Hello once again from
Community Christian Fellowship,
As you know, last week my family
and five other members from our
congregation had the opportunity
to go to our teen and youth
camps at Chicot State Park in
central Louisiana. While there
serving the youth, one principle
became very evident, we actually
figured out what all of the
youth needed. So, let me tell
what we figured out.
The answer is found in a
concept that all of us as staff
focused on. That concept was to
meet the campers where they
were. Now, this sounds good, but
what if the campers were mad,
afraid, home-sick, or non-
compliant; which, by the way,
several of the youth campers
were. This caused a challenge
for the staff members who were
responsible for them, but the
results were amazing! Campers,
who couldn't sit at a table,
were happily sitting and
enjoying company with the others
in just a few days. Others that
were so uncomfortable during
prayer time in the dorm that
they left the room repeatedly
began praying intimate prayers
in just a few days in front of
all their room- mates and
counselors. Others that had
learned to use anger to get
their way were calm and
compliant; they changed.
What was it that changed
them? Was it the personality of
the staff? Yes to some extent.
Was it the food? Yes, the food
was outstanding and all meals
were made from scratch (go
kitchen staff!!). But there was
something else there, something
that only comes from the
direction and influence of the
Holy Spirit; it's called love.
You see, to meet someone where
they are, you have to set aside
most of your biases,
expectations, and rules. You
have to find a patience that
doesn't come naturally. You have
to be gentle and kind in heart.
You have to unconditionally
love, and that kind of love only
comes through the Holy Spirit.
Now don't get me wrong, there
were times when our humanness
got the best of us, and we had
to wisely take a break from the
kids, but overall we just loved
them. We never asked them to say
please or thank you, but after a
few days, some of them were.
They began to appreciate, and
more importantly, trust in the
love they were being shown. It
changed them, and it changed us.
It gave us all a deeper
understanding of what God did
for us; He met us where we were,
in the flesh, sinners, and he
gave himself for us so that we
could have a chance at eternal
life through Him. It changes us
to give in the same way, to
love. Some where I remember
reading that "love covers a
multitude of sins". I think I
have a better understanding of
the concept behind that
scripture now. Until next time,
Pastor Mark
