This week’s Roundup covers a church youth retreat to beautiful Skycroft Conference Center, an anniversary, and some autumn outreach.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The youth group of Cresthill Baptist Church, Bowie, Md., headed to the mountains for a retreat earlier this month at Skycroft Conference Center, Middletown, Md. The teens and young adults spent time having some outdoor fun, but also digging deep into the Word of God.
The church recently changed the name of the group from “Gravity” to “The Process.”
Cresthill Baptist Church’s youth and young adults have annual retreats at Skycroft Conference Center.
That’s because they’re, “… going through the process of God refining them,” explained Cresthill Youth Minister Carla Hairston. They’re in “the process.”
This year, the church invited the youth leadership from New Life Fellowship Church, Md., to join them. Special guests were up-and-coming Washington, DC, Rapper Ray Dugga and Jaunyce Prister, a former leader of a Christian club at Howard Community College.
Dugga shared his testimony and performed a Christian rap concert and then the youth enjoyed doing their own “freestyle” rap. Prister taught about the process of being all that God has created us to be and the lies that young people believe that impact their spiritual growth.
Bubble Soccer was a popular activity during the retreat!
Hairston said Cresthill’s youth group is extremely active and serious. “We are digging deep into God’s word and seeking to live it out,” she said. The group regularly participates in missions recently going to Myersville Baptist Church, Md., where they led worship and helped with a weekend cleanup; and to Nicaragua, where they did a variety of outreach activities.
Hairston said the annual retreat at Skycroft means a lot to her, personally. She remembers going there for a music camp as a youth and God moved in her life. “I gave my life to Christ at Skycroft,” she said.
Going back each year is always a pleasure for Hairston. She said the staff is kind and goes out of their way to meet their guests’ needs. “When we get stuck in traffic and get there late, they even hold our dinner,” she said with a chuckle.
Enjoying the peace of nature, and the excitement of the group, she senses God’s spirit on the mountain. “I know God is there. There is no question in my mind.”
Pastor Victor Kirk and his wife, Vallie, enjoyed Sharon Bible Church’s 20th-anniversary gala!
Members of Sharon Bible Fellowship Church, Lanham, Md., celebrated their 20th anniversary with revival services leading up to a gala celebration on Oct. 27 at the Harborside Hotel. The God-honoring event included food and music, featuring Jeremiah Hicks, Faycez U Know Band, and comedian E-Boogie.
The theme was “Celebrating Our Past, Cultivating Our Present, Conceptualizing Our Future,” and the scripture theme was Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Members ended their celebration on “Founder’s Day,” Sunday morning, Oct. 28, recognizing church founder Keith W. Reed, Sr. Reed preached the sermon and then members shared communion.
Kids and teens were treated to free Bibles and school supplies along with candy on Halloween.
Many churches have been using the season to host fall festivals, community block parties and “Trunk or Treats.”
Elevate Church, Annapolis, Md., had a unique outreach. giving away candy on Halloween along with Bibles and school supplies.
Connecting Church, Abingdon, Md., which meets at Regal Cinemas, Abingdon, is expecting about 500 people at their fall festival on Nov. 4. They need some extra help with face painting, traffic control, carnival game hosting, and more. Email Pastor Phil Gifford, phil@connectingbelair.org, if you, your church, or small group can lend a hand.