A Week in Panama City Beach, Florida

Last week was Spring Break!  Generally for us that means spending a week with students in Panama City Beach, Florida for our Big Break conference.  It's at this conference that students are equipped and trained to listen well to others, initiate spiritual conversations, ask good questions, and share the gospel with the many students who have come to have a good time partying on the beach during spring break.

This year we took 15 students from a variety of schools in the Grand Forks area, mostly UND, but a few Mayville, and one Crookston student joined us as well.  Instead of riding a bus we rented three vans (which ended up being large SUV's) and drove the 28 hours down to PCB.  It was quite the experience driving through the night, but it was fund and helped the students to bond.

We had a great week sharing our faith on the beach and being challenged in our faith by speakers such as Bob & Jill Fuhs and Matt Mikalatos.  Many of the students came away feeling challenged in their walk with the Lord and equipped to share their faith.

It was so much fun to watch our students (some experienced and some not) boldly initiate conversations, listen to people, and share the gospel with the people on the beach that were desperately searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places.

Here's what a few of our students had to say about how God used them and grew them during our time in PCB:

“I grew in trusting the Lord while sharing and actually believing and feeling peace knowing that  where ever the conversation went, that God had His hands over it all.” ~ Kristi, Sophomore

“I really enjoyed seeing God’s power work in people!  Especially people that I thought would be really turned off by the gospel, when in reality they were really interested and wanted to talk.”

~ Nolan, Freshman

“God grew me in ways I didn’t expect Him to.  I grew in sharing my faith, but I also grew in caring for fellow believers, which I didn’t expect in that environment.” ~ Jonathan, Freshman

Here are some pictures of our time in Florida:

Brenna, Kristi, Kamaya, & Grace (3 of Kamaya's sophomore disciples)

Our whole group at Campus Dinner at Harpoon Harry's

Andrew, Todd, and Josh Getting ready for a day of Sharing their faith on the beach.

Andrew & Josh talking with some students on the beach.

The Party Scene

The view of the Gulf from our Ocean Front Deck at the Edgewater Beach Resort.

Worship during on of the sessions.

Keynote lead our Worship Time.

Nolan & Andrew sharing about the 3 guys who trusted Christ with them on the beach our very last day.

Getting ready for the session!

Anisa, Grace, Brenna, & Kristi (UND girls)

UND Ladies coming to the evening session!