God Encounters

Not only was youth camp a great time to learn how to laugh things off on a regular basis, but it was a week filled with God’s sweet love and grace. All 5 of us from Forest Avenue had many experiences that both encouraged us and changed our lives, and we are all deeply grateful for God’s work in us last week--and continuing on into the future.

God Encounter #1
Youth on fire.
From the first service Monday night, it was apparent that these youth were determined to experience God and a greater devotion to Him this week. The worship team lead us into beautiful times of worship before His throne, and each altar time was heart-felt. Jacob Jester was the speaker, and he spoke on the Training Camp themes: Pray, Live, Give, Serve, and Tell. Each night had a different theme, and the ministry of various Master’s Commissions and traveling ministry teams blessed all of us even more. I wish that every one of you could have been there with us! It was a great feeling to be at a youth camp once again; I spent three wonderful summers interning at Turner Falls youth camp in southern Oklahoma, and I had forgotten how much I loved camp! There is a certain electricity in the air in that kind of place, and it’s felt by all. Ahh…

God Encounter #2
Old friends and new friends.
It was such a blessing to run into some friends from Evangel while I was at camp. I had admittedly been super nervous going to camp, unsure if I would know anyone or make a connection with people that I could spend the week with. I didn’t want to cramp the youths’ style, so I tried to connect with some of the staff. Luckily my friends Josh and Jeana Shelley were there, so we got to hang out off and on. I had some classes with Josh, but hadn’t spent time with Jeana before, and we totally clicked! She is a wonderful woman, and I’m so thankful the Lord brought us together last week. They are going to continue doing great things for God in their ministry to youth. Also, I got to see my friend Sarah Tattershall who is leaving for Chiang Mai, Thailand next month. Pray for her, she lacks only a little money before she can leave! It was great to see her before she heads over there--it was also surreal to think that we will (God-willing) be seeing each other again in a few months, only this time in Thailand! Yah! As nice as it was to see old friends, God allowed me to spend time with and get to know Cheri, a pastor’s wife from the area, and all the great people in the concessions stand. We had some good times serving up good food to hungry campers and smelling of hamburgers and fries for a whole week! If any of you concessions friends are reading this, know that I miss you!

God Encounter #3
“Pour out Your Spirit on us…”
It is universally known (at least in the circles I’ve been in) that Wednesday night at youth camp is “Holy Spirit night.” A lot of students (and staff!) are not given many opportunities throughout the year to tarry at the altar and await the baptism in the Holy Spirit, so there is at least one night a week where the baptism is a central focus of the altar time. I always love these times of prayer because God is a good God, and He desires to give good gifts to His people! I have seen literally hundreds of young people blessed with the gift of the Spirit through my years at camps, and it always bring tears to my eyes when they experience God at this new level. Another beautiful aspect is the time after their experience when they learn that the Spirit doesn’t just bring a new prayer language, but also a deeper passion in worship and prayer, and a fiercer burden for the lost (not saying that those who haven’t experienced this gift are lacking--only speaking from what I’ve experienced in my heart). Wednesday night I needed to leave the altar time and set up for concessions, but as I prayed for the Lord to baptize our two girls, I felt in my heart that He was going to do as He willed, and that they would be blessed. I began to sing a Hillsong United chorus, “Pour out Your Spirit on us…” and prayed for His glory to touch their lives. I had a few kids in the concessions line afterwards proudly tell me, with their eyes shining and their hearts full, that the Lord had baptized them in the Spirit! And, as I met up with the girls before lights out, Savannah told me she had been baptized, too! Praise God! He is good, and so are His gifts.

More God Encounters to come hopefully tomorrow night…