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The weekend of March 30 through April 1, Ignite Student Ministries had the privilege of hosting the bi-annual Encounter Retreat at Great Oaks Camp in Lacon, Illinois. These retreats are intended to give students the opportunity to get off campus, disconnect from homework and responsibilities and work and stresses from school, and focus on encountering God.

We had 16 students from five different schools attend, including Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL), Carl Sandburg College (Galesburg, IL), Joliet Junior College (Joliet, IL), Galesburg High School (Galesburg, IL) and United High School (Monmouth, IL), along with two Ignite staff members.

Students were excited to take part in a number of sessions geared to growing their faith. These sessions included:

• True Treasures, on the importance of building treasures that last;
• Silence, where students spent an hour and a half in silence in order to hear God;
• Responsibility of God’s Favor, that God’s blessings in our life are meant to be shared;
• Developing Your Inner Man, on how to build Christ-like character;
• Financial Stewardship, where students learned how to handle money in a Godly way; and
• Igniting Others, on how we need to invest in others to see them on fire for Christ.

They also enjoyed times of worship and prayer, extended free and fellowship time, a night hike and bonfire, lots of food and a lot of of fun….and not one came back the same.

Andrew Scheuering, Ignite Sandburg member, had this to say:

It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m so grateful that I could be a part of it, opening the door to new fellowship in my life. It really inspired me to start doing so much more for the Lord.

Read more of Andrew’s story.

Hear more stories of how God moved from the students who were there:

God continues to move mightily in our Encounter Retreats. Students are empowered, encouraged and challenged to seek God more and live out the calling and potential He has placed in their lives.

Learn more about our Encounter Retreats.

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