At the beginning of our last full day at Student Life Camp, the Lord is active and moving in our midst.  We had a very powerful time of healing and restoration in our church group time last night, the effects of which our ministry will feel for a very long time.  Actually, each night of church group time has been particularly productive during this week of camp.  On Sunday night, Audra Swofford, director of the mission portion of camp, came and spoke to our group about what it means to be called to international missions.  Several in our group have said that they are being called into this field, so Audra's words were well-timed and hit close to home.  I am confident that our group will be effective at spreading the gospel to the nations, both now and later.

Today is also our last day to go work at Greenview Terrace, and it should be a doozy!!  Each day the kids at the site have tried to take the water we've given them to drink and have a bonified, no-holds-barred water war, and today we are going to encourage that ambition.  With a slip and slide, shaving cream joust, and all out water bombings, it's sure to be fun!!  We will also be talking about dawn and pepper, and using them to show that sin has power over our lives, but Christ has power over that sin.  Please pray that the gospel will dig deep into the hearts of the kids there and that the Lord will draw them to salvation even today.

And please pray for our group.  We are exhausted and worn, but we are excited about what's happening too!  We are also wary and on the lookout, rumors are that there is a scary clown with a front ponytail that has been wandering around our mission site and following us back to campus.  Hopefully, the local authorities will be searching out this frightening figure and will apprehend him very soon.  And on an equally shocking note, I would like it stated here that Carrie Ball woke up at 5:45 this morning (4:45 our time) to go for a morning jog.  I know, most of us are still are still in shock too.  Pray that we will be able to recover :)

Until this afternoon....

We're headed back from our second day working at Greenwood Terrace and we are worn out, exhausted, drained, and so thankful for how the Lord is using us up to perpetuate the gospel. So far, our group of 37 has worked with around 40 kids, almost all of whom come from breaking or broken homes. It's so obvious from the way these kids respond to us that they are in desperate need of the love and simple acceptance that can only permanently come from being in God's family. We pray that the time we spend with these kids can help take part in the promises of Romans 5... That each of us could be adopted into the King's family, never to be fatherless or motherless again.

There are a couple of people in particular that I'd like to brag on. Analeigh Barnes has made a connection with several of the kids, but there is one in particular that seems to have latched on to her. Every day that we get ready to leave he gets tears in his eyes and asks her to stay just a little longer. The Lord is showing himself to this child and we need to pray for him. Other examples like this abound and I can say how proud I am of our students and leaders as they minister and bring about change in the lives of these children.

Back at camp, things are going exceptionally well too, as the Spirit continues to heal, convict, and move. Please pray that He will continue to move as He sees fit.

First day of camp is almost over and it has been a day!! The Lord is moving in big ways in our group like we expected Him to (and in ways we didn't expect too!)

Due to lack of Internet, this post will be short, but look for pictures and videos on Facebook and a longer post first thing in the morning!

Until then, may we all continue to conform to Christ...

Saturday's a comin'!

Student Life is in two days!! I hope everyone's gotten their stuff together and is beginning the long, arduous packing process!!

Just a reminder for everyone going to camp that we will be leaving at 6:00 am on Saturday morning. I know it's early, but we're anxious to get on the road to camp!!

Can't wait to see you then!

Jesus Will Meet You There

As I was making final preparations for our time at camp this morning, Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Jesus Will Meet You There" came on my Pandora. As I listened to the song's beautiful and simple message, I had to stop what I was doing and go to the Lord in prayer and ask for His forgiveness that I have been worrying so much about what I needed to do to make this trip a success. So often, I get caught up in what I am doing and the ideas I can come up with and the people that I can affect for the gospel, and I too often overlook this simple truth- that people are not drawn to the Father through ME, they are drawn to the Father through Christ, and I need only be obedient to lift Him up and make Him famous, and the results of that can be left up to God.

So, as the week continues and our camp departure draws ever-nearer, I would ask that you would join along in praying with me. Pray for all of the students and leaders who are attending camp next week. Pray for the leadership of the camp as well as the speaker, Chris Brooks, and the worship leader, David Walker. But most of all, pray that in spite of all our plans and programs and events, that more than anything else Christ will be lifted high during our time together and that He will draw us to Himself. May our worship and our time in His word be life-changing, for us and others as well.

Almost time for Student Life!

We are gearing up to go to the Student Life Mission Camp at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. It is going to be an incredible week that I believe the Lord will use to help bring us closer to Him, bring us closer to each other, and bring us closer to people who need His salvation.

Please be in prayer for all of those attending camp this year and all of the leaders who are going to help lead small groups and disciple our teenagers. Also be in prayer for the children of Greenwood Terrace who we will be working with throughout the week.

Some websites you may find useful...

Student Life- www.studentlife.com
Covenant College- www.covenant.edu
Wildwater Rafting- www.wildwaterrafting.com
Coker Creek Village (where we'll stay before we raft)- www.cokercreekvillage.com


See you soon!