NBBI Teen Retreat 2012

This weekend, Liz and I had the opportunity to take some teens from Oromocto to the NBBI teen retreat. Liz connected with some young teen girls who were very eager to come along with us to the school. We picked them up Friday and headed up to Hartland. It was a great opportunity to spend some time with the girls, all of whom have been coming to our summer camps for years and sometimes still attend Carroll and Cathy Hills' kids club.

We appreciated your prayers as we were away, it was a wonderful weekend. Everyone seemed to have a good time and engaged with the program. Our outing went smoothly and without incident. Trent Boyd, a pastor from West Buxton, Maine was the guest speaker; and he brought the gospel to the teens and leaders clearly and dynamically and in a way that held their attention.

The teams and leaders all lined up in their teams getting instructions for their next challenge.

The afternoon polar bear dip!

Brrrrrrr...

Game time!

New Brunswick Bible Institute Teen Retreat

I had the opportunity to take some teens up to N.B.B.I. for the teen retreat this past weekend. Several youth from our home church are faithful staff at A.N.B.C., so I arranged to go as their leader for the weekend. The Lord worked it out so I was able to take along a young fellow who had been to camp this past summer as well.

The weekend started out with lots of adventure. School had been canceled, so we left early, and as it turned out it was for the best! On our way we noticed a smell coming from the truck. It turned out the truck had a brake engaged that didn't want to let go. We found a garage and they were able to get us back on the road in a few hours. We arrived at N.B.B.I. just in time for registration.

New Brunswick Bible Institute always puts on a fantastic youth retreat. The students and staff put a lot of work into making the weekend a lot of fun for the kids as well as offering a clear presentation of the gospel. The guest speaker, Wayne Heikkinen, spoke from Philippians in four sessions over the course of the weekend. It was a real pleasure to hear him challenge the teens from churched families as well as those who might not know Christ. N.B.B.I. has posted the four messages on their website, and you can listen to them by clicking on the links below.

2011/02/18 – Is Christ Your Life? by Wayne Heikkinen
2011/02/19 – Be Not Conformed to this World by Wayne Heikkinen
2011/02/19 – Christ Our Goal by Wayne Heikkinen
2011/02/20 – Christ Our Life by Wayne Heikkinen

I had the opportunity to connect and reconnect with some pastors and missionaries who had brought teens to the retreat. It was an encouraging weekend as we had great conversation and fellowship. And, of course, it's always fun to spend a night or two in the dorm.

ANBC's Students and retreaters!

After dropping all of the kids back off at their homes I returned home last night ready for some sleep. I pray that the weekend impacted our kids and got them to thinking more seriously about things of the Lord and just what it means to have a relationship with Him every day.

This week, Liz and I will be preparing, along with Kevin, to travel out to Lac La Bische, Alberta for a week of training with Tom Steffan and Mike Matthews. The focus will be the Five Stage Church Planting Strategy. After the meetings are over we will be traveling to Prince Albert to meet with the executive and other NCEM camp administrators for a couple of days of camp meetings. The trip will be twelve days and we will be covering a lot of ground. We covet your prayers for safety as we go, and that we will be able to make the most of our time.