24-Hour Youth Retreat

Just a few weeks ago a group of 13 teens embarked on a crazy adventure of learning, discussing and fasting. Our yearly 24-Hour Retreat was a tradition started last spring and was carried on this spring as well. This year our focus was on the issue of poverty. We participated in a 24-hour fast in solidarity with those in the world who go hungry for extended periods of time, not by choice, but because that is their current situation. We were able to change our focus from ourselves and focus on those who are less fortunate than we are. Some of the biggest realizations that we made were that poverty is not just what we see on tv in foreign countries or on the streets in downtown Denver. But that poverty is something that these teens may come into contact with on a daily basis. In Broomfield or at their high schools. Poverty is something that is real and pertinent in each of our lives now.

We talked about the phenomenon called “The Cycle of Poverty”, which is the fact that poverty begets poverty. There are many issues that people in poverty face and these things are ones that are hard to break. Such as education, working at an early age to support the family and a few other issues. These are things that can be addressed, but are essential issues to address. We also looked at what the Bible has to say about poverty. We read about the early church in Acts and how they took care of the people in need. And how God called His followers to support those in need through various things such as the Year of Jubilee and that farmers need to let their fields “rest” every seven years for those in poverty to pick from. God has a heart for all people and asks us to help those in need.

We also went around the city of Broomfield on a scavenger hunt, trying to gather various items for Nelson Ministries. Nelson Ministries is a ministry based in Broomfield that collects various items for homeless men and women in Denver. They then go down two times a month to hand out these items to those in need. As a group, we were able to collect many great items for those in need in Denver.

The weekend was a great one and ended with a morning of church and a great breakfast at Village Inn. We had a couple of big tables with hungry teens and they sure ate their worth in eggs and bacon. It was a great success and I am already looking forward to next year’s retreat!

--pete