BCM takes winter retreat at Myrtle Beach
By Rachel McAuleyStaff Writer
February 9, 2012
Thirteen UNCP students packed their flip flops and sunscreen and headed down to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 3 for a relaxing weekend of worship and service. The theme was: Intimacy with God.
The BCM students at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington came down as well to help conduct Bible studies, participate in fun ice breakers and break the students up into intermingled small discussion groups to discuss their relationship with God.
Both groups of college students spent two nights and three days on the Myrtle Beach Christian Retreat grounds and spent every minute getting to know one another and reading the Bible.
Friday evening the UNCW BCM band performed a few songs once everyone arrived on location and had the entire BCM members participate in ice breaker games. Nick Garner, UNCW freshman, led the first Bible study. Later, everyone was given a piece of paper to match others like a puzzle. If a group fitted their pieces of paper together, they were assigned as a group.
Saturday, service began at 9 a.m. with a short prayer. After UNCP's BCM band performed a few songs, Elizabeth Goins, president of BCM, led a Bible study about the relationships with not only God but people they're surrounded by in their everyday lives.
After Bible study everyone was free to go to the beach or go shopping at the boardwalk. The two school groups went their separate ways. UNCP's students carpooled to Barefoot Landing where they shopped, ate and walked around the boardwalk.
"It was a blast. I feel like our UNCP BCM has grown closer together. The services were good, and it made me want to strive to get a closer walk with God," Mark Squires, UNCP junior and member of the BCM council, said.
What fun would it be to go to the beach without getting wet or having sand stuck between toes? Before dinner, they headed down to the beach where a few daredevils dived right into the freezing water and later played a fun, competitive game of ninja.
After eating, the service began, starting with song performances, more games and small group discussions. Kyle Caddell, student of UNCW, led the last scheduled Bible study about what intimacy is and how to have an intimate relationship with God.
The night ended with a talent show hosted by members of UNCP's BCM, Rodriquez Bradley and Tess Johnson. There were several singing acts from both BCMs as well as a few students performing with guitar, keyboard and drums.
Bradley said, "(My) favorite part of the trip was coming closer with people who I have never met before and developing a friendship through similar beliefs."
After breakfast, Sunday morning service started at 9 a.m. with a last Bible study led by Ron Sanders, UNCP's BCM leader.
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The print edition of The Pine Needle is published 14 times a year during the fall and spring semesters. Updated: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 © The University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
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