Over the weekend of Aug. 22–24, 2025, more than 500 teens and young adults traveled to Washington Family Ranch in Antelope, Oregon, for the annual weekend retreat hosted by Oregon Conference Latino-Hispanic ministries.
As the largest such event in recent years, the weekend was divided for the first time into earliteen and young adult programming, all under this year’s theme of “Authentic Intimacy.” With services offered in both English and Spanish, many of the weekend’s leaders were young adults themselves, including speakers from across the conference and worship teams from ECHO and Hillsboro Spanish Adventist churches.
“I loved the opportunity to connect and grow with God in a place that made me appreciate community, nature and worship,” shared Zoe Altamirano, a young leader from ECHO.
Fernando Chavez, who serves as Portland Adventist Academy vice principal and spiritual life director, spoke to the earliteen group and emphasized the importance of growing into an authentic relationship with God in an increasingly artificial world.
“You could tell each message carried a lot of significance to the speaker's personal story,” said Samuel Ramos, a young leader from Hillsboro Spanish Adventist Church, ”and I think that allowed them to make the most of the time they were given.”
In addition to worship, those in attendance enjoyed Washington Family Ranch's go-karts, gymnasium, swimming, the big swing, a zipline and more. When Sabbath evening came, several young people made the decision to be baptized — surrounded by close friends, family and trusted leaders — while others began preparing for their baptisms in the future.
Several young people make the decision to be baptized on Saturday evening.
Washington Family Ranch offers a range of activities, including go-karts, climbing walls, volleyball, ziplines, water activities and more.
The largest such event in recent years, the weekend is divided into earliteen and young adult programming, all under the theme “Authentic Intimacy.”
Many of the weekend’s leaders are young adults themselves.
