
Matthew Lucio
ILC Assistant to the President for Communication
People aren’t usually eager to head further north in the winter, but nearly 90 young people braved subzero temperatures to hit the slopes in Wisconsin January 17-19 for the Illinois Conference’s annual Youth Winter Retreat. Led by Josant Barrientos (ILC Youth Director) and Roberto Gonzalez (ILC Associate Youth Director), the event aimed to bring youth from across the Illinois Conference together to connect with each other and with God.
Camp Wakonda served as the base for skiing trips to Cascade Mountain and Granite Peak, as well as group activities. Pastor Josant kicked things off with some Kahoot! icebreakers and leaned into the international background of the youth—a group representing Ukrainian, Filipino, Colombian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Venezuelan, and, of course, United States backgrounds—by encouraging them to practice a tongue-twister in another language.
Pastor Jose Castro (Hinsdale) spoke about the importance of finding rest in Jesus, urging everyone to reflect on Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” He invited everyone to disconnect from distractions, step outside, and gaze at the stars as a reminder of God's sovereignty over Creation, even in the cold.

Unlike previous years, the youth of the Wisconsin Conference did not join the Illinois cohort. Nevertheless, the Illinois youth had a fantastic time singing, solving puzzles, and, of course, skiing.
“There were no broken bones,” Pastor Josant happily reported.
Look for the next Youth Winter Retreat in January 2026.
Other photos from the event:
Please send any news items of what God is doing around the Illinois Conference to communication@ilcsda.org.