2018 Women In Youth Ministry Retreat

The weekend is always a special time for women to connect with one another and strengthen their relationship with Christ. There were 18 women on the retreat this year, 9 first timers.

We enjoyed yoga and scripture meditation led by Colleen Ulke on Saturday morning. Our speaker, Jamie Shaver from True View Ministries shed new light from God’s Word on the seemingly relentless topic of anxiety and fear.  With step by step instructions, she equipped us with the tools we had been searching for to help us to finally be free.

An afternoon of silence and solitude gave us much needed time in the presence of our Heavenly Father. The weekend was filled with worship and prayer led by Joyous DeMark.

There was also plenty of time for eating great food and having lots of fun! Each woman left the weekend feeling refreshed, recharged and ready to serve their students and ministries.

Meet The Staff: Alyssa

The staff experience at Laurelville can be summed up in one word. Busy. Alyssa served as the Staff Counselor on our Laurelville team. She led Bible studies and created intentional environments where our team could slow down and grow in their own relationships with God while serving at camp. Read about her Laurelville experience below.

My name is Alyssa Tyson, and I was on the PKF team for Laurelville. My role was to help create a healthy, God-centered, and unified staff culture. I thought this would be a way for me to pour into the staff, but I was so much more filled and poured into while being there. The joy and depth of every staff member were inspiring. We were able to laugh, pray, cry out, have fun, and rejoice with each other. So many people from different backgrounds and situations yet brought together as a family because we all have the same Father. The friendships and relationships that I’ve built are such blessings. Hearing from people even after camp is over has been so encouraging. Each person came into Laurelville with such specific gifts, and when paired with everyone else’s gifts, God was able to flow through his body of people and students came to know him. I saw the blessings of God on this camp, and I believe it is because his followers were obeying His call on their lives. I have been challenged by the staff, speakers, and students to live freely in the life God has given us and to trust that he will take our faithful obedience and will work miracles. I didn’t know where God was taking me next in my adult life journey, but after Laurelville, I’ve been reminded that I don’t need to know all the answers, I just need to follow the One who does have the answers. His promises go with me wherever I will go.

Laurelville 2018

“What. A. Weekend!” was the refrain around the office after each Laurelville Mud Weekend this year. For 55 years, we have faithfully invited youth leaders and their students to Laurelville Christian Retreat Center for the best weekend ever. This year, we welcomed 1,532 students and leaders over the course of 4 weekends.

Our seasonal camp-staff spent time before and at camp training together, growing together, and learning what it means to be part of a staff family as we carry out the work that God has called us to.

It’s hard to know how much mud (or how much laundry detergent) it takes to pull off a Laurelville Mud Weekend. And while all of the mud football we play and the dancing we do at camp are important pieces of Laurelville, the most significant part of camp is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with kids. Every weekend we witnessed students enter into brand new relationships with Jesus, and every Sunday afternoon, we celebrated our new brothers and sisters in Christ.