I am writing this from aboard a very warm bus, packed to the brim with two youth groups. We’re only about halfway through an eight-hour journey back to our homes. We are sweaty, tired, and wouldn’t be blamed for being a little grumpy. But that’s not the current mood; youth are singing along to music behind me right now. The reason is simple: we were just at Abundant Springs.

We’re on the bus because, this year, Abundant Springs was back at Briercrest (in Caronport, Saskatchewan) for the first time in four years. This was no small feat to pull off. It required a lot of logistical planning, such as managing food plans, figuring out where everyone was going to sleep, keeping large groups on a consistent schedule, and keeping the lines of people waiting to use the adult-sized tricycles organized and calm.

All of these practical concerns are in service of the heart of the event—bringing together EMC youth groups from across the country for discipleship, fellowship, worship and to have fun together. And that goal was accomplished. This, the 40th anniversary of the first Abundant Springs, was the third largest one in that timespan, with youth groups travelling many hours to attend.

The worship sessions

We all finished our different journeys on Friday the 19th, gathering together for a meal before we had our first session. The speaker this year was Mo Friesen (pulling double duty as he is also Director Next Generation for EMC). Speaking to this many people can be challenging, but Mo dove into it with gusto, calling the youth to step out in faith and serve the Lord who sees us, knows us, and loves us. Having a great worship band doesn’t hurt either, and members of Swan City Collective were fantastic, inviting the Spirit to work in us and leading us in times of praise and response.

Saturday night featured a call from Mo to come forward and write on a piece of paper what God was calling those in attendance to surrender to him, perhaps a decision about the future or a relationship. Watching wave after wave of youth put their papers into a jar that Mo then destroyed felt like watching the hand of God tangibly move in people’s lives.

Sunday night featured another call to response, this time in giving. Our missions campaign was the Paraguay Compassion Project and again, watching youth who don’t have much themselves earnestly giving was humbling and encouraging.

The workshops

The workshops spread throughout two days, with each youth getting three time slots to choose between the ten available options. Some included Gord Penner running through the Old Testament, Peter Ascough taking a hard look at the realities of mental health, and Calvin Tiessen shining some light on how people communicate, both consciously and not. The slightly more classroom approach contrasted nicely with what came next, because it wasn’t all about challenging questions and serious discussions.

The games

There were many games and activities happening throughout the weekend too. There was a nine-square ball game set up in the Hub outside the chapel, and I’m guessing there was only about twenty minutes of free time per day where it wasn’t in use. The line to join next often stretched all the way across the Hub.

Spikeball and Gaga ball were also used frequently, but the real big games were Rec on Saturday and the Wide Game on Sunday. Rec time featured a bunch of different sports and games being played and tournaments helmed by youth leaders. Basketball, volleyball, and street hockey tournaments all led to honourable losses and hard-fought victories. And after the evening’s session, that atmosphere of competition and gamesmanship continued in The Showdown, a gameshow where volunteers were subject to varying gross contests. A highlight of the entire weekend (for me, anyway) was watching a kid drink a blended Happy Meal in about six seconds. You can check our highlight video (https://vimeo.com/829884782) for proof—just incredible stuff from that champion.

The Wide Game on Sunday featured youth trying to bring a balloon to different challenges spread across the campus while leaders roamed with the goal of popping their balloon. It’s been my experience that as these sorts of games progress, the youth get better at the game while the leaders get better at manipulating the game. This was no exception. Fake stations began to appear, and between the desperate foot chases and tricky challenges, it was a thrilling afternoon.

The performances

Each of these fun afternoons and spiritual evenings turned into a late night party. Different acts were brought out for each night, and while people were free to leave and go to bed early, those who chose that missed out on great times.

Scribe, a musical artist from Vancouver, put on a show Friday night featuring a mosh pit, chapel-shaking bass, and spiritual truth.

Refined/Undignified is a dance group that came out for a good portion of the weekend. This means that while they put on a great show Saturday evening, they were also around to throw a dance party on Friday evening, and then train some students during the Rec time to do a big group dance routine for us all later. Many of those students had never done anything like that before; it was very cool to see.

Sunday night featured Matt Falk, a stand-up comic. He did very well and is very funny. While I don’t want to take anything from him, exhausted as we were, we were all easy marks by that point of the weekend. So, it was a deliriously funny night.

The journey

That leaves us, of course, with this morning. After such a packed weekend of community and spiritual high, heading home can be almost a little melancholy.

Fortunately, we spent the last of our time together in worship and encouragement. We sang praises to God as one body and were commissioned as we left to go impact the lives of those around us with the gospel, and live sold-out lives for Jesus. Now, having scattered to the far-flung corners of Canada, our hope is that this weekend was not just a mountaintop experience, but a real step in our journey with Jesus. Thank you so much for all your prayer and support.