by Scott Gronholz, Youth Director

One of my favorite movies growing up was “What About Bob?”—about a man named Bob and his unhealthy attachment to his psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin. Early on in the movie, Dr. Marvin teaches Bob about the concept of “baby steps,”–taking small steps on the road to mental health and stability. Bob, taking the analogy literally, becomes instantly enamored with the concept and begins taking literal, physical baby steps around Dr. Martin’s office.

The sequence reminds us that we all need to learn how to set small goals in an effort to become mature, fully realized adults. But every once in a while we need to take more than just a baby step. As Christians, we are often asked to take a step of faith toward a God that is constantly calling us, as C.S. Lewis puts it, “further up and further in.” It can be as simple as deciding to read the Bible more and as complicated as becoming a missionary in a third world country.

For Bethany High School students, we offer a yearly overnighter where students are encouraged to spend a significant amount of alone time with God and one-on-one time with adult leaders, trying to discern a potential next step in their faith journey. Specifically, students are encouraged to consider baptism, church membership, or some sort of leadership role, and we allow space for God to speak and challenge the students in whatever ways might be most appropriate.

This year, we took seven High School students and eight adult leaders to Sambica Camp on Lake Sammamish and spent twenty-four hours studying God’s Word, worshipping, praying, talking, and listening. On the first evening we discussed sin and it’s effect on our relationship with God. Students were given time to consider one sin in their life that was blocking them from God and then find a rock that would represent that sin.

Later, each student stood on the edge of the dock with their leader and tossed their rock into the lake, signifying the death of their sin and God’s grace in forgiving and forgetting that sin. The next day we learned about a few distinctives of the Presbyterian Church, what it means to become a member of a church, and the significance and meaning of baptism. Later, our High School intern, Leah Koshiyama, spoke about redemption and grace and the Christian response.

Throughout this time, students were given time and space to be alone with God and then have follow-up conversations with their leaders to discern God’s leading. In the end, all of the students decided to take significant steps, including baptism and church membership. Even one of our adult volunteer leaders decided to get baptized for the first time!

As we headed back to Seattle after our short time together, I was extremely proud. I was proud of our students who decided to take some time out of their busy lives to listen to what God wanted to say to them. I was proud of our adult volunteer leaders who continue to take time out of their busy schedules to come along side students and offer wisdom and support. I was proud to be at a place like Bethany that so values the spiritual maturation of its teenagers. At the end of this trip it was clear that everybody had moved well past “baby steps” and had taken the giant step of faith to make a serious life decision.