Second Camp

It is funny how things work. During the first camp of the summer, I was wondering if my physical interaction with the kids was truly enough, not sure it was the main support I was supposed to provide. That was at an orphan camp with kids and teens running around, all in desperate need of attention.

During my second camp, I worked with university students and young adults in their late teens through twenties. I realized just how much I missed having the physical interaction at the orphan camp and how reassuring it was not only to the kids, but to myself as well. Sometimes it's more difficult to know what's actually going on in the mind of an intellectual university student than in that of an excitable, ADD child who wants to hang onto whichever limb is most easily reached.

This second camp was an evangelistic camp organized and run by New Life Church. I am pleased to say that it was evangelistic both in vision and outcome. This particular type of camp was a first effort by the church and God met the flexibility of the leaders by keeping unbelieving campers in line where stating minute rules and regulations never could have succeeded. The Spirit of God was present at this camp and was seen undeniably in the combined Ukrainian and American team. This is what the campers saw and experienced. This is what touched them. They saw love and servanthood like they had never seen it before. Really, they felt it.

One thing I learned through this experience is just how strong worship is as an evangelistic tool. I always thought worship was to be kept mainly to circles of believers and that unbelievers would simply think it strange and a turn-off. However, I have come to realize that unbelievers can sense the presence of God in worship, however different that sense may be to them at first. And because God is good, His presence and initiation of awareness into the hearts of the unbeliever is good as well.

Thankfully, most of the students in my group were ones I already have connections with, giving me the opportunity to follow up with them and really find out what is going on. Many are students at ICU (International Christian University, although the "Christian" in the name means little these days), where a self-supported missionary by the name of Steve Copland has already spent a few years cultivating a ministry and Bible study which I have just recently gotten involved with. These students also speak English, which is a great opportunity to use my primary language as a strength rather than a weakness. A few of these students gave their lives to Christ during this camp and I feel it will take many conversations in the future to truly understand what they are experiencing spiritually and to build them up.

Again, I just want to reiterate that God put a lot of pieces in place for this camp and that he honored the willingness and God-seeking attitudes of the leaders and helpers. God was invited to this camp and he was certainly present. There are many more things I could share now and there will be more to share in the future as I follow up with some of the students. For now, please pray that I will have wisdom and time and God's energy to continue this process.