But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be
holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house
of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; But the
house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour
them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” For the
LORD has spoken – Obadiah 1:17-18 NKJV

INTRODUCTION

The Apostolic Church International – Youth Retreat is a special gathering
designed for fellowship, worship, prayer, and the moving of the Holy Spirit.
More than just an event, it provides a space where young people can lay
down burdens, connect with one another, and be renewed in spirit, mind, and
heart.

This year’s theme, “The Shift,” invited participants to explore what it means to
align their lives with God’s purpose, grow in unity, and embrace the calling He
has for each of them. Through worship, study, testimonies, and shared
experiences, attendees celebrated God’s presence and experienced the
transformative power of His Word. The brochure captures the joy, inspiration,
and spirit-filled energy of the retreat, showcasing a generation rooted in
Christ and ready to walk boldly in God’s plan.
As you read through this brochure, may you feel the heartbeat
of this generation rising from Mount Zion: a people walking in
holiness, and aflame with the love and power of Jesus Christ.

STUDIES FROM RETREAT

Mount Zion: A Shift to Alignment and Destiny Fulfillment

“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.
(Obadiah 17-18 NKJV)

Mount Zion represents a realm where God, His angels, and His people dwell and stay connected (Heb 12:22-24). It is the place where God puts His thoughts through those who align with Him. As the Owner of the world and the Judge of all, God has the highest authority. Since He owns everything, He can do his will freely. Therefore, everything must align with His divine purpose to be relevant.

Understanding this truth helps free the believer from feeling entitled to selfish desires. Just as a person swimming with the current moves more easily, believers must learn to yield to God’s authority. Resisting His guidance only causes unnecessary struggle. True freedom is found in obeying God’s authority and divine will.

Four Key ThingsThat Happen on Mount Zion:

1. Deliverance
2. Holiness
3. Possessing one’s possessions
4. Fire (Refining and Power)

While there are many mountains and landscapes in the world, Mount Zion is
uniquely significant because of one man’s choice to shift to align with God’s
purpose. That man was Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and patriarch of the
tribe of Judah, from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended.
Judah’s pivotal decisions are recorded in:

Genesis 37:26, where he proposed an alternative to killing Joseph.
Genesis 43:8, 9, where he pledged to be held personally responsible for
Benjamin’s safety.
These actions set Judah apart from his brothers. His willingness to withdraw
from wickedness and accept responsibility marked a shift into alignment with
God’s purpose. Mount Zion, located within the tribal territory of Judah in
southern ancient Israel, became the focal point for many of God’s covenantal
promises. It is tied to worship, kingship, and the messianic hope.
(2 Samuel 5:7, Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2, Revelation 5:5)

A Required Shift for Every Person

To fully experience the benefits of God’s
Kingdom, every person is called to shift
into alignment with God’s purpose for
their life, family, legacy, community, and
nation. Since the fall of man in the
garden, humanity has been separated
from intimacy with God. But through
one man, Jesus Christ, grace has been
extended to all so that we may return to
God’s original plan.
Once a person receives Christ and
commits to following Him, surrendering
to His authority and purpose is
necessary every day. Life is no longer
about personal ideas of success but
about fulfilling His divine purpose,
which He had even before we were
formed in our mothers’ wombs.

Ephesians 2:4-5,10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved—For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Three Spiritual Laws for Destiny Fulfilment

1. You Will Reap What You Sow

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a
man sows, that he will also reap.
(Galatians 6:7 NKJV)

This principle applies to all areas of life, not just
spiritually but practically as well. The effort, time, and
commitment you put into a person, project, or calling
will be reflected in the harvest. To fulfill your destiny, it’s
essential to understand the time needed and to be
consistent and diligent in sowing. Time management is,
therefore, a crucial skill to achieve your destiny. The
sons of Issachar understood the times and seasons and
knew what to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

You Will Reap What You Sow
Reflect daily on how you allocate time to tasks.
Are your current activities aligned with your
seasonal goals?
How much time are you dedicating to your spiritual
and personal growth?
How can you effectively manage your time to align
with God’s priorities?

