Deeper Life Summit 2022 - Update and Prayer
The Deeper Life Summit is an annual event for senior high students who desire to go deeper in their faith in Jesus. On Saturday May 28th, 150+ youth and adult leaders from 13 of our CCD churches gathered at Gateway Church in Caledonia to worship, pray and hear God’s Word in a variety of ways.
“Deeper Life Summit is a retreat that is really spiritually helpful and constructive for teens. Having attended myself as a senior high student, I appreciate the guidance it provides” ~ Emily Bain, Gregory Drive Alliance
It has been two years since the last Deeper Life Summit was hosted online, and three since it was last held in-person. For many this was their first time attending. Youth leader Kuong Pham from London Vietnamese was excited to bring youth from his church because—in his words—“it’s important to have fellowship with other churches, to see how others worship the Lord and how they interact with one another”
“It is important [for] us to provide time and space for students to grow deeper in their faith. Retreats like this provide that in a way that our normal 2 hours a week does not.” ~ Natalie Horning, Gateway Church
Dan Martin from Wellspring Church kicked off the event with some inspiring words that help set the tone for the day:
“This is the heartbeat of our movement … the Deeper Life in Christ.” ~ Dan Martin
The day started and finished with a large gathering complete with musical worship led by Darin Martin and the Martin Bros. Collective and teaching by Steve Kerr (Gateway Church) and Shane Gould (Wellspring Church).
Steve taught on what it means to be Christ-centered which includes realizing Jesus is unique, receiving Him as Saviour and being dependent on Him.
“There’s only one person who is capable of living the Christian life, and that person isn’t you. That person isn’t me. That person is Jesus. We can’t do it on our own, but Jesus can; as he lives in us and through us. ” ~ Steve Kerr
Steve concluded his message sharing portions of A.B. Simpson’s sermon “Himself,” and Shane later emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit in one’s life and that a life in Christ leads to a life in the Spirit.
“One of the things you discover in reading the Gospels and the New Testament is that a deep life in Jesus is lived out by walking by the Spirit. A deep life in Christ happens through the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.” ~ Shane Gould
Following lunch, each youth and leader was able to attend one of five available breakout seminars including:
Listening to God led by Nathan Martin (Paramount Drive Alliance)
Living Missionally led by Alex and Joca Castro (Inca Link)
Power of Prayer led by Karis Thy Le (Brampton Vietnamese)
Jesus in My Community by Natalie Horning (Gateway Church)
Discernment led by Regan Neudorf (New Ventures/CCD)
“It was a blessing to watch our youth engage with the teachings and breakout sessions. Kids took the teaching seriously and didn't experience [it] as something they had to sit through to get to the games.” ~ Emily Bain
Before dinner, all attendees had the choice of doing something active or low-key, choosing from activities like volleyball, dodgeball, lawn games and painting.
The dodgeball tournament was a highlight for Kuong Pham as it was great to see so many different people having fun together in one building and as one Church.
Since this was the first in-person, district-wide youth event since 2019, youth were excited to pray and play with fellow believers from across the district, but also exhausted by the end.
The day concluded with an invitation to be filled with Spirit, and those in charge of the event spontaneously decided to give more time for this final session. Upon hearing this, two youth came to their youth pastor to complain: “Why are they making it longer?”
However, by the end, these youth and many others were at the front of the auditorium asking for prayer. Reflecting on this moment, the youth pastor of the two less excited youth was not surprised by their change of heart:
“ …of course they both came forward for prayer. God is predictable in working like this, but I never get tired of [seeing] it”
Adult leaders and pastors were moved to tears as youth came forward for prayer:
“These are students that have had a tough shell for as long as I've known them, so it was so humbling to see them finally opening up to what the Holy Spirit wants to do in their lives.” ~ Natalie Horning
Nathaniel Beach, youth pastor at Tillsonburg Alliance who also previously took part in the Deeper Life Summit as a student, thanked God that he was able to witness this moment: “… youth coming forward to express their desire to have more of God’s Spirit.”
As a district of people and churches—deeply distinct but remarkably alike—we invite you to praise and thank God for all that he has done and will continue to do through the Deeper Life Summit. We also invite you to lift up the youth in our district in prayer, as well as their parents, guardians, leaders and pastors.
If you’re wondering how or what you should pray for, here are a few suggestions and requests from our youth pastors and leaders:
Mental Health. “If our students are not personally facing mental health challenges, they are supporting friends that are struggling. We are doing all we can to support and care for them by pointing them to Jesus but it seems like a never-ending battle sometimes.” ~ Natalie Horning
Peace in Unprecedented Circumstances. “The youth under my care haven't had a normal two and a half years. They've faced this thing that most of the adults who are supposed to take care of them have no idea really how to deal with, never mind them. But it has disrupted everything, including their spiritual growth, access to support (physical, mental health, spiritual, etc), and sense of the world. They need adults to come around them and care for them. Not just to pray, but to fight for them. To listen to all of their concerns and empower them to make changes.” ~ Youth Pastor
Improved Relationships with God and others. “We have lots of senior high students who are disconnected because they are struggling in their faith or with sin in their lives, and they have distanced themselves from the group, and sometimes even from their leaders. Pray for these "lost sheep", that we would find ways to meet them where they are at and bless them.” ~ Nathaniel Beach
Spiritual Formation. “ … these teens need [tools] to live their lives as adults with Jesus. These teens are forming their character and making decisions now that will impact their futures, and I want to point them to the person of Jesus, not just give them moral answers for the hard, complex questions of life.” ~ Emily Bain
Being the Church, not just going to church. “It's hard for us to find the time to hang out outside of church. I think we need to develop that kind of friendship outside of a church setting." ~ Kuong Pham
Deeper Life Summit 2022