Encouraging Students to Read The Bible.
We kicked off Winter Retreat 2025 with an amazing weekend 1! As students gathered for worship and services, we invited them to come to a Youth Alive workshop for those interested in leading campus clubs or becoming campus missionaries. Aleysha Ayala Santiago, a Youth Alive Missionary, spoke to the students about the importance of staying in God’s word. She shared this verse with us:
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Our heart for these students is that they would learn the importance of reading the Word, and get to experience firsthand how spending time in scripture transforms their lives. Aleysha shared, “To effectively share the Gospel, it’s important to know the Scriptures. The Word of God is transformative and empowers us. As campus missionaries, it’s important to spend time in the secret place!”
After sharing this message, every student and youth leader at the workshop received a bookmark with a 365-day Bible reading plan on it. By breaking it down into just a few chapters a day, students will be able to read through the whole Bible in a year. We hope that this message and tangible reminder helps our students to spend more time in the Word this year.
We were so excited to have 45 students and leaders attend the workshop this past weekend! After listening to the message that Aleysha Ayala Santiago shared, we opened the floor to give students the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about being a campus missionary, leading a campus club, and sharing the Gospel with their friends. There is such a wide variety of campus missionaries in PennDel, from public school students who lead clubs, to homeschool students who talk about Jesus to their teammates. Youth Alive Missionary Aleysha, as well as Youth Alive interns Max and Morgan, answered students' questions on a wide range of Youth Alive-related topics. It was great to hear the stories of high school and middle school students and hear what problems they are facing in school and as growing Christians. Many of the students discussed ways to make reading the Bible part of their daily routine. We could have stayed and talked with students for hours, but we were encouraged to hear the ways that youth pastors in our district are empowering their students to become campus missionaries. By teaming up with Youth Alive, many youth pastors are helping their students to start campus clubs or lead outreaches to their schools.
At events, we love to highlight some of the Campus Missionaries in PennDel, and give them an opportunity to share some of what they do with other students. This weekend, Campus Missionaries, Anna and Emily Fowler, prayed over PennDel and shared their hearts for their school. By sharing stories like theirs, we hope to inspire other students to step out in faith and share Jesus with the people around them.
We look forward to meeting and praying with the PennDel Youth Alive Campus Missionaries this week and can’t wait to see how these students are being used by God in their schools and communities!
- Morgan McNatt, Youth Alive Intern
