from our sinful desires, we can receive this power and pursue His calling for us.
Overall, we pray for even more young people to attend the retreat in the following years with the purpose of renewing them, encouraging them, and loving them to know that there is a community of like-minded Christian young people in UBF all over the world. May we continue to Pursue God, who has always been pursuing Us.
