Event Category: The 2025 Boston Young Adult Winter Retreat
Chapter: Chapters from Boston UBF
Date: January 17- 20
Location: Cape Cod about 2 hours south of Boston
Theme (Title): Unity Through Christ
Total Participants:
Chapter: Chapters from Boston UBF
Date: January 17- 20
Location: Cape Cod about 2 hours south of Boston
Theme (Title): Unity Through Christ
Total Participants:
Students from Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, Berklee, and Northeastern, as well as a couple of young professionals attended the retreat. We thank God for the three student messengers (Lydia C., Ezra C., Sam S.) and two GBS leaders (Sarah L., Juhui J.) that were chosen to serve at this retreat.
The first two messages focused on unity with God while the last message focused on unity with others. Lydia gave the first message on John 13:1-17, 34-35 (Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet). She talked about God who loves us despite our sinful nature and who even wants to wash the dirtiest parts of us. To be united with Christ, we must be willing to be washed - “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (8). Ezra gave the second message on John 15:1-17 (I Am the True Vine). He spoke about what it means that Jesus is the true vine and the fruits that we will bear when we remain in him. Lastly, Sam gave the final message on Acts 2:42-47 (The Fellowship of the Believers). He described what a godly community looked like and encouraged us to live in unity with one another just as the early Christians did.
In addition, we had a praise & prayer night, testimony sharing, and lots of fellowship. These gave lots of opportunities for the young adults to get to know each other better, open up about current struggles and beliefs as young christians, and pray for each other. As we spent more time together, we could truly feel the spirit of unity that comes through the Holy Spirit.
On a personal level, there was a lot that I learned through the preparation of this retreat. While the students and I are close in age and get along well, we are still in very different stages of life. As a young professional, I had almost forgotten the struggles of being a student and would sometimes not meet them with a compassionate and understanding heart. As they shared their testimonies with me, I came to a realization that I was once just like them, and felt the same things that they feel and had the same needs that they need. As Jesus calls us to be a shepherd and love one another, I was convicted to have a more compassionate and understanding heart for the students just as Jesus has for us. In addition, coming from a larger ministry to a smaller one I took for granted the established community that was provided at my home chapter. Boston presents its own geographical challenges that contribute to the church community, but my short time here showed me that ministry is not only about the weekly bible studies and Sunday Worship Services we attend, but also the relationships we build and support that we give each other outside of those things.
We thank God that He used those few days for us to spend time together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also so thankful for the support we received from the Boston leadership for this retreat. We pray that Boston UBF may be united through Christ and hope that we can continue to encourage one another to remain in Jesus.
Prayer Topics:
1) Boston Young Adults may build a community that encourages one another
2) Boston Young Adults may continue to encounter God through His word
3) Boston UBF may be united through Christ
4) Our graduating seniors: Esther, Lydia, Adreanna, Sam, Rica
The first two messages focused on unity with God while the last message focused on unity with others. Lydia gave the first message on John 13:1-17, 34-35 (Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet). She talked about God who loves us despite our sinful nature and who even wants to wash the dirtiest parts of us. To be united with Christ, we must be willing to be washed - “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (8). Ezra gave the second message on John 15:1-17 (I Am the True Vine). He spoke about what it means that Jesus is the true vine and the fruits that we will bear when we remain in him. Lastly, Sam gave the final message on Acts 2:42-47 (The Fellowship of the Believers). He described what a godly community looked like and encouraged us to live in unity with one another just as the early Christians did.
In addition, we had a praise & prayer night, testimony sharing, and lots of fellowship. These gave lots of opportunities for the young adults to get to know each other better, open up about current struggles and beliefs as young christians, and pray for each other. As we spent more time together, we could truly feel the spirit of unity that comes through the Holy Spirit.
On a personal level, there was a lot that I learned through the preparation of this retreat. While the students and I are close in age and get along well, we are still in very different stages of life. As a young professional, I had almost forgotten the struggles of being a student and would sometimes not meet them with a compassionate and understanding heart. As they shared their testimonies with me, I came to a realization that I was once just like them, and felt the same things that they feel and had the same needs that they need. As Jesus calls us to be a shepherd and love one another, I was convicted to have a more compassionate and understanding heart for the students just as Jesus has for us. In addition, coming from a larger ministry to a smaller one I took for granted the established community that was provided at my home chapter. Boston presents its own geographical challenges that contribute to the church community, but my short time here showed me that ministry is not only about the weekly bible studies and Sunday Worship Services we attend, but also the relationships we build and support that we give each other outside of those things.
We thank God that He used those few days for us to spend time together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also so thankful for the support we received from the Boston leadership for this retreat. We pray that Boston UBF may be united through Christ and hope that we can continue to encourage one another to remain in Jesus.
Prayer Topics:
1) Boston Young Adults may build a community that encourages one another
2) Boston Young Adults may continue to encounter God through His word
3) Boston UBF may be united through Christ
4) Our graduating seniors: Esther, Lydia, Adreanna, Sam, Rica
