CARP in the Bay Area's Truly Alive Retreat - The World Needs God and Me

“In the midst of all the highs and lows that life has to offer, God is always going to be there,” says Judith, a new participant of CARP in the Bay Area. “We are limited beings without God.”

Judith was among some 18 participants of a three-day CARP retreat held in Santa Cruz, Calif., in early April. The Truly Alive program, organized by CARP Bay Area and the Bay Area Family Church Young Adult Ministry (YAM), was a relaxing break for students during an otherwise busy spring semester.

“Our core leaders recognized a strong need within the community for spiritual revival and reconnection to a thriving relationship with God,” says Young Joo, a local CARP member. “The Truly Alive retreat focused on topics such as ‘I Need God,’ ‘God Needs Me,’ and ‘The World Needs God and Me.’”

CARP members and guests heard from the chapter’s mentors, Markus Von Euw and Kazuya Morita, who gave insightful and thought-provoking presentations on each topic, igniting heartfelt discussions among the group. Feeling inspired and empowered, participants openly shared their reflections and realizations throughout the program.

“No matter how much faith we have, God is always with us and supporting us,” shared Estephanie, a local college student who attended the retreat. “God’s love is unconditional, and He needs us because He loves us.”

As the retreat location was just a short walk from the beach, participants enjoyed nature’s beauty while splashing around in the ocean and taking in the warm sunshine. Team-building activities such as charades, “Steal the Bacon,” and “Ninja Wars” added to the fun, familial atmosphere which contributed to each person feeling welcomed and at ease.

The “Graphing with God” activity - a highlight for many - enabled participants to reflect on their lives and create a physical graph depicting the highs and lows of their relationship with God over the years.

“I have a rollercoaster of a graph, but I feel God’s love now more than I ever did,” shared Maria, a third- year CARP member.

For Judith, it all comes back to self love and care for others. “I was able to look back and truly rejoice on how far I have come in my life,” she says. “I now feel so much joy because I was able to break out of my shell. I have allowed myself to be completely vulnerable to the love and kindness from others, which has filled my life with gratitude and humbleness.”

The retreat left participants and organizers feeling refreshed, reenergized, and - truly - alive.

You can learn more about CARP USA here.

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… , ’ • I ‘-- , ~. I ‘’ ~ Truly Alive in Santa Cruz ~- April 13, 2022 news, newsfeed Q. Search

Contributed by Younng Joo Scharf

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Year in Review Group Photo of CARP & BAFC YAM Retreat participants

Reaching the halfway point amidst a jam-packed spring semester, CARP BaY. Area and Bay_ Area FamilY. Church Young Adult Ministry_(BAFC YAM) core leaders recognized a strong need w ithi n t he community fo r spiritual revival and reconnection to a thriv ing relatio nship wi th God. Thus, the “Truly Alive” retreat was born ’

From April 1st to 3rd, 18 CARP members and g uests participate d in the “Truly Alive” retreat in Santa Cruz, California focusi ng on the t opics, “I Need God”, “God Needs Me”, an d the “World Needs God and Me.”

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CARP mentors Markus Von Euw a nd Kazuya Morita gave insightful and th ought-provoking presentations on the above topics, igniting heartfelt conversations and d iscussions for all the tea ms.

“No matte r how much faith you have,” shared Chabot College stu dent Estepanie De Lacruz, “God is always wi t h and supporting you .” She also rea lized through this retreat that, “God’s love is uncond itiona l,” and that, “God needs me because he loves me.”

Within j ust a ten-minute wal k from the beach, participan ts were a lso able to experience nature’s beauty through splashing in the refreshing ocean waves and soaki ng in the warm sunshine. Much laughter and play took place through team-bui lding activ ities such as, “Steal the Bacon,” charades, and “Ninja Wars,” in between presentatio ns, creating a fam ilial atmosphere w he re each part icipant co uld feel at home.

A hig hlig ht for many was the “Graphing wi th God” activity wh ich took place at the end of th e first fu ll day where al l partici pants had the opportun ity to reflect on their lives and crea te a physical g raph depicting the highs and lows of their relations hip with God through the years.

Reflecting on he r experience with this activity, Maria Barragan, a th ird -year CARP member shared, “I have a roller coaster of a graph in the ‘Graph ing with God’ activity but I feel God’s love now more than I ever did”.

For Jud ith Nyam b ega, being her first time participating in a CA RP 3-day retreat, one of her main takeaways was that “[m]an is a lim ited be ing without God .” She shared, “ I completely fel t this statem ent speaking to me, in the midst of al l the highs and lows that life has to offer, God is always going to be t here. I was able to look back and truly rej o ice on how far I have come eve r since I was bo rn till now,” and that, “… now reflecting, I fee l so much joy because I was able to break out of my shell . I have allowed myself to be complete ly vul nera ble to th e love and kindness fro m others, which has filled my li fe wi th grati tud e and humbleness.”

CARP members ended the retreat f eeli ng refreshed, re-energ ized, and rea dy to ta ke on the rem ainder of the semester!

Share your story to ry_ota@carg_life.org.

Tagged: carp life, carp bay area, divine principle, retreat, Tru ly Al ive

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