EL RETO 2025!

EL RETO (The Challenge) is an annual youth outreach here in Cofradía we started in 2005. It has reached hundreds of students who mostly are unchurched and have not heard the good news of Jesus Christ. This is a wide open door to receive these students and share with them God's Love. 

It is a Survivor, Amazing Race, Fear Factor style event that looks like youth camp, but for five Saturdays instead of one solid week.

The purpose is to Reach Out to new students, Restore them to Christ, and Learn about leadership and God's love. Everyone benefits from this, even those who are in charge. I often have mentioned that God has something to teach all of us through this event and He will teach you if you are open and receptive to being taught.

EL RETO 2025 started at the end of August and continued for five weeks until the end of September. This year's theme was "Awaken" and based on Romans 13:11 in the Amplified version which says:

Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep of spiritual complacency; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed in Christ."

Over 100 students heard the gospel at least 5 times during this activity filled event. They participate in games in four different teams and accumulate points throughout the month. After the activity/game portion, all the students come together upstairs in the youth room called "El Refugio" (The Refuge) where they hang out, worship in song, and listen to the gospel message. At the end of the night, the students make their way behind a curtain team by team where they have one last "call" to follow Jesus. Then, they corporately vote for another team to have to do chores (set up the chairs for church and clean up the youth room the next day). Whichever team gets chosen, they also receive a clue to a hidden treasure (somewhere in town, out of town, in the fields, or who knows where) that has the potential of launching them into final victory. Then, the votes are read and everyone is dismissed.

This year, there were two hidden treasures found by two different teams. Neither team had accumulated the most points during the event so there was a RETO SEMI-FINAL to determine who would be the team to face off the team who had most points in the end in a RETO FINAL. 

The "Chosen Ones" were victorious.

Technically, it does not matter if your team has the most points, wins, or loses. What matters is that we all learn something and can take whatever that is home with us. If we learn something in EL RETO, we are winners! One of the captains of the teams mentioned that this year's event helped him understand the gospel better and the reason why we do this. During the last meeting, all of the students were prayed for and many of them were receptive to God's love. We have planted the seed and there is a common bond and open door to continue to minister to them now. To God be the Glory!

Thank you to all who contributed towards this event. We do not charge the students in order to encourage them to come and participate. It's because of your involvement that we are able to put this event together and reach these "un-reached" students for Christ. Thank you so much!

If you would like to continue to support this ministry, click on the donate button and make your designation for EL RETO. Our budget is $2,500 for materials, transportation, t-shirts, snacks, props, and more. Thank you for being a blessing!