Our teens just returned from a week full of the preaching of God’s Word. Two of our young people were saved, and many decisions were made.
This was a great year.
Your investment of money and prayer is worth it when a young person makes a life-changing decision. Bro. Christian was saved and called to preach at summer camp, and is now leading camps. I made huge decisions at camps, and almost all of the pastors and youth workers that I know can say the same thing.
“Well, what about the kids who fail?” Stop being so cynical! Of course human nature has a way of reverting to the least difficult thing, and the Christian walk is a “die daily” kind of walk—not exactly easy! This walk does take effort, but the closing sermon of camp last week was how God never ignores our faithfulness. When we are in it for the long haul, God sees that, and we will reap what we sow, so be not weary in well doing.
I want to pray that God continues the work he started in these hearts this week. It was the most youth group oriented camp we have ever had, and it was the preacher’s first time doing a camp. He wasn’t a “pro” preacher with a set of canned sermons that he can pull out and make a crowd cry. He was a youth pastor who cares deeply about his youth group in Oklahoma and made a point to come preach a camp like they were his kids.
Now, as a church, we rally around the young people, pray for them to live the life the Holy Spirit showed them was best, and live it for a lifetime. They are not the future of our church—they ARE the church—but they are the future leaders of the church, that is for sure. If they are strong, our church will be strong.
-Pastor Ryan