A Week at the Edge

A couple weeks ago I wrote to the congregation asking for prayer for our junior high youth who were heading off to summer camp. I wanted to take a moment now and let you know how God used your prayers and our week at camp to glorify Himself in the lives of our youth and leaders.

First of all, for those of you who may have missed the previous Lifeline article, let me give some of the details of the week we spent at camp. For the past four years we have attended “the Edge” a camp that meets on the campus of Covenant College in Chattanooga, TN. It is a PCA camp that is organized and run by several different youth pastors. The entire structure of the camp is meant to facilitate relationships between youth pastors/leaders and their youth. Each day we had morning and evening worship — both of which consisted of singing, skits, a lesson, and group devotions. The guys and girls split up in the morning for group devotions and in the evening we all met together to discuss what the kids had learned and anything God might have been teaching them throughout the day.

Though we had numerous fun activities, even a day at a water park in Atlanta, for me the best part of each day was the evening devotional. We were tremendously blessed to have such an attentive group of young adults who took in each lesson and used their personal time during the day to thoughtfully approach God in response. Not only that, but they were also willing to talk with the group about it! Each night our discussions deepened both in spiritual content and openness about life and faith.

On Wednesday we had “Commitment Night,” where the kids are asked to take a serious analysis of their relationship with God. I really (see “Camp” on page 3)appreciate the way this night is orchestrated. They plan it in the middle of the week so that there aren’t many influencing factors, such as realizing this is the last night of camp; and instead of keeping the kids inside and playing loud or emotional music to get them hyped up, they send them out into the campus to spend time alone with God. The kids are asked to write on a slip of paper a message to God and choose one of four words to describe their current relationship with Him: repenting, returning, remaining, or running. After about 15 minutes, the kids return to the chapel and place these slips of paper at the foot of a wooden cross to symbolize the openness we have to approach God through the shed blood of Christ. Two of our girls took this opportunity to dedicate their lives to living boldly for Christ.

2 Timothy 1:5-7 speaks of God’s covenant being passed down from generation to generation as it becomes alive in Timothy’s heart. What a humbling privilege it was for Jessie Jordan and Jessy and me to experience God working in the hearts and minds of the junior high youth and use our meager efforts for His glory. Thank you so much for your prayers and dedication to our children, without which the week at camp would not have been so fruitful!

In Him,
Adam