Our Vision - "Creating a passion for spiritual formation in the lives of future and present Student Ministry leaders."
Our Distinctives - Missional – Relational – Transformational
Over the past two years, key leaders of student ministries have been coming together in a small little cabin in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. These retreats have been filled with prayer, confession, silence & solitude, fasting, scripture reading, and the community of the saints. Our purpose for these retreats is to pour into the souls of student ministry leaders. Leaders who are healthy produce other healthy leaders. Leaders, who are not healthy, do not. The following are previous themes we have pursued over the past two and a half years at Soul Thirst. We would love to be able to serve you in this capacity in the future.
"The Mount of Beatitudes at Sunset"
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Soul
Thirst I was committed to Silence and Solitude. Our facilitator for
the weekend was Todd Henley from Bethany Fellowship Church. Throughout
the weekend we spent a significant time practicing the discipline of
silence and solitude. These disciplines are far more difficult then
one may think. Throughout the times of stillness we practiced simply
being and meditating upon simple portions of scripture. The primary
focus was on obedience rather then mere knowledge. The weekend centered around principles found in Ruth Haley Barton's book, "Invitation to Solitude and Silence".
Soul Thirst II centered on the principle of Fasting and Prayer. Our facilitator for the weekend was Todd Henley from Bethany Fellowship Church. Throughout the weekend we spent a significant time looking at the nine biblical fasts demonstrated in the scriptures. We also spent time practicing this principle discipline in healthy forms. The key question which was asked was, "What could you give up for the purpose of drawing closer to God in an act of worship?". The weekend centered around principles found in the book, "Fasting For Spiritual Break Through".
Soul Thirst III helped us encounter the principles of Sabbath woven throughout the scripture. Our facilitator for the weekend was Rick Rhoads from Lancaster Bible College. Throughout the weekend we spent significant time in studying and practicing Sabbath principles from the scriptures. Rest from physical, mental, and emotional drain was key to our understanding of this age old practice. In today's society no one needs one more thing to do, however most of do need to learn how to rest. It is during these times of rest we restore our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tanks. When we pause and rest we demonstrate through faith that God is the one who is in complete control. To simply work without pause is a great statement of pride. Our weekend centered on principles found in the book, "Sabbath".
Soul Thirst IV engaged the discipline of Sacred Reading. Our facilitator for the weekend was Todd Henley from Bethany Fellowship Church. Our time time during this weekend focussed on the character trait "humility". Great amounts of time were taken looking at scripture and asking key questions about our own struggles with pride. We found that motives are very difficult to know, and that we needed God to reveal much to us throughout our time. Our weekend centered on the principles found in the book, "Humility".
Soul Thirst V engaged the area of creating a "Rule of Life". Our facilitator for the weekend was Doug Jones from Sonlife Ministries. Doug was able to help us gain an understanding about the age old disciplines which are part of creating a rule of life. During our time we were able to get very concrete with our own lives and schedules. A "rule of life" helps create structure for our lives to be centered around creating space for God. A "rule of life" enables us to say no, and at the right times say yes. It becomes a governing tool to allow us to draw close to God. Our weekend centered on principles found in the book "Chasing Francis".
