|
|
Wrapping up NEXT Camp 2010: We Did It One More Time
Posted by Ronnie Worsham
Tonight is our final night of our 2010 teen camp. The end of camp is bittersweet for most of us. We have had one incredible week in one of the best places in the world to be in the summer. Everything is just right-- spiritual environment and emphasis, some of the best people anywhere, wonderful weather, and a beautiful place! It is a little taste of heaven. It is a refreshing bubble for all of us. Yeah, we know that we have to go home, and we love being home, being with our loved ones there, and being about all the things we are doing there. But, ending is always a little sad. We quickly become one big family at camp. We grow attached to each other. It’s a “mountain top” experience.
So ending in some ways is bitter because we want to hang on just a little longer—maybe just one more day and maybe another month for some. But the sweetness is found in what happens here and the fruit that will come from it in the lives of the teens, the adults, and our churches over the next year. We see kids bloom here. While they are well-supervised and watched over (about one adult to every two teens), they are expected to be mature and to self-discipline themselves. They have to take care of their own clothes, remember things, and do all the things mommy does for them at home. They are really more mature here.
They become free to worship and express themselves. They are more affectionate. They are more open to listen and to share. They laugh a lot. They bond with other teens and they bond with the youth workers. They are challenged intensely in their walks with God. They are well-supported and much loved here. And, as well all know, those who give the most get the most. All the adults will tell you that we are the most blessed for being with these guys. We see lives changed. We are loved up on. We are played with. We are treated with great respect. We learn from the youth ministers, youth workers, and the other adults here. And, we learn tons from the teens themselves. We watch the Holy Spirit work in their lives in visible ways.
Tonight we’ll have worship at 7 p.m. followed by a wrap-up challenge-sermon by Kale. There will be the final group discussions after that. Then there will be a bonfire celebrations with s’mores and mores (sorry, couldn’t resist). We’ll go to bed for a quick rest and get up and plan to leave at 3:30 a.m. The kids will be able to sleep on the buses and the adults will look enviously through tired eyes wishing we could sleep that way again!
This year’s theme was about making good choices—ultimately the right choice in choosing to make Jesus Lord—but also all our other choices. Our time here again confirms that we, as churches, made the right choice to again invest the time, resources, and money, as well as some of our finest leaders, to bring our teens to Colorado to help make disciples among those that aren’t and to help mature those who already are.
You have a fine bunch of teens and you should be very proud of the way they gave themselves to God this whole week!
This year we’ll be doing teen Sunday at Wylie Northeast on Sunday, August 1, the first Sunday after we get back. Teen Sunday will be held at Northeast in Garland on August 8. That will allow the teen praise team to be in both locations to lead the church and teens in some of the songs that were used in worship here. These services are certainly not just for the teens and arguably are more for the others in the churches. These kids come back with a contagious condition—they are excited about God. So, make sure to be there and bring teens and others with teens so that they can see that at our churches that we are dedicated to truly making disciples of teens and teaching them to be obedient to God in every way.
We’ll be returning tomorrow evening arriving at the Northeast building in Garland. My best guess is we’ll be there in the nine o’clock range, but it could be earlier or later depending on how long our stops are. As usual, the kids will have a chance to call you when we’re about an hour out so you won’t have to wait long, nor will they have to wait long for you. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow.
Posted July 29, 2010
| View
(490 Views)
|
|
|
|