12/09/2022
Strengthening Relationships: A Sabbath Retreat Special
Blessings poured out in S**C Academy as many hearts were touched during its first and only Sabbath Retreat of the school year. In the early morning of September 3, 2022, students and teachers alike, were already bustling as they head to the venue of the event at the newly built Academy Complex of S**C. With the theme ‘Strengthening Relationships’, students were brought to many realizations as they release their thoughts, feelings, and insights about what it is to strengthen one’s relationship with every individual they encounter. As Kim Jatico said, a grade 11 STEM student, “The realizations I have learned during the Sabbath Retreat will definitely be applied as I continue to school in S**C.”
As a college, the Academy was not alone in the undertaking of this grand event. The college department, through the Peer Associates Club were the very people who facilitated the fun and spiritually filled activities among the hundreds of Academy students. With joy-filled eyes, Dhowelyn Gelig, a 3rd year college BSED Math student expressed her delight as one of the facilitators during the retreat. She said “I am very thankful to God that I was chosen as one of the leaders who guided the high school students of their Sabbath retreat. They were very cooperative with the activities and obedient to our instructions.”
As the flow of the program goes on, tasks given to each member bring inspiring lessons that would enrich their spiritual knowledge in strengthening relationships.
Strengthening Family Relationships.
Life is a story itself. Every individual has their own life stories, unique yet distinctive from others. One of the common stories a child can tell is their relationship with their families. In this first part of the retreat, the facilitator asked the students to create a Relationship Web. So how is this done? Participants draw a web that represents their connection or relationship with their parents, friends, relatives, and teachers. Each on the relationship web can be in the form of straight lines which depicts a good relationship/ connection, wavy for unstable, and uneven lines or dots for an awful relationship. Once finished, each member is to illustrate why their web of relationship contains different lines and to explain reason behind it. To conclude the activity, there are verses presented in relation to the given topic and each participant was asked how to maintain a healthy family relationship and most members had the same opinion, good communication.
Strengthening your Relationship with God
Heaven and Earth are miles apart, but God and Man are inseparable. ‘Strengthening your relationship with God’ is the topic presented for the Divine service program of each group. For another activity all members are given questions and they are to answer only one out of four given options which are, never, seldom, sometimes, and always. The participants were asked if they consider themselves a faithful student, how zealous are they when it comes to creating a close relationship with God, and if they are grateful for the blessings received. As expected, each had different perspectives about themselves, and have shared their insights. Creating a close relationship with God can be quite complicated, and the only way to strengthen that connection is to be consistent in praying and reading of His Word.
Strengthening Peer Relationships
Holding a grudge isn’t good. It keeps the mind disturbed as anger continues to build up and just stays for a very long time. Many individuals believe that withholding malevolence would possibly harm the person they’re mad at, but unfortunately, it’s them that would suffer mentally. To transform hatred and grudge to forgiveness and peace, an activity is prepared for the members of the group which is called ‘I hate you, Goodbye!’. On a piece of paper each participant is to write the people they hate along with the reason why that person is hated. After writing, each should choose a partner and pray for the persons they have written on the paper filled with grudges and hatred. Peace has finally filled the mind and hearts as they chose to forgive and let go of their anger. Forgiving and forgetting was the center point of this lesson. It teaches each student that it’s not every day they get to forgive, and there may come a time when all is too late. Forgive for Jesus forgave us.
“Surrendering my all to Him”
What hinders us from reconnecting with God? Although in our hearts we know the right thing but something else stops us from doing so. At times, Satan tempts us into his traps which blocks our communication with God. To help surrender bad habits and for the culmination of the Sabbath Retreat program, the Academy teachers prepared a special task for all student. The culmination program started with various instrumental and vocal renditions by Bro. Recel Escobidal, Bro. Jeff Alcorin, and the Academy Faculty Ladies. Pr. Jay Linogao, the guidance counselor of South Philippine Adventist College spoke of inspiration and hope that God gave for His children. He continued “Students should surrender the things that hinders you from being close to God”. Through throwing the piece of paper containing all their hindrances into the pit of fire, students were renewed and the program ended.
We may have desires that doesn’t coincide with God’s commandments for us. The only hope for us is to surrender our everything to Him. This is how every student felt after the culmination, realizing everything that they have done and how far they’ve gone from God. What’s very much compelling about this event was that everyone has something to ponder upon, something to remember for the rest of their lives. One student said, “even though I am not an Adventist, S**C and this Sabbath Retreat program have helped me boost my spiritual faith. I am grateful because they helped me to be an honest and thoughtful person” said Kim, once again as he continued to share his Sabbath Retreat experiences. Another student exclaimed, “As I’ve pondered upon the different activities, I realized my wrongdoings and have learned about forgiveness” said Juliane Leigh Bernardino, a Grade 11 STEM student.
It was a joyful Sabbath indeed as students joined together in praising God with fellow schoolmates and teachers. As John Fritz Mier, Grade 8 student, said “This is the first time I’ve ever tried a Sabbath retreat, and it is really inspiring! I learned a lot of good things about family, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Sabbath is happy day indeed.”
Zarelle Adelise Leonardia
News Feature Writer
📸 Aubrey Ann Genon & Roandale Zamora
