“It brings me joy to see students connecting with one another early on in the semester,” was what Chaplain Josh Sumptersaid, when describing the most recent annual Campus Ministry Fall Retreat.. His words come after describing the intentions and goals of the annual retreat.

According to Sumpter, the two main goals of the retreat were to create space for students to grow in their personal relationships with Jesus Christ and to foster a true Christian community at Waynesburg University. The first retreat was held in 2019, making this past outing the fourth held for students. Despite the changing variables, year to year, Sumpter and his team have kept a consistent vision of the goals he listed.

This year, Sumpter described a big focus being to get student leaders and campus ministry assistants involved in running the event. 

“It’s a joy to let students at Waynesburg University step into leadership roles and use the gifts God has given them,”said Sumpter.. This included leading breakout groups for attendees, leading worship services and even helping with behind-the-scenes work, like meal prep and scheduling.

In planning for the event, Sumpter listed Michaelena Hammond and Rachel Duncan as being a large part of the process. This preparation work included scheduling transportation, planning meals and snacks, creating the event’s schedule and organizing people. 

“The reality is it takes a village to make an impact,” said Sumpter. 

A large part of the event’s theme this year was rest, and allowing students to take a moment to decompress and refocus their priorities. According to Sumpter, a big part in the retreat planning process is recognizing that college students do not need a large program to follow. He mentioned how, even though a strict schedule has its place, going back and forth from sermon to small group over and over can feel constricting. So, instead, he described the importance of creating a space for students to pause and be still. 

According to Sumpter, there is value in just letting students connect with each other on a faith basis, which is part of the reason his team plans the event so early in the semester.

When speaking about the future, Sumpter described his goal of reaching a wider audience. Despite the high attendance of this past retreat, he still recognizes that there are many Christians on campus who were unable to attend due to sports or other obligations. According to Sumpter, a future goal is being able to reach more Christians, along with anyone interested, by planning more events. He went on to describe the possibility of hosting an event on campus for those who may not be able to leave for an extended period.

On the lasting impact of the retreat, Sumpter said that his prayer is, “that students reflect the light of Christ in all the spaces they find belonging and purpose.” He tied this back into his two goals, mentioning that he hoped the students who attended would continue to grow in their relationships with Christ, and that they would be able to go out and continue to foster a strong Christian community on campus and in their own lives.

Upcoming Christian retreats available to Waynesburg students are the Kairos retreat, open to upperclassmen, and the Jubilee Conference, h, in February, which is available to all students for a small fee.