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.