Kingdom Connections

Hiring staff is both a terrifying and thrilling time.

Terrifying because we have over 100 staff positions to fill (with the looming deadline of summer camp).

But thrilling because you get to hear about God working in a potential staff member's life: It's very humbling to see God at work when you have nothing to do with it.

• During one interview session I conducted the interviews for four girls who were all from the same youth group.  I left those interviews amazed at how great of a work God had done in those girls through their youth pastor.  Each one of them pointed to this youth pastor and his wife as having a huge positive influence on their spiritual life.  
• One of our returning summer staff members recently shared that he accepted Christ in high school while on a high school retreat at Camp Timber-lee in Wisconsin.  This staff member has had a visible impact on the lives of kids at Camp of Champions, but it wouldn't be possible without the staff from Timber-lee setting up a high school retreat.  Equally important are the volunteers from his local church investing in him.

We're deeply indebted to so many other people and ministries for the work of God that will go on at Camp of Champions this summer.  I'm excited and prayerful that the kingdom connections will continue to grow as the word of God works in hearts.

Intern Feedback

I asked my four 'Night Out Interns' to sum up their experience from this year.

Nathan said: "I don't have a ton to say about what I learned but I'm very glad I did [it] and that God was able to use us."

Heather said: "I really liked the whole experience of being a PNO intern. I believe that I have learned a lot from the experience and I think I will be more prepared in leading children in many situations. I learned to be more bolder when sharing the gospel or any lesson or direction really. I know that God will fully guide me in life and I want to trust him more and more. I also, have learned to communicate better with the staff and kids, in order to get more out of everything, not missing an opportunity God gives."

Shelby said: "The Internship has been a fun experience. I've learned a lot. enough to where I'm not so sure how to explain it in words."

Lukas said: "I loved my experience as an intern, it taught me to roll with the punches of the day, to plan things that I thought were out of this world fun for the kids, and to make idea's come to life. It was great deciding what to teach them about Christ as well, and to see kids from camp that I otherwise would not have been able to see too much of."

Two? I give up. Three? I'm still going.

Last September I started meeting with Friend #1 and Friend #2.  We've met weekly (missing a few weeks hear and there) through the end of 2010 and up to the present.

I was surprised by how much Friend #1, dis-impressed me as we attempted to follow Jesus together.  I just didn't see #1 showing much real fervor to know God.

About two months ago I was ready to jump-ship on Friend #1.  I had had enough of him not doing much, and was ready to find someone who had a desire to grow. Enter Friend #2.

Friend #2 had been there the whole time, but at the same moment I wanted to bail, he fully engaged Friend #1 and got us all to read 'Sexual Detox: A Guide for the Single Guy.'  Friend #2 realized that #1 needed to be challenged in the area of sexual purity.

So thanks to Friend #2, we're all continuing to follow Jesus... together.

March 18th Parents' Night Out

On Friday March 18th we held a Parents' Night Out event at our Pekin camp.  Leading up to the night we had only around 20 or so campers and I had asked my prayer team to pray for additional campers to attend camp.  God answered prayer and we ended up with over 30 kids that registered to come.  Less than 2 hours before the event (and right after I printed off the Sign In sheet) two parents called in and signed up four more children.

Like other Parents' Night Outs this event was planned and pulled off almost entirely by four interns: Lukas, Nathan, Shelby, and Heather.   I always look for feedback after these nights.  And here's what I I received this time.

Question 1) What was the best part about Friday night?   "Most of the kids were avid listeners and really engaged in Lukas' lesson." - Heather  "I think the best part was that there were so many kids there I had never seen before. That showed me that God is still using camp and is continuing to let it grow so that more families can be reached with the Gospel." - Nathan

Question 2) What ONE THING would you want to improve and why?  "I feel like there could be more follow-up on the lesson... I feel like we could do more to really bring the story home." - Nathan

Question 3) Looking ahead to the last PNO, what would you say is the most important thing we can include in that night?  "The wordless book or anything relating to accepting Christ and having a personal relationship with Him. Maybe we could each touch on our spiritual journey." - Heather