From February 23 to 25 in 2017, Manmin Central Church's Students' Sunday School has its Winter Retreat. It was held with the goals of helping students recover their faith through worship services and powerful prayer; to help them give out the Lord's fragrance and to keep themselves from being stained with the world; and for them to show their renewed hearts to Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee whom they are expected to meet at the Gethsemane Prayer House.

On the first day, the principal, Pastor Changmin Kim, delivered the message, "Don't Miss the Opportunity" based on James 2:22 in the opening service held at 10 A.M. He gave his testimony of his life from when he was wandering in the world during his school days until he became a pastor.

At 2:30 P.M. on the same day, Rev. Dr. Soojin Lee, President of Pastors' Association (Photo 1) preached the message entitled "Gold Vessels" taken from Isaiah 64:8 and 2 Timothy 2:20-22. She testified about her Christian life during her school days when she tried to accomplish the heart of the truth in obedience to the Word of God. She urged them to devote themselves to the Word and prayer, fill their hearts with the Lord's love and study hard with hope to glorify God. The students in attendance repented with tears in praise and prayer and were determined to change.

At 9 P.M., they attended Special Daniel Prayer Meeting. Manmin Prayer Center President Boknim Lee (Photo 2) led the prayer in fullness and pastors helped them to pray. They shed a lot of tears and received the baptism of fire of the Holy Spirit. They said they felt the two hours and forty minutes was too short. And some of them said they felt relieved, joyful, and thankful.

Afterwards, many students shared their testimonies. They gained confidence to break off attachments to worldly things. They stopped watching TV and You Tube, playing games, and listening to pop songs without great effort and they listened more attentively to the Word and read Christian books. Their attitude and ways of talking were changed as well, which makes parents happy. Some testified to their changes including healing of scoliosis and rashes.

On the second day, each mission had their own meeting at 10 A.M. They gathered in Gwanak Community Sports Field at 12 P.M. and had Sports Day. The Metrological Administration said it was around 2 degrees Celsius locally in Gwanak-gu, but at the sports field it rose to 14.8 Celsius degrees being situated on a hillside. In optimum weather, they felt God's love and felt excited to see signs that were made with clouds.

They attended Friday All-night Service starting from 11 P.M. and the Nazareth Choir, that is made up of students, glorified God with Manmin Praise "Manmin" and even gave an 'encore' performance. In the second half of the service, they offered up praise and prayer in the fullness.

On Saturday, the last day of the retreat, Rev. Heejin Lee, Chairperson of Performing Arts Committee, led Praise and Worship (Photo 3). She urged them to glorify God with their talents and advised them to make a decision on their future by praying to God. They felt joy and made up their minds to glorify God in tears while praising with their whole hearts and bodies.

Principal Pastor Changmin Kim (Photo 4) said, "Through this Winter Retreat students now are worshipping in spirit and truth. Some of them used to have a hard time praying for more than one hour but can now pray for more than two hours. Many repented and received the gift of tongue. They felt the Lord's and shepherd's love and were given confidence that they can make it. They cut off the worldly things while offering up fasting and vowed prayer. Their words and behaviors were changed. Their parents said they were so thankful.

Let's give all thanks and glory to God who renewed students' hearts through Winter Retreat 2017.