|
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
(1 Timothy 4:12)
Our students at church are enjoying a fun time at camp at Highland Lakes. I went on Sunday afternoon and enjoyed being with our students and leaders. Camp is so cool! On June 23-26, Ashley and I traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, where I served as the camp pastor for the Go Tell Camp. This camp was started 36 years ago by Rick Gage. Rick and his team do a phenomenal job. Ashley also spoke one morning, and we had a great time. It was a joy to see 61 students accept Christ as Savior and Lord and to see 22 young people surrender to serve the Lord in full-time Christian ministry. God is working in these Gen Alpha and Gen Z generations!
Sure, there are camp critics who say camp is a sugary spiritual high and the students will come off that spiritual euphoria the minute they get back home. But I beg to differ. Of course, there will be a heightened sense of emotion due to the nature of camp. But what I experienced in the 450+ students at Go Tell was a real hunger to know God and grow in their walk with Him.
I shared from the stage that as their camp pastor, I am available to anyone who would like to share with me after the services. The students stood in line to talk to me about their lives, struggles, and how I could pray for them. I must say, I loved spending time with these students. One African American set of twins approached me, and I commented they had to be related, and they smiled and told me they were indeed twins, with the oldest being one minute older than his twin. When I asked them if there was anything they would like to share with me, their reply surprised me. They said, "No, we just want to get our picture with you as we have no spiritual father in our lives."
One night during the Invitation, Dr. Daryl Jones, chaplain for the University of Miami Hurricanes, challenged the students that if God was calling them into ministry, please stand up. I watched from the back as this student, what looked to be a seventh-grader, stood first. I admired his courage. Soon thereafter, many students stood as a show of their calling to serve Jesus in vocational ministry.
Thank You Lord for camp! So many teenagers make eternally important decisions during those sacred weeks.
|
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
