1,000 youths attend 6 Midwinter retreats




By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
More than 1,000 young people participated in this year’s six Southwest Texas Conference Midwinter retreats.
Sixty-nine of those youths made first-time commitments to Christ. Another 472 “felt God close.”
That’s the report from the Rev. Rusty Freeman, youth ministries director.
Attendance at the retreats has improved annually over the past seven years.
“We are growing stronger and maturing every year that goes by,” Freeman said. “My experience, plus surrounding myself with excellent youth leaders and pastors, is the key.”
His office has put more time into developing extensive curriculum for the Midwinter retreats, including interactive worship services and theme rooms, Freeman said. That work has contributed to making Midwinter retreats better.
The highlight of each retreat is the commitments students make, Freeman said.
First-time commitments, Freeman said, are “opportunities for youths to accept Jesus Christ as their savior for the first time and to make this commitment public.”
“Some of our youths have either not been in the church for very long, or they have never made this decision for themselves,” Freeman said.
But first-time commitments shouldn’t be confused with reded-ications, Freeman said.
“There are always those who have made a commitment to Christ, yet want to reaffirm that commitment at Midwinter or summer camp,” he said. “We would put this into the category of rededication.
“We provide an open and grace-filled atmosphere that allows youths to respond to how the Lord is speaking to them. It’s never our intent to pressure youths to make commitments but to invite them into a loving, exciting and ongoing relationship with our Creator God.”
Freeman said his office has contacted the pastor of every youth who made a first-time commitment and of the 116 youths who felt calls to ministry.
The Board of Ordained Ministry and Council on Youth Ministries follow up with those young people who feel a call to ministry. They are invited to Discovery Zone, an event at which students explore that call further.
Midwinter retreats, offered each January and February for junior high and senior high students, are designed to let youths feel closer to God, Freeman said.
“It is the intent of the CCYM to provide a spirit-filled environment in which youths can take the next step in their relationship with God,” Freeman said. “Sometimes that means a brand new commitment; other times it means saying yes to God’s call upon their lives to become missionaries.
“Whatever the response, our purpose is to put youths in the path of Christ and allow him to speak in life-giving and grace-filled ways.”