Barrytown Young Adult Ministry Bonding Trip

On Saturday, June 16, the Barrytown Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) held a bonding trip to Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George, NY. Over 19 youths and two local pastors attended the trip where the main purpose was to help young people in the community bond and build a warm and supportive relationship with one another.

Before departing for the trip, the participants gathered at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) for Hoon Dok Hae. They read about the meaning of True Love and living for the sake of others. One young adult minister shared:

“What is family? In my opinion, family is not limited to blood relations. Family can be anyone you love and care about. We’re a family here and as a family, we need to be united. Today is all about reconnecting and bonding and learning how we can take care of each other and live for the sake of one another.”

Upon arriving in Lake George, participants attended the Glory Day event at Great Escape. Glory Day welcomed Christian families to connect with one another and enjoy inspiring, uplifting music and entertainment.

Inspired by this event, the YAYAM participants separated into three small groups to bond and share stories with other Great Escape visitors, and then regroup and share their experiences with one another. Some of the groups met with Christian ministers who answered various questions and discussed important points about God. This small activity had everyone feeling happy and connected.

After a day of enjoying, bonding and even conquering a fear of heights, the group gathered around the carousel to share their day’s testimonies and ended in a closing prayer. One participant mentioned in his prayer a feeling of unity at the day’s end.

Reflections

“I liked the fact that we talked about Living for the Sake of Others during Hoon Dok Hae. We all shared food and snacks in the car when we were driving to Great Escape. It was just so nice to see that. It felt like we were siblings.” – Tim Kiluba, core YAM member

“When I left for GPA, I didn’t expect something like Young Adult Ministry to happen. I like the fact that I was able to connect with many old and new people that I didn’t get to hang out with before. I enjoyed it and bonding was a great way for me to start the summer.” – Connor Redmond, GPA graduate

“I’m glad I was able to attend and spend time with everyone. It was nice to see many second gens and hear their experiences. I’ll definitely come back for the next one.” – Kensei Suzuki, GPA graduate

“This was a fun experience. I haven’t had the opportunity to participate in Young Adult Ministry as I’ve been away for school, but reconnecting with the community felt nice.” – Felix Gaye, YAM member