ONE OF THE MOST significant differentiators of Highlands College is its enduring and symbiotic relationship with a thriving, life-giving church—Church of the Highlands. At the beginning of each year, all congregants are led in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, powerfully unifying the Church and College in prayer and dependency on God. Every morning at 6:00 a.m., you’ll find HC students fully participating, engaging in worship and prayer alongside their church family.

In addition to 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, the student body embarks on a fasting retreat called Saturate. Over three days, every student participates in a water-only fast, disconnecting from the world and seeking God through prayer, worship, and His Word. We facilitate this disconnection by taking students off-campus, leading to transformative personal experiences with God. By helping our students draw closer to Jesus and become more like Him, Saturate fulfills Highlands College’s vision: to build spiritually mature leaders. As spiritual leaders and co-laborers with Christ, our graduates’ greatest value to the harvest field of ministry is their spiritual maturity and deep love for Jesus.

Students were captivated by the presence of God during their three days of fasting and prayer.

Space was intentionally made for students to connect with God personally through worship, prayer, the reading of the Word, sermons, and breakout sessions.

In these three short days, students learn to be still, wait for the Lord to speak, and listen to Him. With open and authentic conversations fostered through small groups, our Team intentionally creates space for joy-filled, lighthearted moments, strengthening the bonds of our HC Family.

My favorite part of Saturate is witnessing the wholehearted involvement of our HC Team and faculty, who are passionately committed to pouring their life into our incredible and called students. On the final night of the retreat, we teach about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Teammates travel to the retreat center to pray over students one by one. Each year, hundreds of students receive prayer to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, confess sin, and experience healing. The level of calling and care extended by every department makes Highlands College so distinct. We are all united in the same mission—to educate our students and lead them into a more vibrant relationship with Jesus.

Saturate is a vital component of the curriculum in our Spiritual Development Pillar. It is a graduation requirement because we strongly believe in the life-changing potential this retreat has for each student. Each year, we look forward to students developing personal spiritual disciplines for life beyond Highlands College. I’m continually in awe of the deep and sacred connection shared between our Team and students as they all draw closer to God and powerfully experience the Holy Spirit—together—as an HC Family. ■