Encounter Retreat Unites Six Schools in Worship

At the start of spring semester from January 10 to 12, Encounter held its second annual retreat. It was a weekend of formative experiences with God. At last year’s retreat, there were over fifty students from YISS in attendance. One year later, the number of students has now doubled to nearly 160 total. YISS Encounter also had the privilege of hosting students and staff from Seoul Foreign School, Gyeonggi Suwon International School, International Christian School Uijeongbu, International Christian School Pyeongtaek, and Valor International School. 

The theme of this year’s retreat was “Fully Loved,” inspired by Ephesians 3:17-19. Levi Miller, Chris Cha, and John Michael Becker, delivered messages about the width, the height, the depth, and the length of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. Students worshiped, prayed, and engaged in different prayer stations centered around this theme.

As the students spent the weekend receiving the love of God, they began to erupt forth in praise, and the presence of God in the room was palpable. It was so much so that one YISS student in 11th grade claimed, “I was able to feel God's presence more strongly than I ever have before.” Another YISS student in 10th grade noted how “I saw God working in everyone's heart and drawing us to Him. I think I really felt His presence and I felt like I wanted to live in that moment forever.” During the last night, students sang at the top of their lungs, jumping with all of their might and dancing with abandon. God showed up, and when God shows up, praise pours out.

Students from other schools also expressed how blessed they were over the weekend. A student in 10th grade from ICSU said, “I really loved it. I don't know how I am going to spend one year missing this. I'm 120% joining the next retreat.” The staff from other schools expressed their appreciation as well. David Lee, the chaplain at GSIS, remarked, “As someone who has been called by God to lead GSIS by faith, it was such an encouragement and inspiration to see what was actually possible in the international schools of Korea. All praise and glory to God and thank you so much YISS for hosting such a blessed retreat.”

Almost 30 students made the decision to put their trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Heaven was loud and celebratory, thanks to the Encounter Retreat of 2025.