ADC Student Perspectives: Reflections on the ADC Retreat

Today's student guest post is by Matt Wilton. He is in the second year of the MDiv program. Matt lives in Halifax, and serves as the Vice President of the ADCSA (Acadia Divinity College Student Association).

Though driving from Halifax to ADC for an 8:45 AM class may make one envy on-campus students with a five minute walk (particularly on an icy, February morning), early morning conversations with fellow students seem to make it all worth it. While such conversations usually include the latest
elimination from any given reality T.V. show, rides down to the valley also provide an opportunity to talk about life, to encourage one another in life’s trials, and to get excited about the dreams that God has placed on our hearts. It is out of these conversations that one dream would come to life.

My name is Mat Wilton, and I am currently in my 2nd Year of my M.Div. at Acadia Div. I also have the privilege to serve as VP for the Acadia Divinity College Student Association (ADCSA). As you now know, I also have the privilege of driving down with several other students from Halifax to ADC on a weekly basis. It is out of conversations on these drives that the idea came about for an Acadia Div Retreat: an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to come together as a community in order to grow together, and to commit the upcoming year to the Lord. Upon sharing this dream with the rest of ADCSA, it became clear that God had already begun to stir up this dream in the hearts of other members of the team and members of the school’s faculty. Before we knew it, with a short amount of time, a lot of desire, and a lot of hard work by many individuals, this dream would turn into a day-long retreat to start off the 2013/2014 academic year at ADC.

Providing a brief overview of the retreat, the day started off with worship and creative prayer led by Rev. Paul Fowler and Erin Jackman respectively. I was personally encouraged through creative prayer as I was led to meditate on the season of my life that I am in, cast aside worry and distraction, and praise the Lord in a time of thanksgiving. Overall, however, this time was a time of focus where those in attendance were able to meet with the Lord and align their hearts to be open to what it is that the Lord wanted to teach them.

The faculty, staff, and students were then taught and challenged throughout the day by Dr. Andrew Stirling who led us to consider, “Redemption in a Fragmented World: The Mission of the Church in Canada Today.” As we sought to understand the call of the church in Canada today we looked at:

· Our call to use our imaginations for evangelism as we seek to see others encounter Christ;

· Our call to be bold in the public square, holding confidence in the death and resurrection of Christ;

· Our call to be faithful in prayer and with the mandate revealed to the church through the Holy Spirit and Scripture and;

· Our call to cast down idols for the sake of making the name of Jesus known.

Times of teaching were then followed by a small group discussion where we were challenged further as we discussed how the topics presented by Dr. Stirling could lead to application within our personal contexts and communities that the Lord has called us into. This time, from a personal standpoint, was a time of growth for the ADC community as we were able to share, encourage and grow with one another.

As the day drew to a close, the community at ADC completed the retreat committing the upcoming year to the Lord.

If you weren’t able to make it out to the retreat this year, firstly, I would highly recommend trying to attend next year. Secondly, I would encourage you to join us in committing the year to the Lord; join us in our prayer of dedication to Him:

“We offer to dedicate ourselves to You as we enter fully into the academic year that stretches out before us… We desire to be as pliable clay in the Potter’s Hands. Please form us as Christian persons who will live our lives and lead the ministries You give us in ways that will honour You.”