HS Retreat 2026
Written by Caroline Clark, our Student Ministry Coordinator
Growing up in the church, it was a common occurrence to experience a “camp high” or “mountain-top experience” after a weekend away at a retreat. After all, for 48 hours, students are immersed in a bubble of worship, hearing God’s Word, and spending free time in the lake or on a giant swing. It’s easy to feel the presence of the Lord when you’re away from the busyness of Orlando culture.
God works through camps and retreats. These weekends are intentionally packed with truths to encourage our students to live lives dedicated to the Lord. These weekends deepen existing friendships and fosters new ones. These weekends always make me thankful that there are people who dedicate their lives to encouraging and equipping students.
We are so thankful for the work Jesus did this past weekend in the lives of 32 high school students. Thank you for your prayers and continual support of our ministry.
But beyond the time spent at the pool, in worship, and in small groups, I was most encouraged by our topic of study—Jonah. If you remember, a few months back, Orangewood Church studied the book of Jonah in a sermon series titled, “Arise and Go.” Week in and week out, we were encouraged by various sermons on Jonah’s run from God’s plans and God’s pursuit of Jonah’s heart and redemption of Nineveh.
As we heard FSU RUF Campus Minister, Kelly Jackson, speak, multiple students approached me and said, “We learned about this in that Jonah sermon series at Orangewood!” What they heard on Sunday mornings provided a foundation to grow even deeper as they listened again at the winter retreat. Kelly spoke on Jonah’s run from the Lord and the Lord’s faithfulness in bringing him back. He spoke on Jonah’s bitterness when Nineveh repented. He related it all back to the Lord’s pursuit of us and how we can forgive and desire salvation for those who are difficult people in our lives.
Yes, camps and retreats are important. We should spend time away from our busyness. But the most important thing we can do as believers is be involved each week in the local church, hearing the Word of God preached from the pulpit. There is nothing more powerful and life-changing than bringing our families into a steady rhythm of worshipping together on Sunday mornings.