“The Quest” was a great episode in our journey to find our purpose in life. Our speaker, Pastor Carlos, asked “Why do I have so much baggage to carry on this journey?” and “Where can I find help, relief, answers?”

Friday night was a great opening service, Before Tomorrow from ONU led the worship, and Pastor Carlos introduced us to “Jake”. We followed along as Jake told us about his journey through the different painful situations that other people put him in and through bad decisions that he made himself to his realization that God still loves him in spite of it all. In Jake’s story we saw a picture of God that loves us no matter bad our history may look.

Saturday started with breakfast: pancakes, sausages, and friends at 8:00 am. We then set out to make a difference in the community for Christ. About 30 teens and sponsors cleaned yards, cut dead limbs from trees and raked leaves for local seniors and widows in Mansfield, IL. One group polished the Mansfield Elementary School Gym before and after our afternoon open gym time. Great fun and a great witness, too!

Everyone was back to the church for ping pong, air hockey, foosball and roasting hot dogs over a raging bonfire in the cold air. Plenty of food, fun and fellowship with over 50 attending. It was great to see the teens from several different churches come together and enjoy their time to hang out and just be teens.

Saturday evening was spiritually enriching and challenging as Jake shared his “baggage” with us and how he came to deal with it.

Sunday morning Pastor Carlos wrapped up the message of “The Quest” with the word of God and His promises for our lives as we give Him our baggage to bear. Our attendance topped 80 Sunday night for a short concert and long fellowship time after, with a dessert bar and all the sugar you could melt down your throat!

Finally, thanks to the Mansfield Community Church of the Nazarene for their facility and financial support that made this possible. And to the Champaign Zone for additional funding for the ONU group as well as the leadership of Ellen McCombs, our Zone NYI Director for organizing this event!