Coming back from Church Camp, being surrounded by believers, supporters and just all together wonderful people,makes it is so easy to walk the walk and talk the talk. Going home is most likely a different story. Some students will go home to a family that doesn’t take the time of day for them, parents that don’t want to hear how much fun they had learning about a God or parents that can’t even relate to this God thing. As a camp sponsor, knowing the home situations that some of the students go home to breaks my heart. Growing up in a Christian home with supporting parents I can’t even imagine going home and not being able to connect with my parents about what I had learned.

Prayer Partner

What is a prayer partner? That is what a lot of the congregation of our church probably thought the Sunday Pastor David mentioned it.They were not wondering what it is, but the requirements. Within the congregation of about 320, 27 prayer partners were needed for Youth and Sponsors. The wonderful Prayer Partners that selected packets were such a blessing to each and every one of the individuals that attended camp.

As I woke each morning I received a letter from a gracious couple in the church. My sponsor just happened to know my mother and asked her snack advice to include with my daily prayer note. Not only did I enjoy receiving the prayer packet every morning, the students would read their letters to one another and share what they had received that day with fellow friends. Throughout the week the students and the leaders did not know who was writing them. The Prayer Partner reveal was Saturday morning when we were packing up to go home. I was able witness the students read the reveal letters of those who were writing them the whole week. It was a priceless observation.

Worship

What is true worship?

For me, personally, I could worship 24 hours a day. I love to sing at the top of my lungs to God, even if I don’t sound good! But worship goes beyond just singing. Worship is how you live and the choices you make that glorify God. I have always been a girl to worship the heavenly father with all I am. Some individuals just stand and sing; I CANT. I get super excited to sing the wonderful truths, and praises to my heavenly Father. I love that I can raise my hands, dance and sing in the presence of my Father. This past week at Wild Week I experienced a whole new worship. Jimmy McNeal is so talented in his ability to lead worship. For the whole week listening to the campers and leaders worship, seeing all the hands raised and the many people at the alter on their knees praying was amazing. I found myself just sobbing while singing the songs. I would just be praising God and tears would just be flowing down my cheeks. It was a marvelous feeling.

Connecting with the Youth

Connecting with the youth was one of my favorite things while being a youth camp sponsor. I was not just a sponsor, but someone they felt they could come to and express what was on their heart, pray with and for them, and also be the comic relief when needed. I didn’t just find myself as a comic relief for our youth group, but also for the whole 750 students. When speaking at one of the main sessions Ken told them to shhhhh and just wait for it…well there it came…. my snort and silent laugh.

MORE - Ken Freeman

M - Meaningful Relationship with Christ (Romans 8:35)

Ask yourself these questions, “What does it mean to ABIDE in Christ?” and “What does it mean Jesus to ABIDE in me”

O - Others First (Phil 2:13-14)

R - Righteous Living (Prov 4:8; James 5:16)

E - Engaging with the Family

When you ask for more, just be ready because God might give it to you instantly or in the future. When asking God to give you more, you need to pray hard that you feel its truly what God wants for your life. If you pray for something and you receive it and are not prepared you will be in a very overwhelmed state.

Missions

Missions has been very heavy on my heart for a very long time, but most of the time I have just been that one who says I wanna try and do something in my own area! That is awesome, but I truly believe that what God has for me will be over in a different country. I feel my heart tugging toward Haiti, but wherever God will take me is where I will go. What really inspires me to want to be in Haiti is that I sponsor a little girl by the name of Ange who lives in Haiti! One of the ways I plan on obeying God in my calling is taking advantage of the missions trips they offer at SBU next year. Recently I have had people ask me what my plans are for next summer and my response is, “Hopefully I will be in a different country in the missions field where God has called me”!

-Trinity Coots