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So working at Tekoa was a really great experience for me. There were a lot of people who were great to work with and helped me to grow in my faith. I'll admit outright it was really hard to be so far from Kitt for the summer, but I still had a really great experience. I'm going to try to note some of the high points and some exciting stuff from the summer.
First of all, I was able to feel God's presence more powerfully than I think I ever have (barring the Easter of 2004). I had something like 20 times when I felt God's presence throughout the summer. I know a lot of people may think of this skeptically, but there is nothing else that can explain these times. The best way for me to describe it was I had this sensation of almost lightheadedness combined with a warm comforting feeling as well as a feeling of encouragement that engulfed me. Most of these were in conjunction with times where I had led a devotion with my campers and was praying with the group or immediately after before I went to bed. I know that it was God moving and strengthening me for the work I was doing with the youth.
I also had a really powerful moment my last week at camp. One of my campers, an 11 year old boy, at our group closing session my last week at camp told me that though he had never really thought about his faith and what it meant to be Christian or what Christ's gift meant to him that because of the week of camp and most notably the devotions I had lead with him that he wanted to go home and build a relationship with Christ. He also during the closing campfire when asked what his favorite activity at camp was responded that nightly devotions were his favorite thing. I really about cried because of this. To see God working through me and helping this youth to grow in his faith was an amazing thing.
For those of you who care...this was my devotion series I would run with my Middle and High School Campers:
Sunday: Rev. 3.20 - God Is Knocking: This set the tone for the week and helped the campers to understand that God has been working to be a part of their life since before they were born and when the time is right and you as an individual hear God you can open your heart.
Monday: Mark 1:16-20 - Answering the Call: We must realize that following Christ is not a thing for when we feel like it, but rather that the decision to follow Him should be the center of our lives. Like the first disciples we must be prepared to drop everything when the Lord calls us.
Tuesday: 1 John 3:16,18; Luke 23:34 - God Loves You: Despite everything God loves each and everyone of us. He wants for us to open our hearts to Him and rejoice in the fellowship of His Love. This is best illustrated by Christ's death on the cross. This would also be when I would share my faith story.
Wednesday: Romans 5 & 6 - The Free Gift of Grace - Christ's death on the cross was more than a statement, but led to the salvation of all from their sins.
Thursday: Acts 16:25-34 - Even Bad Times Can Lead to Great Things - Many of God's greatest goods come from bad circumstances. So when times get bad remember that God is working through you for the greater good.
Friday: Romans 12:9-21 - The Marks of the True Christian - A challenge for the pursuit of a sanctified life in the Light of Christ.
I don't think I have adequately written what each devo was about, but I tried to remain brief. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.