It always seems like such a monumental task to take a week full of challenges, conviction, change, and fun and cram it into a little blog post. Impossible.
But I will do my best!!!
For the last two summers, we have taken our students to a StudentLife camp at Wake Forest University. We were met there by hundreds of other churches and students. But this summer we decided to branch off the beaten path and instead took our students to our own camp. We headed up to the mountains to Lake Lure.
The students...being used to gourmet college cafeterias, air-conditioned dorms, and olympic sized swimming pools had a hard time adjusting to the rustic, old-fashioned...legit...camp site!
The bugs were real. The dirt was real. The mattresses were...well, somewhat real. The heat was real!
Camp Lurecrest was awaiting our students with open arms. The staff was geared up for rock climbing, outdoor adventures, paintball, hoopla, sand volleyball, tons of lake front activities, basketball, pottery, corn in the hole, ping-pong, and some down-home country cookin!
This was the first camp that we have brought our own children to. We had an amazing nanny, Kelly, that stayed with the kids all week (in an air-conditioned house!!) while we romped around camp with the high schoolers. Tyler and Amy were able to experience what Mommy and Daddy "do" during camp and had a blast with the students!
Jason taught on the life of Joshua the entire week at camp. His challenge: BE BRAVE. Be brave in purity, be brave in God's call, be brave in faith, be brave in words, be brave in battle, be brave in victory, be brave in temptation, and be brave in service. It was saturated with God's word and the presence of God permeated the entire camp. Students made some hard decisions regarding their lifestyle, attitude, behavior, relationships and future.
It was an intense...hard...wonderful...amazing...emotional...challenging...enlightening...victorious...week. We came home completely exhilarated...yet exhausted!!! We are praying that the seeds of God's Word penetrated the layers of carnality and flesh and found deep roots in the hearts of our students. We are praying that fruits of righteousness will sprout up and begin to define the lives of our youth! The enemy is on the prowl...making them doubt and second-guess the decisions made. Pray for these youth as they attempt to live victorious. Pray for these future leaders of our church and nation. Pray for these students to BE BRAVE!!!!
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Our "tribe" the BLUE SMURFS!!!
