You are invited to become intentional about your faith after the three day experience and build upon your Chrysalis weekend for the rest of your life - to rise to a new day, every day. The first follow-up is a reunion meeting held after all of the Chrysalis weekends take place. This is a time for everyone who was involved in the weekends to come together again and to embrace their new community. What can I expect during my 3 days of Chrysalis? On a Chrysalis Flight or Journey, participants spend three days with other Christians in worship, prayer, fellowship, recreation, singing and discussion. You'll hear talks given by people your age and by older adults - lay people and clergy. The talks focus on the needs of maturing young people and offer the message of the Gospel and the friendship and example of Jesus Christ. Five talks are given each day followed by discussion and reflection on how these messages can be helpful to your personal faith. You will worship through music, personal and group creativity, prayer, and spiritual disciplines. You will explore how this friendship with Jesus can help you live your faith with family, friends, and community. Most of all you will experience the love of Christ throughout the weekend through new friends, the Chrysalis team for your flight or journey and through the prayers and acts of service from a loving support community.
What's the purpose of Chrysalis? Chrysalis supports young people's return to the world as butterflies by encouraging and strengthening their local church and youth group connections.
Where is Chrysalis? The South Georgia Chrysalis Community holds our weekend events at Camp J.D. Tygart in Berrien County, GA. It is located at 436 Woody Jackson Circle, Ray City, GA 31645.
Sponsorship? Each young person who attends Chrysalis has a "sponsor" who supports and encourages him/her before, during, and after the Chrysalis experience.
Sponsorship is the way in which the Chrysalis experience is passed on from person to person, reflecting the manner in which God purposefully reaches out to people through other people. After a Chrysalis Weekend, participants want to share the gift of those three days with others. Sponsorship provides them a caring and disciplined way for them to share. And in doing so, sponsors participate in and demonstrate God's outreaching love.
Chrysalis participants are also encouraged to join or form"Next Step" reunion groups. Next Step groups are small groups of young people who have been on a Chrysalis Flight or Journey. The groups are designed to keep the spirit of the Chrysalis weekend alive. The groups also enable Chrysalis participants to stay in relationship and to help one another live in the light of God's love as disciples of Jesus Christ.
After the Chrysalis experience is over, Next Steps groups meet regularly to participate in a time of sharing based on the Next Steps Card (a card received during the Chrysalis weekend).
"Hoots" (or "Reunions") are larger, less frequent worship gatherings (separate from 'reunion groups') for the purpose of renewing relationships, rekindling the fire of faith, building support for upcoming Chrysalis weekends and introducing Chrysalis to teens and adults who aren't already aware of what happens on a Chrysalis weekend. Yes, we encourage you to come a hoot/reunion even if you haven't experienced a Chrysalis weekend!