As most of the Shannon Forest community knows, October 5-7 marked our 15th annual spiritual emphasis retreat to Windy Gap in Weaverville, NC. What a great experience it was to be with 24 parent volunteers, 31 staff and faculty members, 141 students, 4 band members, 2 volunteer nurses and 1 very energetic speaker all worshiping together for 2 and a half days in God's glorious creation. I say "worship" because the natural beauty of the place, the music, the food, the fun, and the time spent together applying the Truth found in Romans all produced a spirit of worship for the God who made all this possible.
Teachers Amanda Tinklepaugh and Stephanie Lewis enjoy taking in the sights of the zipline and
blob from the snack shop with student Ian Mendelsohn. One of the many times that WG provided
opportunities for faculty and students to connect outside of the classroom.
Yes, that's me, Bob Collins.
Teacher Pam Erwin played senior Emily Pyhala in the Senior Skit this year. The skit has become
an annual tradition during Skit Night at Windy Gap.
Whereas I know that the excitement of the camp experience often has a short shelf life and can fade away as the holidays and semester exams approach, I do believe that Windy Gap leaves a lasting impact on our students. One reason this is true is because what happens at WG is really just a condensed version of what we try to do daily at SFCS. The parent/ teacher partnership, the fun, the fellowship, and the opportunity to let the Truth found in scripture shape our hearts and minds are as much a part of the Shannon experience on campus as they are at WG. The other reason I believe this to be true is because here at school we spend large chunks of time examining scripture and applying it to our lives, and helping our students apply it personally to their lives as well.
Students Neil Conover and Maddie Allen engage with this year's speaker
Chris Armfield on the WG volleyball court. Chris spoke on Romans throughout the week,
encouraging and connecting with the students on God's Truth.
Teacher Elizabeth Tate captures student Katherine Roach from behind her camera lens.
The sights and memories at Windy Gap always make for amazing shots for our
annual yearbook and yearbook students like Miss Roach and Samuel Glenn can often
be seen around camp toting their camera bags and sharpening their photography skills.
Students Samantha Steele and Katelyn Pittman scream their hearts out on the Windy Gap swing.
The promise that God’s Word will not fail to accomplish its purpose gives me every confidence that our students will be forever affected by what happens at Windy Gap, and so will we.
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