Hawaii District Young Adults Retreat Report
Submitted by Joseph Yun (Wesley Foundation and Hawaii District YA Coordinator)
The Hawaii District Young Adults Retreat took place from February 7-9, 2025, at Camp Mokule’ia, bringing together young adults from diverse backgrounds: Tongan, Korean, White, and Mixed Ethnicity. The retreat was aimed to offer spiritual rest and renewal. It also targeted to affirm the value of young adults in our local churches and remind them of the strength found in our Methodist connection. By God’s grace, the retreat was a success in providing a transformative experience for all who attended.
Throughout the retreat, the young adults deeply reconnected with God through worship services and small groups. Our guest speaker, Rev. Ken Suhr, delivered powerful and relevant messages that resonated with the young adults who face daily challenges in living out their faith amidst conflicting values. His messages encouraged them to navigate these challenges by viewing the world through the lens of God’s values, offering practical and biblical guidance for their faith journey. The small group discussions created a space for openness and reflection, allowing them to share their faith journeys and encourage one another. The retreat fostered organic relationships through moments of fellowship during evening snacks and interactive games. These experiences reinforced the sense of belonging and support among the young adults.
One participant shared, “This retreat really gave me refuge and calling. I have never felt so safe in a small group setting before, and it felt so freeing and inviting to both hear Rev. Ken’s words yet also to metabolize them alongside our YA community. I will remember the intimate praise time, powerhouse prayer, and the many insightful comments from our pastors.”
A particularly significant moment occurred during the fellowship games, which were adapted from the popular Netflix series Squid Game. Witnessing the genuine fun and enthusiasm of the young adults, I could sense a notifiable shift in the retreat atmosphere. The Holy Spirit was moving among them, revealing a deep longing for authentic connections. It became clear that these young adults were seeking a space where they could be themselves, be vulnerable, and form genuine relationships centered on faith. As another participant reflected, “I’m glad I went for a new take and experience on retreat, I will remember most the laughter of everyone during the games.”
This retreat was a testament to the power of belonging, the need for community, and the importance of providing young adults with spaces to grow spiritually and relationally. Moving forward, further ministry opportunities can be offered by providing leadership and discipleship training and gatherings for praise and worship, fellowship, and service projects to strengthen these connections further.
The experience of this retreat serves as an encouragement to continue investing in the spiritual well-being of young adults, creating opportunities for them to encounter God and build lasting connections within our Hawaii District. One attendee summed it up by saying, “Something that I’ll remember is the unity that and the closeness that God’s presence brought to all of us. Under the umbrella of God’s presence, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.”
