Why the Great Adventure?

We recently returned from a youth trip we call the Great Adventure. It's a week-long camping trip with high school students packed with activities like backpacking, rock climbing, caving, tubing, and bathing in a river. Some of you may be thinking, "That sounds like hell." We actually enjoy this kind of thing: exploring the great outdoors, building campfires, battling the elements, and even hanging out with high schoolers. The main reason we go, the main reason we participate in youth ministry at all is that we are convinced that Jesus loves us. We are convinced that he really died on a cross to pay for our sin, rose from the dead to conquer sin & death, and offers to those who believe in him real life, hope, purpose, and inexpressible joy. And this changes everything. We are desperate for students to get the gospel, to embrace Jesus Christ as their own, and to experience this awesome life of faith! That's why we go on the Great Adventure. 

This trip in particular provides great opportunity to get real with students and talk about what it's like to trust God. Take the venue for example: we're surrounded by natural beauty and away from usual distractions. We are also challenged daily with the uncomfortable. But a comforting thought is that we're all in it together, and this sense of togetherness helps create community. I was impressed with the way students encouraged and served one another even when at great heights, literally like 250 ft. off the ground!

One of my (Helene) highlights was climbing the Via Ferrata alongside a senior girl who dreaded this activity from the moment she signed up for the trip. We climbed at a pace as slow as molasses and persevered through many tears. In the end, she conquered the rock! And it gave us this tangible analogy of how the Lord is not only with us through stressful, scary situations (i.e. climbing a sheer rock wall) but also in every moment of life whether we notice or not. He is with us. He sees us through. He has hold of us and will not let go.

Steve's highlight was killing a rattlesnake. Not quite as relationally significant but thrilling nonetheless. Steve also enjoyed getting to know the rising 9th grade boys. A great foundation has been laid for this upcoming school year, and we're both excited for the fall!