If you spend any time with teenagers, you already know this: silence is rare.
Between group chats, streaming, sports schedules, school pressure, social media, and don’t forget the constant pull of notifications, most students live in a world that is loud all the time. And if we’re honest, youth workers and pastors aren’t that different. We move from week to week, message to message, event to event, often measuring success by how much we can fit into a schedule.
But Scripture consistently shows us something different. God often speaks in moments that are quiet, intentional, and unhurried. Not because He can’t speak through noise, but because we often can’t hear Him when our lives are full of it. That’s one of the reasons ASCENT is more than just another camp experience. It’s intentionally designed to create space where students can actually slow down enough to hear from God.
Why Silence Matters More Than Ever
Today’s students are not just busy — they are mentally and emotionally saturated. Many of them have never practiced quietness. Many don’t know what it feels like to sit with God without music, without a screen, without someone talking at them.
And yet, many youth workers will tell you that the moments when students experience God most deeply are not always during the loudest worship set or the most high-energy game. Often, it’s in the in-between moments. The cabin conversations at camp. The walk back from a session. The quiet reflection during a response time after a message.
At ASCENT this year, we are intentionally leaning into that reality.
A Dedicated Morning of Soul Care, Silence, and Solitude
This summer, we are setting aside an entire morning session focused on soul care and practicing silence and solitude.
This is not “dead space.”
This is not “filler time.”
This is spiritual formation on purpose.
During this session, students will be guided through structured prompts that help them:
- Reflect on where they see God moving in their life
- Process areas of stress, fear, or pressure
- Listen for how God might be leading them (discernment)
- Practice simply being with God, not just doing things for God
For many students, this will be their first experience with spiritual silence this long (up to 1 hour) that is intentional and guided. And historically, these are the kinds of moments students remember years later.
J-Time: Daily Rhythms That Anchor Students Spiritually
Every morning at ASCENT also begins with J-Time: our group devotional rhythm that helps students start their day centered on Jesus. This has been happening since ASCENT has started. J-Time is designed to be simple, reproducible, and relational. It’s something students can take home and something leaders can adapt for their own ministries.
Each morning, students gather in smaller community settings to:
- Open Scripture together
- Reflect on what God is teaching them
- Pray for one another
- Process what they experienced the day before
Formation, Not Just Experience
As youth workers, we all want students to have powerful experiences with God. But experiences alone don’t create long-term disciples. Formation does.
That’s why ASCENT intentionally balances:
- High-energy community and worship
- Community driven fun and bonding activities
- Daily devotional rhythms
- Guided spiritual practices
We want students to leave camp not just inspired, but equipped. Not just emotionally moved, but spiritually rooted.
Why This Matters for Youth Ministries Back Home
One of the biggest goals of ASCENT is not just what happens during camp week, it’s what carries back into youth rooms across the country.
Practices like J-Time, break-out groups, and guided silence give youth workers tools they can actually use year-round. They model rhythms that can be built into retreats, small groups, and even their weekly programming.
Because in a noisy world, students don’t just need more content.
They need space.
They need stillness.
They need permission to slow down and meet with God.
Our Prayer for This Year’s ASCENT
Our prayer is simple:
That students would hear God clearly.
That they would experience His presence personally.
That they would leave knowing how to create space for Him in everyday life.
And maybe just as important — that they would learn that God is not only found in the loud, powerful, emotional moments…
…but also in the quiet ones.
