CONWAY, Ark. (September 30, 2013) – More than 50 United Methodist students from
Hendrix College and Philander Smith College came together for a retreat on Friday,
Sept. 21, and Saturday, Sept. 22, at Camp Tanako, and Philander Smith's Wesley's
Chapel.
"I have led a lot of retreats in my 18 years at Hendrix, but this was one of
the best retreats I have ever led," said Hendrix Chaplain Rev. J. Wayne Clark. "Rev.
Ronnie-Miller Yow, Rev. J.J. Whitney, and I have been talking about a combined retreat
for a few years. It finally came together and far exceeded anything we could have
imagined."
The group helped with service projects, such as painting, trail clean-up, and
general cabin clean-up at Camp Tanako. All of the participants took the StrengthQuest
inventory and were led in a workshop by Kevin Hamilton, vice president for student
affairs at Philander Smith.
The chaplains shared their call stories and invited students to do the same.
Several students shared very powerful stories, Clark said.
All of the students worshiped at Wesley's Chapel at Philander Smith College.
Hendrix Assistant Chaplain Rev. J.J. Whitney preached at the early service and
Philander Smith College Chaplain Rev. Ronnie-Miller Yow, pastor of Wesley's Chapel,
preached at the later service. Rev Clark offered the prayers. Following the service,
the group enjoyed a wonderful catered meal at the Kendall Center at Philander Smith.
"As we worshiped together, worked together, and played games together, some bridges
were built and some walls came down," Clark said. "As we were leaving the retreat,
both students and chaplains alike were enthusiastically discussing doing this again."
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in engaged liberal arts
and sciences education. For the sixth consecutive year, Hendrix was named one of
the country's "Up and Coming" liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.
Hendrix is featured in the latest edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40
Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges, as well as the 2014
Princeton Review's The Best 378 Colleges, Forbes magazine's list
of America's Top Colleges, and the 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.