Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
What happens when you gather a group of kids together and travel to a distant place? If you said the Children’s Crusades, you are WRONG. It was the Fourth Fall Youth Retreat. Despite North Bay not being the “Holy Land,” the children still marched in with fury and took over the place for three days. Three days full of worship, prayer, the Word, and God’s covenant community. When I was applying for the Fellows program, one of the things I was most looking forward to was being involved with the youth programs at the church. And that was before I found out they go on a retreat with a zipline.
So far, the program has been full of laughter, memories, information, new people, classes, and long days almost every day. When we left for North Bay after our seminary class on Friday, I will admit I wished the retreat did not start until the next day, so the other fellows and I could have a little time to breathe. I also had not started packing or done laundry since I arrived, so I was worried I might have to break into my winter sweater drawer for some clean clothes. But despite all this, as soon as we left for the Bay all my concerns ceased. I was where my feet were, in a van full of music equipment and watermelon, surrounded by good people and good conversations. Even though the equipment and watermelon were only with me for the three-hour drive, the good people and conversations were a constant theme throughout the weekend.
I am not sure how I could receive so much, and it is only by the grace of God that I am able to be in a church community pouring into us so diligently and intentionally, even as we pour into the church. I am the co-leader of the 10th-grade guys, and unlike many other groups, it is my co-leader’s first couple of months at the church too. At first, I saw that as a barrier. I thought the kids would not feel comfortable enough to talk and share since their leaders were complete strangers a month ago. But what a blessing, the mutual discomfort quickly turned into mutual comfortability. Now the kids see me and my co-leader in the same way, with more cohesiveness, instead of me joining a group where they had been with the other guy for three years. That has proved to be such a gift for our group. We are able to build a culture that carries into our late-night talks about the Gospel and its truth.
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:11
About the Author
Jason Hubbard is a member of the Fourth Fellows Class of 2025-2026. He is from Wakefleld, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Gordon College. This year, he is working for State Farm.