The laughter started early. Teens arrived to the AXIS Youth Center in Zahle before the official start. They were too eager after a year without a lock-In due to the war. And it was a night to encounter Jesus together.
The evening began lightheartedly, with three icebreaker games that had everyone moving. Dinner followed, and then came the talk. Themed around Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19, the session explored how God speaks, not through chaos or noise, but in a gentle whisper.
A short skit brought the story to life, showing Elijah’s confusion, fear, and the still, small voice that met him in the cave. Afterward, small groups gathered for discussion, and this became the highlight of the night. Teens were asked, “What are the voices you’re already hearing in your life?” They took time to write, reflect, and share honestly. During one question, everyone closed their eyes for five minutes of silence, asking God to whisper something to their hearts.
One teen said quietly, “God is telling me He loves me.”
Another shared, “He wants me to draw near and pray more.”
When the discussion turned to loneliness, the atmosphere deepened. They talked about the pain of feeling unseen, even in a crowd, and how God’s whisper brings hope into that silence. They wrote letters to friends reminding them they were not alone.
Later in the night, the games returned including a treasure hunt that stretched into the early morning. Hoodies were handed out as a surprise gift, and the leaders prepared a live saj (a traditional Middle Eastern flat bread) station for breakfast as the sun began to rise.
Behind every game and conversation was intentionality. “The questions helped them go deep,” one leader shared. “They really opened up about their struggles, about the voices that pull them away from God. It was powerful to watch them reflect and pray together.”
One 13-year-old girl shared her story privately with a leader. She feels “older” than her age — more mature, more serious about her faith — and it’s made her a target for bullying. “I love Jesus and want to do His will,” she said. “That makes me different, and sometimes it’s hard. But at AXIS, I feel like I belong. I’m not judged here.” That’s the heart of AXIS: a place where teens can laugh and play, and experience God’s love.
As the team looks ahead, they’re praying that teens will learn to discern God’s voice from the lies that lead to isolation and despair. “We hope to follow up in an intentional way,” the leader added, “to help them keep listening to God’s whisper.”
Because at the end of the day, the lock-in wasn’t just about staying up all night, but rather, staying close to the One who never sleeps.