In Practice

Reflect daily on how you allocate time to tasks.
Are your current activities aligned with your
seasonal goals?
How much time are you dedicating to your spiritual
and personal growth?
How can you effectively manage your time to align
with God’s priorities?

2. The Golden Rule

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do
to them likewise.
(Luke 6:31 NKJV)

The Golden Rule teaches empathy, honesty, and
grace in all relationships. Life is deeply relational; it
starts with our relationship with God, then with
ourselves, and extends to others. Fulfillments of
destiny are not achieved alone; they’re nurtured
within a community. Therefore, believers are called
to mirror God's heart in how they connect with
those around them. It begins with honesty inwardly,
confronting our own weaknesses, motives, and
attitudes, and then flows outward through
compassion, forgiveness, and respect for others.
Jesus embodied the Golden Rule not only in His
words but also in His actions by sharing meals with
the rejected, defending the misunderstood, forgiving
the undeserving, and sacrificing Himself for the
ungrateful.

In Practice

Would others feel loved or respected from today’s
interactions?
Were there moments of judgment or unfair
assumptions?
Were opportunities to encourage others either
seized or missed?
Are responses toward others driven by
defensiveness, or by love and understanding?

3. Destiny Is Interconnected with Others

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his
own interests, but also for the interests of others.
(Philippians 2:3–4 NKJV)

God created humans to be interconnected, working
together to fulfill divine purposes that far exceed
individual capacity. The challenge in collaboration often
happens when people’s unique perspectives are not
shaped and surrendered to God’s authority to
accomplish His greater plan. This calls for selflessness,
as Christ demonstrated repeatedly in the scriptures.
Although He was in the very form of God, He chose
humility. He did not act out of selfish desire when He
prayed, “Let this cup pass from me.” He remained
submissive when His identity as the Son of God was
challenged. Even in the wilderness, when tempted by
the devil three times, He resisted the urge to impose His
own will. At every moment, Jesus could have chosen
personal comfort or power, yet He surrendered to the
Father’s will, even unto death on a cross. Why?
Because He understood the principle of unity with the
Father’s will in fulfilling His destiny.

In Practice

Do you regularly reflect on how you interact with
others?
Are there tasks or goals on your agenda that serve
others’ interests?
Do others find it easy to work alongside you?
How often do you let go of your personal will?

MY BIG PICTURE OF LIFE

In this life, there is a God who is doing
His own thing. My life is part of God’s
larger purpose, just like my fellow
humans, everything we do matters in
God’s eyes and will be judged by Him. To
align with His plans, I need to be careful
about what I sow because my daily
actions and choices either bring me closer
to or pull me away from His purpose for
my life. My destiny is obviously different
from others; however, there is a
connection that unites us, as we share a
common purpose from God. While I
commit to mine, I should not envy others
but always offer help when it is within
my power to do so

YOUTH RETREAT EXPERIENCES

In that sacred moment, I felt
something shift deep within
me. A wave of peace swept
over my heart. It was as if the
weight I didn’t even know I
carried was suddenly lifted. I
felt new. I felt forgiven.
Before I could even understand
what was happening, tears
began to stream down my
face. I was the first to cry, but it
wasn’t from sorrow, it was
from the overwhelming
realization of God’s mercy and
love.
Jesse
Tweet

When I heard that we were going
to have an intensive prayer session,
I imagined it would be long, tiring,
and maybe even a little boring. But
God had something far greater in
store. As we began to pray, time
seemed to fade away. What I
thought would feel endless passed
in what seemed like moments. In
that sacred atmosphere, I felt the
presence of the Holy Spirit. He
touched me deeply beyond words
or emotion and in that instant,
everything changed. My heart was
awakened, my spirit stirred, and I
knew I had encountered God.
Tiwaah
Tweet

