I asked Pastor Matt Ginter, director of Christian Ministries at the University of Findlay and co-director of The Well, to share a little more about the great opportunities presented to our young people through The Well, held at The University of Findlay, July 8-13, 2018. |
Wells, in the ancient world, served something of a dual purpose. On the one hand, they supplied access to life-sustaining water. Beyond supplying for physical needs, wells would likewise serve as something of the center of a community, often designated as meeting places. Wells were landmarks, essential to locals in day-to-day life and, maybe more so, to travelers en route from one settlement to another. We envision 'The Well' - a summer faith experience at the University of Findlay - along similar lines. 'The Well' is a place for individuals to draw on the life-giving words of Jesus, diving deep into issues of faith, identity, and calling. This time of examination is not done alone, though. 'The Well' also serves as a place of meeting, encouraging all to wrestle with spiritual growth and transformation together. 'The Well' is a landmark on the journey from high school to college, equipping young men and women to both discern and live out God's call on their life.
How is the experience at The Well different from a week at church camp or a summer festival?
The differences boil down to two main things: focus and setting. While church camps will explore any number of different topics in a given summer, 'The Well' will maintain a focus on three big emphases: faith, identity, and calling. Who is God? Who am I? Who is He calling me to be? There's any number of ways to wrestle with these questions, but these are the anchor questions for us year in and year out. Likewise, as for differences, 'The Well' also varies from church camps and festivals in its setting. Students attending 'The Well' are treated to a week on-campus (at the University of Findlay). They sleep in the dorm rooms. They eat in the dining hall. Their mentors for the week are all current Findlay students. The men and women leading them in daily devotions and sessions are Findlay faculty and staff members. 'The Well' is a beautiful opportunity to engage with faith at a collegiate level before going to college.
Why should CGGC churches send their young people to The Well?
'The Well' is an amazing opportunity to invest in the next generation, helping them ask the questions we, perhaps, failed to ask ourselves. Specifically for the CGGC, 'The Well' is an opportunity to recapture some of the intentional ministry previously found in wonderful opportunities like Impact and Summer Workshop. The Lord has blessed us immensely on the University of Findlay campus recently, bringing a spirit of revival and a hunger for discipleship. These very same college students who are an integral part of that blessing are standing, ready and waiting, for CGGC churches to send their high school students to 'The Well' that some of that spirit and hunger might be shared. There are 50 slots available to high school participants for 'The Well.' Participation in 'The Well' is not limited to individuals from the CGGC, but our hope and heart would be that we--as a denomination--would collectively know of at least 50 young men and women who could benefit from such a week of intentional discipleship and formation!
Why is it important for high school students to be talking about vocation and calling at this point of their lives?
We are seeing the negative effects of 'prolonged adolescence' in so many other areas of life, we cannot afford to give license to any such similar immaturity in the church today! We are all called to love the Lord with heart, soul, strength, and mind--to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly--and these emphases find some of their fullest expression in our day-to-day career - our vocation, that to which God has called us. By the time you have graduated from high school and either entered college or the workforce, there seems to be increasing pressure to make long-term decisions. If we can meet our young people on the verge of such transitions and equip them well, we anticipate that they will then approach such long-term decisions more confidently and capably.
What's been the impact of The Well in the previous summers?
Not an exaggeration, we have had nothing but positive feedback from each and every individual who has participated the past two summers. The intentionality, the relationship building, the collegiate setting - all have come together to create a unique experience for high school students (we tried to capture some of their responses in the video below). We see individuals leaving 'The Well' more confident in their ability to seek out God's call on their lives. This doesn't mean they necessarily have all of the answers! It does mean, though, that they know better how (and where) to ask the right questions.
You can find more information at www.findlay.edu/TheWell.
Click the image below or use this link to find out what past participants say of their experience at The Well: https://youtu.be/RdAtmwd9-Xw