First SF Campus Retreat
The first SF Campus Retreat was anything but mundane. It started the night before the retreat with an email that began, “You will never believe this.” The email informed us that the retreat center’s only bridge was shut down by the county due to unsafe engineering, and with less than 24 hours to find a new location, we had nowhere to go! With some frenzy and prayers, we were able to meet at UCSF on Friday night.
Despite the last minute changes, the retreat was an answer to prayer because it was a time of good fellowship and timely messages. Although I was disappointed that we couldn’t go on an overnight trip, Friday was memorable with the Carpe Diem message from Tony Campolo and the various impromptu skits building on his message. To see grown adults letting down their guards and be goofy was such an enjoyable experience. I had not laughed so much in a long time. On Saturday, Pastor Ed challenged our church to become like the Acts 2 church, where we can be a passionate church that lives out God’s command to love one another.
I felt a renewed sense of responsibility to build up SF Campus by making the concerted effort to get to know our church members better. I’ve been coming to SF Campus since August 2006, but it was really at this retreat that I began to feel like I belong in this the loving community of believers. I am very grateful for SF Campus, and know that this local church is the hope of the world. As a member, I recommitted to build this community that God has placed me in and share the love of Christ with the lost. And I know that it will be through the meaningful relationships within this church that will cause others to be attracted to Jesus.