Incoming freshmen visit Sharptop Cove for the 2022-2023 Freshman Retreat
Wesleyan’s Christian life department facilitates retreats each year, designed to parallel the school’s mission to give students opportunities to explore and deepen their faith. These retreats serve as a valuable time for students to deepen their relationships with one another and develop a strong sense of community among their peers.
This past weekend, incoming freshmen traveled to Sharptop Cove in Jasper, Georgia, for the 2022-2023 Freshman Retreat. The goal of this retreat was to challenge students to see that God desires a personal relationship with them and to give students opportunities to bond with one another as they pursue class unity. New students make up 25 percent of the freshman class, and this weekend allowed them to connect with each other before the first day of school, which can often be daunting.
Thanks to waterslides and pool olympic games, the weekend was filled with silliness and fun. Faculty and staff led the goofiness charge, and their example reminded students that they can rest securely in their identity of who the Lord created them to be. Their participation in belly flop contests, raft races, and skits opened the door to deeper connections with students that will hopefully lead to increased trust and respect throughout the school year.
In addition to all the fun, Wesleyan students learned from messages given by guest speaker Glenn Campbell. He spoke on what bones, bodies, and breath mean before Christ’s gift of the cross. He explained to students how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross enables believers to have a different view of bones, bodies, and breath than the rest of the world.
Campbell stated that within life apart from Jesus, bones represent the total brokenness of humanity in every category. The body represents the hollow emptiness and loss of identity and meaning. The breath represents lifelessness that only the Holy Spirit can revive.
“Apart from God breathing his life-giving spirit into the souls of mankind, they will be forever bound to walk in brokenness, emptiness, and hopelessness,” shared Campbell.
He then explained how Jesus gives a new definition to bones, bodies, and beath through “The Spirit-Walking Life.”
Campbell shared that the bones of Jesus absorbed the brokenness of humanity in every category.
“He exchanged His righteousness for our sinfulness so that we could become whole,” said Campbell.
He went on to describe how the body of Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected in victory over sin so that humanity could experience a victorious life of identity and meaning. The breath of Jesus provided humanity with His Holy Spirit.
During cabin time, students broke into small groups to dive into the messages and discuss their expectations and hopes for high school.
When reflecting on the weekend, Assistant Director of Christian Life Davis Brown ‘10 shared that he loved watching walls fall down and witnessing students taking a step towards Jesus.
“My prayer is simply that the freshman class would know that Jesus loves them deeply and unconditionally and that the freshman class as a whole is feeling loved, known, and united as they enter high school together,” said Brown ‘10.
Thank you, freshmen, for a wonderful retreat!
