The Teen Girls’ Retreat in Central California Conference started over 20 years ago, and
it has made a powerful impact on young women in the conference. As a teen, Kendra
Miranda—Youth and Young Adult Department Assistant—attended the retreat. She is
now leading it. “It really impacted my life,” she reflected, “and when I started working
in the department, I was excited about getting to aid in moving this ministry
forward.” She sees the retreat as a valuable opportunity to reach out to young women
facing the unique struggles of today—challenges that, in many ways, have been
amplified by the lasting effects of COVID-19.
The retreat took place at Camp Wawona Sept. 27-29 and resulted in over 160
attending, with about 30 recommitting their lives to God and 8 responding in their
commitment to baptism. The retreat was focused on helping Teen Girls
reconnect with God, know him on a deeper level, deepen the roots of their
identity in Christ, and build lasting kingdom-minded friendships!. The pandemic
left a significant impact on youth ministry, and teen girls have experienced increases in
mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and this was an opportunity to
give them tools to become and continue growing into young women of faith.
This year’s retreat provided a safe space to address many of these struggles and find
ways to provide young women with a platform to discuss the questions closest to their
hearts. One powerful aspect of the retreat was the exhilarating Question and Answer
Panel where the girls were invited to ask any questions pertaining to faith, identity,
relationships, mental health, and church, and the panelists prayerfully gave answers to
these relevant questions.
Miranda explained, “During the pandemic, we saw a whole generation that was lost in a
kind of time warp. It's kind of like we're starting everything afresh, and God is giving
leaders insight to meet the needs of today for our youth!”
The retreat included a series of presentations by Lisa Topete from the Southern
California Conference addressing some of these ongoing struggles in the current
generation. Her messages led to discussions and spiritual reflection by the teens. “She
was dynamic, really speaking to the heart of what these young women are going
through,” said Miranda. Topete’s talks addressed difficult questions like finding your God
given value, overcoming feelings of low self esteem and mental health struggles, and
living the life God has designed for us, in full measure!
The Sabbath program was especially memorable. The girls formed small groups to dive
deeper into the topics being addressed. This also included a time for prayer where the
girls had the opportunity to pray over each other. “Seeing them come together like that was amazing,” said Miranda. “They were sharing their hearts, requests, victories, and
struggles, with each other through prayer and lifting one another up.”
In addition to these discussions, the retreat included various workshops tailored to help
girls explore new interests and skills. Some chose to participate in a wilderness survival
class, learning the basics of navigating nature and building confidence in the outdoors.
Others expressed themselves creatively in a songwriting workshop or honed their skills
in photography. For those looking to connect through art, there were craft sessions
where they painted tote bags—a simple, relaxing activity that allowed them to unwind
and enjoy each other's company, and God-given creativity.
On Saturday evening, the girls conducted a talent show where they shared their unique
gifts and testimonies. Each performance was an expression of personal faith and
growth. “It was all about testifying to God’s goodness in a way that felt meaningful to
each girl,” Miranda shared. This included songs, poems, skits, and more.
There were also sessions specifically designed for the mothers and chaperones
attending. A tenet of Girls Retreat was also to support and empower the mothers and
chaperones as they minister to their teen children and students. The seminar and Q&A
panel for the adults touched on everything from handling mental health struggles to
guiding young women’s faith journey in today’s world.
The positive result of this event shows the value of bringing young people together and
addressing topics that young people are eager to hear about in a gospel-centered way.
This can lead to a powerful impact on the young women in the church. “We’re
committed to building up the young women of today, to equip them with strength, faith,
and resilience. And it’s an honor to be a part of their journey,” added Miranda.
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