OUR VISION
We want to see incoming students find a place to grow in a relationship with Jesus in Athens.​
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OUR MISSION
Our mission at The ARCH Retreat is to foster meaningful connection among first-year students and send a new generation of believers into Athens college campuses to reflect Christ and exemplify what it means to enter by the narrow gate.
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OUR NAME
Just as the Arch is the entrance to UGA’s campus, we desire The ARCH Retreat to be the entrance to freshmen living for Christ in Athens. Our name is an acronym describing the core values of our team and our mission
Abide
We lead students to abide in Christ through time spent with Him and His community (John 15:5)
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Rely
We lead students to rely on Christ rather that trusting in their own sufficiency (Colossians 1:17)
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Connect
We lead students connect to a local church and other believers to strengthen their relationship with Christ in college (Hebrews 10:25)
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Harvest
We lead students to fulfill the Great Commission by becoming a laborer in the harvest both while in Athens and long after (Matthew 9:37-38)
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OUR KEY VERSES
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
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Following Jesus is not easy in college as it requires us to deny ourselves and submit to the authority of Christ in all areas of life. This is why so many students choose the easy way and the wide gate in college though they grew up in a Christian home. The ARCH Retreat aims to show students that although life with Jesus in college is hard, it is unimaginably worth it.
Psalm 84:10-11
10 "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
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We want students who attend ARCH to experience and enjoy the presence of God in their personal lives and expand His presence throughout their campus.
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RETREAT
Freshmen and transfer students can expect to begin building a foundation for their walk with Christ during their time at UGA & surrounding Athens area colleges.
Throughout the retreat, students will attend large group worship sessions with speakers from local churches and ministries as well as smaller topic-based sessions.
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Students will have the opportunity to spend time with their family groups, who will encourage each other in their walks with the Lord, dive deep into scripture, and build a close-knit community.
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One of the main goals of our retreat is to plug students into a community in the form of a local church, friendships, and campus ministries before classes even start.
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There will also be a ministry fair, where our partner churches and ministries will be set up for students to get to know them, ask questions, and gain more information. This will be a week of growth, fun, and friendship!