Dying to Live
This past weekend, February 13–15, 140 college students from across Michigan gathered at Camp Au Sable for a Spirit-filled retreat that was both challenging and deeply encouraging. Students came representing the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Lansing Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, and even Andrews University. Alongside them were trade school students, young professionals, youth leaders, and local university pastors, all coming together with one shared purpose: to seek God through His Word.
Our keynote speaker, Pastor Jermaine Gayle of the Kalamazoo Seventh-day Adventist Church, led us through a powerful theme: “Dying to Live.” Throughout the weekend, he invited students to wrestle deeply with Scripture, beginning with Luke 7:11–15. In this passage, we see a Savior moved by compassion. Jesus tells the mother not to weep, touches the coffin, and commands the dead man to rise. The young man sits up and begins to speak, and Jesus restores him to his mother. It is a story of grief, love, and resurrection power.
Pastor Jermaine challenged students with profound yet personal truths: love makes us vulnerable, and grief is the price we pay for love. These were not just abstract ideas. They were real, weighty concepts that students leaned into and were ready to grapple with.
The weekend also included breakout sessions and guided discussions led by our CAMPUS Fellows, Gabrielle Umana and George Kertawidjaja. In groups of eight or nine, students opened their Bibles and tackled meaningful questions: How does God respond to our grief? What does Jesus speaking life into the dead teach us about the power of God’s Word? Would God still be good if He had not raised the widow’s son?
The conversations were thoughtful, sincere, and Spirit-led. Students did not shy away from hard questions. They leaned in. They turned pages. They compared texts. They wrestled and reflected. Some lingered after the formal sessions ended, gathering around Pastor Jermaine to continue studying, asking questions, and seeking clarity in Scripture.
This was not a light topic. It was not surface-level faith. From Sabbath School at 9:30 a.m. until the evening session at 6:30 p.m., with only brief breaks to eat, students immersed themselves in the Bible. During divine service on Sabbath, Pastor Jermaine spoke from Mark 5:35 on the idea of “when death becomes a bother.” He addressed the reality of crisis and reminded us:
“God is in control. He can’t be controlled. He isn’t on our timeline. He isn’t bound by the things we are bound by. He operates above and outside of our human limitations.”
The weekend was also filled with laughter in the dining hall as students played games after the close of Sabbath. There were sled rides down snowy hills on Sunday after camp cleanup. There were moments of connection between universities, new friendships formed, and old ones strengthened. But woven through it all was Scripture: Bibles opened, honest discussion, and a genuine desire to know God more deeply.
If you ever wonder whether young adults are interested in the Bible, whether they care to study it seriously, question it thoughtfully, and apply it personally, the answer is yes. This weekend was living proof. Our students are not apathetic. They are hungry. They are thoughtful. They are asking hard questions and searching the Scriptures for real answers.
PCM Winter Retreat 2026 was a reminder that God is moving in the hearts of our youth. They are not just attending retreats; they are engaging with truth. They are not just listening to sermons; they are opening the Word for themselves.
The future of the church looks like open Bibles, honest conversations, and students who care about God’s Word. This weekend was a reminder that many young adults genuinely want to follow Jesus and live out their faith in real ways.
And that should give all of us great hope.
Brianna Kittleson serves as the administrative assistant for the Public Campus Ministry and Communication departments.