FACTS Parent Login
By: Kim Mullins
This year’s annual Fuel Retreat at The Grove in Cordova, Tennessee, was one to remember. With our largest group yet—62 middle school and high school students—the weekend was filled with laughter, adventure, worship, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to grow closer to Jesus.
From the moment the students arrived, there was incredible energy and excitement. The Grove provided the perfect setting for a weekend designed to help students step away from the distractions of everyday life and focus on their relationship with Christ.
Adventure Around Every Corner
There was no shortage of activities throughout the retreat. Students competed, laughed, encouraged one another, and made memories through a variety of high-energy activities, including Bazooka Ball, Gopher Ball, Cosmic Dodgeball, a ropes obstacle course with a zipline, human foosball, and volleyball.
The water activities took the fun to another level. Students tackled the giant waterslide, The Blob, the Jesus Wheel, and a huge inflatable water obstacle course. Paddle boards and canoes gave everyone a chance to slow down a little while enjoying time on the water.
Whether students were flying down a zipline, battling it out in dodgeball, conquering an obstacle course, or taking the plunge into the water, there was something for everyone. More importantly, these activities created countless opportunities for students to build friendships, step outside their comfort zones, and experience the joy of being part of a community.
Worship That Drew Us Closer
Throughout the weekend, worship played an important role in pointing students back to what the retreat was really about: Jesus.
We were blessed to have CCA’s Focus Band lead worship. Their leadership helped create an atmosphere where students could put aside distractions, lift their voices, and focus their hearts on God.
The combination of energetic activities and intentional worship was a powerful reminder that following Jesus isn't something we do only during church services or youth group. It is meant to shape every part of our lives.
A Message That Challenged Every Student
Our guest speaker, Mychal Hunt, captured the attention of the students from the very beginning. His message challenged them to take a serious look at how they are spending the limited time God has given them.
One of the most memorable themes of the weekend centered around the 168 hours we each have in a week. Every person has the same 168 hours, and the question is: What are we doing with them?
Mychal challenged students to consider whether God is receiving their best—or simply their leftovers. That message hit home. It is easy to give God whatever time remains after school, sports, friends, social media, entertainment, and everything else competing for our attention. But God deserves more than our leftovers. He deserves to be intentionally pursued and given a place of priority in our lives.
Mychal gave the students nine practical ways to transform their lives and become more intentional in their walk with Jesus. Rather than leaving them with a message that sounded good but was difficult to apply, he gave them tangible steps they could take into their everyday lives.
More Than a Weekend
Fuel Retreat was about far more than games, water activities, and a weekend away. It was an opportunity for students to connect with one another, encounter God, and be challenged to live differently.
With 62 students in attendance, we are incredibly grateful for what God is doing through Fuel and for the opportunity to invest in the next generation. Our hope is that the lessons learned at The Grove won't stay at The Grove. We pray that students will return home with a renewed desire to make Jesus a priority—to be intentional with their time, their relationships, their choices, and their faith.
The retreat may be over, but the challenge remains: We have 168 hours every week. What will we do with them? May we never be content to give God our leftovers. Instead, may we choose to intentionally give Him our time, our attention, our talents, and our lives.
What an incredible Fuel Retreat—and what an exciting future God has in store for these students!
