Imagine 500 middle school students gathered together from all over the southeast in one auditorium for a week to fellowship, worship, and grow in their faith. To some this may seem a bit overwhelming or more like a nightmare, but for me this was a gift from God. Thirteen of our middle school students, and three adults represented Eastminster at our first ever Great Escape Youth Conference in Cleveland, TN the week of June 19-24. The week was filled with laughter, wild recreation, sports tournaments, fellowship around the dinner table, worship in the afternoons and evenings, quiet times with God in the mornings, and back home group times to share where we had experienced God in our day.

While the week offered so much in regards to fun, it was so much more than that - it was spiritually focused and uplifting. Many students made first time commitments to Christ, while many others rededicated their lives to serve and glorify God daily. We spent the week discussing what it means to be engaged by God, and to engage in God. We focused on Paul's words from Romans 12:1-2, reminding us, "In view of God's mercy to present our bodies as living sacrifices."

Everyone was challenged to remember the depth of God's mercy in Jesus Christ, and to present all of who we are on the Lord's altar, so that we may serve God with an "all in" focus and not just half-heartedly. It was amazing as we were led in song by our worship band, students singing with eyes closed, and hands raised (yes there were Presbyterians actually doing this) praising God.

It was truly an awesome week and a testament to God's work in the lives of our young people. I can't wait for more of our students to experience it next year!