This past weekend we, the Powerhouse community of Hillsong Church, encountered God in the most unbelievable way on the Central Coast. It was my 4th Ph Retreat and the best yet! There were 1000+ people from the ages of 18-25 – all of us coming for one purpose, and that was exalting the Lord our Saviour!
Retreat actually began a night early for me due to the fact that I’m involved with some of the Uni Ministry at one of Sydney’s Unis. There were about 25 of us who stayed an extra night in Terrigal, just hanging out and building a real community between students from different Universities. We stayed in this amazing house with a great view of the ocean. The following day was spent at our first ever Uni Launch Program, where Chrishan and the team invested into the Uni Students, speaking vision and encouraging the students with what needs to be accomplished and what they’re able to do to be a part.
When we finally got to the first night I was ready! It’s a remarkable how much working full time can alter everything. At College I always had chapel and was constantly in God’s presence worshipping, however since working it takes a lot of my focus away and I’m simply in a different environment, so being at retreat was a true refreshing time of worship and hearing from God. We had a phenomenal first night – right from the beginning everyone was in one accord, hungry to hear from God. Thomas Hansen spoke – putting out the challenge to us live a life of prayer and believe in the power of God.
Friday morning Robert Fergusson brought the word, using Isaiah 6-8:
- I saw – we see the glory and majesty of God
- I cried – we acknowledge the state of our humanity and that we are sinners
- I heard – we actually hear from God
- Here I am send me – then we GO!
Robert mentioned that a lot of the times at retreats people get all excited about the ‘GO’ part but they forgot the previouis 3 things, meaning that there’s no foundation or ‘legs’ to what we actually want to do. We had an incredible time of praying for each other as directed by Robert; we were to pray for each other in tongues and then pray, praying Scripture – usually that’s the interpretation right there! He wanted us to stir up the gift that has already been deposited in us.
The afternoon was spent at the beach!!! We enjoyed a wonderful cafe and then just hung out at the beach, watching the boys play footy and the girls timid to go in the water.
And then there was the night session, one not to be forgotten. Joel Houston and the team was leading worship and we just kept going. We got to the end of the ‘planned’ songs, but God was definitely doing something and so they began to play prophetically and we kept worshipping. Chrishan came up on stage and said that we were going to keep worshipping and that there was so much joy in the place. Once he said that, the team continued playing prophetically, to a beat that made everyone jump and dance before God. People were encountering God like no other and people’s burdens were being lifted and we were being stirred for more of GOD! 2 hours later Chrishan came up on stage and did give a very timely word about what are we committed to change. If we, as a whole and individually, will be committed to aligning all that we do to God’s Word then we will see this Powerhouse movement go forward.
Saturday was another great day of sessions adn prayer and worship and connecting with friends. Danielle spoke in the morning – she delivered a great message about getting rid of weights, those things that hold us back from accomplishing all that God has for us. Then we prayed for different groups, those in the work place, those in uni, etc. Chrishan also brought the tribal leaders on stage to honour them and pray for them. As they were beginning to do that, someone came up to me saying that Nathan wanted me on stage. Now I just started helping out with Uni stuff so I wasn’t expecting anything, but it was definitely an honour to be considered a leader in that capacity even though I know that it’s not of my own strength at all!! And we continued by praying for the PH pastors, Nathan and April, Thomas and Catherine, and Ben and Carli – then Chrishan and Danielle.
Once again we headed to the beach and I got a bit too much sun!! And then we headed back to the venue for the final session of retreat. April spoke a challenging word of ‘This is your moment’ – calling us to claim what’s already ours and live in the power of God. What can I saw it was a great retreat!
I really enjoyed meeting new friends and connecting more with old friends. And I was definitely stirred to see salvation in friends and those that I meet. This generation is going to make a stamp on history!!
I find that as much as I go to seek God on retreats, there is always something competes for my attention God. I am deciding to not spend so much time doing trivial things, but to get every ounce out of what God has there. To simply focus on God. Nice post. It sounds like an awesome retreat.
thanks for sharing that! i remember when i first went to retreat. it was unreal. i love it when God does the unexpected.