Do You Remember?
Ohio Collegiate Ministries – Fall Retreat
Do you remember where you were October 22-24, 2009? I do, and I will not soon forget it. There I was at Seneca Lake watching a group of college students diligently focusing their hearts and minds on understanding God's will for their lives. This phrase may sound a tad generic. After all, aren’t all spiritual retreats supposed to be about seeking God’s will? The answer is “yes,” of course, but Fall Retreat 09 was unique and special. Instead of sending students through the standard retreat motions, we engaged them in an incredibly potent spiritual experience and discovery tool known as “Align.”
Though the name may be new, the “Align” tool is actually in use all over Ohio in Southern Baptists circles. “Align” is nothing more than a repacked, remixed, and renamed version of the “Refocusing Program” or “Focused Living Retreat” designed by Steve Hopkins and the Bible Teaching & Leadership Group of the State Convention. To explain further, Refocusing is a highly-engaging guided tour through God’s activity in a person’s life conducted in a group setting complete with small group coaches and a large group leader. Over the course of a weekend, the leader and coaches lead participants in looking at what God has done in their lives, what He is doing presently, and what He is planning for participants’ futures. With the use of a post-it note personal life outline, small group dialogue, and the crafting of a personal vision statement, the Refocusing weekend allows participants to walk away from the experience with a developed understanding of God’s purpose and plan for their lives.
Explaining the concept only goes so far however, so let me show you the impact of “Align” first hand. By the end of our 2009 Collegiate Fall Retreat each of our students had developed a personal vision statement for his or her life. I asked a few students to send me their statements and they’ve given me permission to share them with you.
Leanna Pickeral (Bowling Green State University), writes: “After reflecting on how God has been building and molding me into a leader all my life, I now see more clearly the path God has in store for me. God has called me to be at Bowling Green State University for one main reason: to give my all to the Crosswalk ministry there. God has shown me that great joy comes from investing in others and seeing personal spiritual growth from them. For this reason, the Lord has laid it on my heart to disciple those younger in the faith. In an attempt to reach this campus for Christ, He has also put on my heart to invest more time and energy in evangelism, prayer walking, encouragement of others, and simple fellowship with other believers to build unity within our group. God has also revealed the importance of me serving the church. I have received numerous blessings from Him for being involved and serving at Lifepoint, and I know that God is calling me to invest more time at the church and build relationships with the people there. On a broader scale, God has placed missions on my heart. I'm not sure exactly what that entails…but I give my life as a living sacrifice to Him and if He wants two years after college to go on mission then that’s exactly what I will give.”
Allisha Tingler (Otterbein University) writes: “I am to seek out and actively engage in my world (at Otterbein, my dorm, and work) building deep relationships and genuinely caring and loving those people placed in my life so that a cycle of disciples will be produced.”
Danny Thompson (Bowling Green State University writes): “I will align myself with You and Your will for my life. I will grow in my confidence in speaking with people who do not yet understand Your Glory. I will reach out to students, friends, family, and everyone that is hungering for meaning in this life. I will allow my mind to be constantly renewed by You, and I will be open-minded to Your calling to serve wherever and however You desire. I will not take the salvation You have given me for granted. I will be an ambassador for You. I will turn my back to the evil things and habits of this world. I will indulge in Your Word everyday. I will use the incredible gifts that You have given me, not for myself, but for the church. I WILL align myself with YOU.”
Allen Teklitz (University of Cincinnati) writes: “God is doing something; something huge. It is not every day that one gets to witness so many things falling into place and to realize clearly that it is His doing. That's what I'm seeing here at UC; we are approaching the tipping point - the place where everything will explode and God's glory will be sweetly evident. Hearts are changing, people are getting set on fire, the vision is spreading for what God is doing; which begs the question of what am I to do. I have come to realize that Christianity is not a settle-in, live at peace with the world the way it is kind of religion. Thus, I am resolved that I cannot be bought, I cannot be compromised, I cannot be deterred, I cannot be lured away, I cannot be turned back, I cannot be diluted and I cannot be delayed.”
What excites me even more is that these statements are just a sampling of those crafted and honed during the retreat. Can you imagine the impact of these college students collectively focusing on God’s will and purpose for their lives—and living it out in their spheres of influence? Better still, can you imagine what might happen in your church and churches across Ohio if more folks went through the “Align” process? I think we just might see more people saved, more ministries birthed, more churches planted, and most importantly, more believers walking in a deep, obedient, and fruit-bearing relationship with Christ.
For more information about the Align or Refocusing Weekend, please see your copy of The Realm or contact Steve Hopkins at shopkins@scbo.org.
