More and more students are flocking to camp

Presbytery of the Inland Northwest adds a second weekend

October 3, 2017

For many years, the youth programs within the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest have taken a group of middle and high school students on a weekend retreat to Camp Spalding, north of Spokane, Washington.

Camp Spalding, north of Spokane, Washington.

The middle school retreat usually takes place in October while the high school retreat is the week before or after Thanksgiving. The middle school retreat has been consistent with its numbers, but over the past two years, the high school retreat has pushed the limits at Camp Spalding. Each ministry continues to grow within the churches that attend, and each year more and more high school students are eager to gather for a weekend of worship, community-building and faith-seeking.

Last November the camp hit a tipping point when it squeezed in 280 high school students and their leaders — the largest camp size at Spalding history. Many other students had to be turned away. The conversation around what to do next had already begun, but this experience pushed the Youth Task Force (youth directors and pastors within the presbytery) to get serious about what 2017 winter retreat will look like. The decision was made and there are two different weekends planned at Camp Spalding to be able to meet the needs of the growing high school ministry within the presbytery.

Please continue to pray for the teens who are being reached and those who continue to grow in their faith at their local churches and retreats.

Brandon Comella, Youth Task Force Chair and Youth Director, Millwood Community Presbyterian Church

Today’s Focus:  Inland Northwest Presbytery

Let us join in prayer for:

Millwood Community Presbyterian Church Staff

Craig Goodwin, pastor
Kim McGiveran, children’s ministries director
Brandon Comella, youth ministries director
Christy Joyce, church administrator

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Martha Reisner, BOP
Catherine Reuning, PMA

Let us pray:

Great God, we give you thanks today for our young people. May we continue to find ways in our churches,  homes and communities to gather them, teach them, listen to them and inspire them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 12; 146
First Reading 2 Chronicles 29:1-3, 30:1 (2-9) 10-27
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Gospel Reading Matthew 7:1-12
Evening Psalms 36; 7