What to Expect

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Theotokos will engage Confirmands in reflecting on their own call to discipleship, as followers of Jesus, and how they can be ministers of the Gospel. During the retreat, Confirmands and their leaders will explore and reflect on their own faith journeys through activities of worship, engaging with biblical stories of call, building relationships with one another, community service, and workshops on prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Theotokos retreats will also encourage Confirmands to envision what a transformed world might look like and how they, as Christ bearers, can be agents of that transformation.

As Theotokos retreat participants, Confirmands will:

• Experience and better understand the connectional aspect of The United Methodist Church.  
• Learn about the biblical call stories of young people -- like Ishmael, Samuel, and Mary -- and reflect on and articulate their own story of how God may be calling them to be Christ bearers 
• Learn about relational and contextual models of mission outreach -- SERVICE; using Hinton Rural Life Center’s mission outreach model as an example, help them gain better understanding of the perspectives and challenges of rural poverty, the importance of knowing the contexts in which they serve, and how to best meet needs as they "walk alongside" or accompany their "neighbors.”  
• Grow in the understanding and practice of ministry of PRESENCE, as they learn about their unique giftedness and belonging in the Body of Christ and the importance of their participation in it.
• Learn about and reflect on the practice of tithing, the membership vow of offering one's GIFTS, and how they might integrate these into their own lives.
• Learn about and practice a variety of ways to pray, considering which may be most meaningful for them and how they can use PRAYERS more often to grow closer to God and in their own faith and discipleship
• Reflect on their personal skills, abilities, giftedness and how they are ministers and part of the Body of Christ; reflect on how they can live out their next steps as a member of that Body.
• Consider how their participation in the Body (through local church and denominational involvement/support) as confirmed members both strengthens their discipleship and bears WITNESS to the Gospel, as others (in the community/world) see them love God, love others, and love one another.