During the youth retreat, it was time for prayer, but I was weary and not in
the mood to pray. I closed my eyes to rest, thinking I could escape the
moment. But God had other plans. Someone gently woke me up, and as I
opened my eyes, I was met with a sight that left me speechless, almost
everyone around me was in tears, crying out in deep worship.
I got confused and I tried to calm them down, urging them to stop crying.
But as I spoke, something beyond my understanding happened. A divine
presence swept over me and I felt a holy touch deep within my spirit. In
that instant, my heart broke open, and tears poured down my face
uncontrollably.
Right there I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and from that moment,
I began to speak in tongues. I thank God for this experience.
Princess
Tweet

As I stood there, a wave of conviction washed over me. I suddenly
became aware of how sinful I was, how often I had fallen short of His
glory. Every wrong thought, every careless action, every moment I had
turned away from Him came rushing to mind.
My heart broke. I felt so unworthy, so undone in the presence of His
holiness. That’s why I wept not out of despair, but out of deep repentance.
Yet, even in my tears, I felt His love wrap around me like a warm embrace.
I realized that His conviction was not to condemn me, but to cleanse me.
In that moment, I understood what grace truly means that though I was
broken, His mercy made me whole again.
Dominica
Tweet

Youth retreat 2025 was a blessing! Last year was my first retreat with the
Apostolic Church, and from that moment, I knew I couldn’t afford to miss
this year’s gathering. It wasn’t easy getting a few days off work, but I
pressed on and by God’s grace, I made it on Friday.
Praying individually is powerful, but there is something extraordinary about
joining hearts in corporate prayer. In that sacred atmosphere, I was
reminded that our purposes are beautifully interconnected, woven together
by the hand of God to accomplish His will on earth.
This year’s retreat birthed a new level of awareness in me to reach deeper,
to serve more faithfully, and to trust more completely. God gently reminded
me that my capacity to do what He has called me to do does not come
from my own strength, but from obedience, surrender, and alignment with
His divine will in this season of my life.
Respondent 1
Tweet

My Youth Retreat was an incredible experience, I never expected to be so
open to the entire experience but I did open up.
At first, my only challenge was praying, but then something within me
shifted. I may not fully understand what I learned, yet I felt a deep sense of
peace inside. I believe my faith in God has grown stronger and more
connected than ever before. I would wholeheartedly recommend this
experience to any young person seeking to discover themselves
Respondent 2
Tweet

I’ve learned that as Christians, we are called to persevere far beyond our
comfort zones. Too often, we give up easily and fail to listen when God
whispers to us, urging patience and trust in His perfect timing. This retreat
reminded me that walking with Him requires determination, faith, and a
willingness to try again and again, sometimes a thousand times over.
I’ve also become more intentional about my daily life. I’ve limited the time I
spend on social media so I can draw nearer to God, and I’ve become more
mindful of how I speak to others. I realized that my words can sometimes
be harsh, but I am earnestly working on this and praying for the Lord to
transform my heart and my tongue.
Respondent 3
Tweet

Special Thanks

We give all glory to Almighty God for making this Youth Retreat
possible. He truly exceeded our expectations and provided
abundantly. Our deepest appreciation goes to Apostle Samuel
Abeka, our Visionary and Shepherd, for your love, guidance, and
sacrifice. To Elder Samuel Safo, our Youth President, thank you for
your inspiring leadership.
Special thanks to Elder Emmanuel Gyamfi, our guest speakers; Dr
Amisah Bakuri, and Mr Rexford Niikoi, our invited guests Mr. Leslie
Clottey from USA, and Mr. Darius Ankamah & Mrs. Anita
Ankamah from Germany, we were blessed by your presence. To the
Area Lady Rose and your team; Deaconness Jennifer and Sister
Josephine, thank you for your care and delicious meals.
A big thank you to the Organizing Team; Deaconness Rosamel,
Sister Rockline, Sister Lawrencia, Sister Tharyse and Brother
Emmanuel we appreciate you! Finally, to the Media Team, Impact
Praise Choir, Social Media Team, and every participant thank you for
making this event impactful and memorable.