NDSU Chi Alpha Students Gather for Annual Fall Retreat

North Dakota State University’s Chi Alpha headed West on Friday, Oct. 9, for a faith-based weekend retreat.

Chi Alpha is one of NDSU’s Christian campus ministries and hosts weekly services, small groups and prayer events. The student organization left Friday for Devils Lake to stay at Lakewood Park Bible Camp for an event called fall retreat.

The fall retreat lasted three days, Friday through Sunday, with a busy schedule for each day.

Fall retreat takes place every year and is a weekend intended to help students build community and deepen their faith.

NDSU Chi Alpha lead pastor Bryce Bakkegard helped oversee the retreat. He was eager for students to come.

“I think it’s so exciting because a lot of things we talk about when we get ready for fall retreat are like being able to do things here that you just can’t do back home. Longer times of worship, longer times of prayer and conversation, a little bit longer messages, things that in the confines of Thursday night service, we just can’t do. So, in that sense, it’s very exciting,” Bakkegard said.

Each student packed bedding, a pillow, a towel, toiletries, a Bible, a journal, warm clothing, athletic clothing, a phone charger, a water bottle and money for the weekend.

During the trip, students stayed in cabins with their small groups and attended each session together.

Kailee Throolin leads a small group alongside Emma Hoeft. Both are campus missionaries in training and assisted with different duties over the weekend. Throolin felt that fall retreat helped her small group grow closer to one another.

“Emma and I have been doing some of our intern stuff, but then the girls have just been off on their own, hanging out. And I feel like they’ve been laughing so much more. They’ve been smiling so much more. So, I feel that it’s truly just brought them so much closer together in our group as a whole,” Throolin said.

Friday night at 6:30 p.m., campers arrived at check-in and signed in to their cabins with their small groups. Session one kicked off at 8 p.m., followed by a nighttime activity: a bonfire.

Each session incorporated Christian worship music, and soon after, guest pastor Tony Meyer presented a message.

The guest pastor grew up in the Fargo area. He met pastor Brad Lewis, a former lead pastor of NDSU Chi Alpha. Meyer quickly grew close to Lewis and pastored at NDSU for some time. He then left Fargo to establish a Chi Alpha ministry in Iowa.

“When we took over, we were at a staff conference, and Brad introduced me to Tony, and Tony had come and done some fall retreats for Brad when I was a student, so I had heard him speak a couple of times. But we had a chance to get to know each other at a staff retreat, and he actually became a mentor figure in my life and has met with me about once a month ever since then, [beginning] around three years ago. So we jumped at the opportunity of his willingness to come up and do the retreat,” Bakkegard said.

On Saturday, breakfast started the day at 8 a.m., and campers headed to session two afterward. Lunch took place at noon.

From 1 to 5 p.m., students had free time. Many played in a flag football tournament while others participated in craft making, volleyball, board games, gaga ball, mini golf, soccer, pickleball and 9-high. During free time, some Chi Alpha staff brewed up coffee and took orders for students in the cafeteria. Dinner was then served at 5 p.m.

Session three ended the night with worship songs, a sermon and prayer. After service, students went to the cafeteria to play games with their peers.

NDSU senior Marissa Konz felt that her time at fall retreat this year was bittersweet.

“Having this be my last year at fall retreat is so bittersweet. It has definitely all sunk in. I am so grateful to be here and be able to be in the presence of God with all of my lovely friends and small group girls. In the mix of all our struggles and deep sorrow, we may just come together.”

On Sunday, the last session took place. After worship music, students who signed up to be baptized lined up along the wall with their small group leaders, waiting their turn. When a student reached the front of the line, their small group came forward to pray over the baptism. Small groups accompanied members getting baptized to the large tub. The leaders would then baptize them.

NDSU sophomore Erin Guariglia was one of many who were baptized. She and 20 other students publicly declared their faith through baptism.

“I felt called to take the next step to publicly declare my faith. I knew that water baptisms were an option at fall retreat, and I resolved in my heart to take the step of obedience and be bold. It was such a blessing to be surrounded and supported by the Chi Alpha community. I got to share the special moment and celebrate with my small group girls and a number of other friends,” said the NDSU student.

Around 11 a.m., the service ended, and students packed up their bags to head back to Fargo.

The goal of the retreat was to create community and a bit of challenge.

“I definitely knew that coming to fall retreat, there were things that the Lord was working on within me. One challenge I faced was tiredness. I felt super tired, but I knew right there and then that I could rely on the Lord to strengthen me during those moments,” Konz said.

Although the retreat has ended, students will soon be back to their regularly scheduled weekday services and small group sessions with Chi Alpha.