Awesome! Great, fun-filled weekend! Blessed! These are just some of the words used by Salvationists to describe Booth College's first-ever Salvationist campus visit weekend—Booth Bound. Students traveled from Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Winnipeg to have a taste of the Booth experience. The program for the weekend was varied, with students worshipping in the chapel, viewing a feature film, attending special classes, working at Weetamah corps, cheering at a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, having a taste of Winnipeg restaurants and attending a play at the Manitoba Theatre Centre.

The weekend commenced on Thursday evening with a time of worship and introductions as Booth College staff and the Booth Bound participants got to know one another. This was followed by a screening of 2008's hit Hollywood movie, The Dark Knight. After the screening, a vigorous discussion of the film was led by Booth College Professor, Dr. Michael Boyce. Students and faculty offered insights and different perspectives on the conflict between good and evil in the movie and related these themes to our own Christian faith.

Friday morning and early afternoon was filled with stimulating classes prepared by Booth College faculty especially for Booth Bound. Topics considered included “Understanding Oppression,” “Reading the Bible in a Christian University College,” “Adapting Dickens: Orphans, Parents and Post-war Britain,” “March to…? Measuring the Global Health of The Salvation Army,” “Passion for Change! But Does it Work?” and others. Prior to lunch students participated in The Well, Booth College's Friday chapel service.

On Friday evening, delegates were introduced to Booth College's urban service learning program as they made their way to Winnipeg's inner-city Weetamah corps where they assisted with several of Weetamah's Friday night ministries. Some played floor hockey, some served dinner to a large crowd and others packed flour and sugar for distribution later.

The formal program concluded on Saturday morning with a series of workshops in which students could learn about the new Booth College programs in which they were interested: Bachelors of Arts programs in Religion, English and Film Studies, Behavioral Sciences and General Studies along with the Bachelor of Social Work program.

On Saturday afternoon most participants, along with many faculty and staff, boarded Winnipeg Transit buses to travel to Winnipeg Stadium to watch the Blue Bombers battle the Montreal Alouettes. After cheering the Bombers on to victory, delegates visited a variety of restaurants to get a taste of Winnipeg. Finally, the evening concluded at a performance of Dorothy Sayers' mystery, “Strong Poison” at the Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Throughout the entire weekend the emphasis was upon building relationships as students and Booth College staff learned, worshiped, ate and played together. Everyone left both exhausted and exhilarated. This memorable weekend will leave a lasting impression on everyone.

Booth Bound will take place next year, October 21-14, 2010. Watch for more details at www.boothbound.com.

Top: Booth College students and Booth Bound participants enjoy conversation at The Well, Booth College's Friday chapel service; middle: Booth Bound participant Kaitlynn Williams and Booth College student Cassandra Butt fill bags with flour for distribution at the Weetamah corps; bottom: Booth Bound delegates watch The Dark Knight in Booth College's new film lab.