MEA Getaway, our fall retreat for high school students, is a big event. Hundreds of youth from the metro area headed up north over this past MEA weekend to enjoy the beauty and fun offered by Camp Castaway. The schedule was jam-packed and designed specifically with high school students in mind – the giant hot tubs and game room were open late, and breakfast wasn’t served until well after the sun had risen. This year, the five of us adults who were along for the ride got to participate in this year’s kazoo concert, and enjoy silly game shows created and presented by cabin groups. 

The speaker for the weekend, Rollie Johnson, is an author and inspirational speaker and has served in ministry for over 35 years. He was excited to tell our youth as he got to know them over meals and around the site during free time that he had grown up in the RLC youth program himself! 

The message that he shared throughout the weekend spoke to our youth who often feel overwhelmed and lost in the pressures of today’s society. What the youth will remember from the weekend is the story he told, in personal terms, of the grace we have been given by God. Even when we feel like we’re not good enough, even when we feel trapped by our situation, God’s love shown to us through Jesus Christ is bigger. We’re looking forward to hearing more from Rollie Johnson during our adult education hour on Dec. 1!

– Audrey Dontje Lindell, Director of Youth Ministry