Two Views on Devices at Youth Retreats: A Case for Allowing Phones
Jesus came to set us free from the things we depend on that have no power to save us.
Whether you’re accompanying teenagers to camp for fun and spiritual growth or taking them to serve and learn from the local church in another part of the world, these weeks away can be equally fruitful and exhausting.

Jesus came to set us free from the things we depend on that have no power to save us.
An extended period without devices, coupled with a consistent focus on God’s Word, can help students learn to abide in God’s truth.
A retreat or trip is but a doorway into forming deeper and richer relationships with your students as you seek to point them to Jesus.
This article is the second in a two-part series on preparing for retreats. Read Part One on planning a retreat here. As you navigate winter retreat season with all its logistics, we pray you will be encouraged to keep…
Attending retreats with other churches helps students begin to see that their local church is a part of the universal church. They observe that God is at work not only in and around them but that he is also bringing salvation to the whole world.
Student ministry and overnight retreats go together like election cycles and name-calling. The two are virtually inseparable. But in my experience, many student ministers approach retreat planning with an overly simplistic mindset. On one hand, some plan retreats…