A day with the Leaders

We try to make it a point to get away in the fall with our Small Group Leaders for a retreat. We've done this in several formats over the year...

• An overnight in Chicago.
• A weekend at Life Action Retreat Center in Buchanan, MI.
• A 5 day bus trip with stops at Gettysburg, Lancaster, Jersey Shores, and New York City.
• A weekend on Dewart Lake at the Bethel College Retreat Center.

This year, our calendar and budget called for a bit different setup. A full Saturday pulling together on Dewart Lake at the Yoder's (incredible family from our church). We met at 10:00 am for Brunch and I just got back 15 minutes ago.

What did we do?

• We ate together.
• We played together
  
• We hung out together
  
• We Prayed together
  

That's pretty much it.
No major training.
No deep Bible Study.
Lot's of connecting.

We ended it together in a little exercise looking at the Names of God, and then we prayed for each others' relationships with Christ (because we are convinced the best thing we can offer these students is our own relationship with Christ).

Whether you have 5 kids or 500, team is the only way to go about youth ministry.
Get your team playing and praying together, they will stay together.

You can do all the structure, training, and details right, and things will look right.
Do relationships right, and your ministry will be right.