MDR 2026
God Is Near
This Memorial Day Weekend, our students joined West Side Presbyterian Church and YoungLife for MDR 2026 at Lakeside Bible Camp on Whidbey Island. For more than 50 years, West Side has faithfully created this space for students across Seattle to get away together, have fun, and encounter Jesus in a meaningful way.
And it really was a beautiful weekend.
We had around 100 students across our groups, including many who would not normally attend a church gathering. The weekend was full of waterfront afternoons, games, cabin life, worship, late-night conversations, and a lot of laughter. It was loud, exciting, exhausting, joyful, and deeply meaningful all at once.
Our speaker for the weekend was Mickayla Parrack, who led us through the theme: God Is Near.
Throughout the weekend, we looked at the story of Scripture and the heart of God throughout it all. From the garden to the tabernacle, from Jesus taking on flesh to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we were reminded that God has always desired nearness with His people. Christianity is not just about ideas or ethics, but communion with the living God.
One of the most encouraging parts of the weekend was watching students genuinely engage. Students worshipped wholeheartedly, asked honest questions, built new friendships, and opened up in meaningful conversations with leaders and one another. There is something powerful that happens when students step away from the noise of everyday life long enough to pay attention again.
We are deeply grateful to West Side Presbyterian for hosting MDR so faithfully year after year, to YoungLife for partnering alongside us, and to all of the leaders, parents, and church members who prayed for the weekend.
Our hope remains the same as we come out of MDR: that our students would continue learning to be with Jesus, become like Him, and live for Him. MDR may be over, but the invitation remains open. Whether you were with us on Whidbey Island or not, we would love for you to join us this summer as we continue learning the way of Jesus together. We have a fun summer ahead with beach nights, hangouts, and more. You can find all of our upcoming events at trinityws.com/youth-events.
