Iowa Discovery Weekend:
'One Common Goal'

By Jill Holmes

NEWTON, Iowa—From adults to young adults to teens, 43 people gathered at the Christian Conference Center in Newton for our first Discovery Weekend over Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.

Some teens had been to SEP, and they wanted another great experience and more of Christ. Others were friends invited from school.

The weekend began with praise to God from Pastor James Newby, Dave and Ruby Thompson, Todd Woods and a message from Mike Pavlik of Ohio. Throughout the next three days, everyone got involved in a variety of activities. These included volleyball, basketball, soccer, Frisbee golf, hiking, indoor games, fellowship and a scavenger hunt.

Fireside chats kicked off the first night.

Four seminars were given during the weekend by Dave Thompson, Pastor Cliff Parks, Barry Brown and Jennifer Affeldt. The themes were how to deal with abuses, gifts, discipleship and church building. Dave Holmes and Sarah Holmes gave main messages. These were about three important relationships in life: with the Father, with family, with friends and about taking Christ home. The final night was complete with an outdoor praise service.

Staff members noted the common friendship created so quickly among the teens and young adults. Counselor Jessica Loter said: "I was struck by how such a small group of girls could bond so quickly to the point where they were crying with each other, praying for each other and encouraging one another."

Kristia Niles, a young adult, learned that she could affect younger teens by her words, because she’d been through some of the same struggles they have now. She commented: "It’s amazing how young people can gather together for one common goal, and that’s to praise Jesus! No matter if you were 10 or 24, everyone experienced the presence of the Savior, and that is what this weekend was all about."

COMMON FRIENDSHIP—Some of the participants and
staff gather after a seminar. [Photos by Jill Holmes]

COMMON GOAL—Barry Brown leads a seminar discussion.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002