A Slower Pace at Holden Village Deepens Community

Written by Dana Rademacher Hansen

This year, our community spent Spring Break at Holden Village, focusing on prayer, learning, and building connections. With 20 student attendees, most of whom didn’t know each other well before the trip, the experience offered a chance for deepening friendships and forming new relationships. Over hours on trains, buses, and ferries, and in the tech-free environment at Holden, students were able to get to know one another in a deeper way than they can during Wednesday night fellowship.

The beauty of Holden Village, nestled in the Cascades, was unmatched, but many students shared that the highlight was the relationships they formed. Sophia, one of the attendees, reflected on the power of community, saying, “On this trip, I learned that no one has to do anything alone….people in a community are there to help you, and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. So many members of Holden Village that were complete strangers to me a week ago offered me help or advice, and it showed me that community is that powerful – where it can inspire genuine kindness from complete strangers.”

The pace at Holden reminded students that slower rhythms, and time for rest and community are pivotal to being human. That they are not defined by the amount of work they do, but they are first and foremost beloved by God and deserve rest. On a very driven campus environment, this can be hard for students to put into practice. But the daily coffee break at 10 a.m. after morning chores, that everyone at Holden takes, astonished students how this short simple act could be so beneficial.

We are grateful for Holden’s hospitality and the deep lessons learned as a community during our time together. Thank you to all who helped make this trip possible – we are grateful!

Learn more about Holden Village here.