Only Through the Power of Christ within us....

It has been a fantastic first week at camp. Session 1A is well under way here at camp, and we have a really good group of campers this session. This Summer I am in the Choctaw Tribe, which is the 12-13 year olds and the largest tribe in camp with 80 kids. This first week has been fun, especially since I am in a new tribe this summer, but it’s also been difficult. There have been some really difficult conversations with campers this session in my cabin. I ask that you pray for one camper in particular. He is dealing with some pretty difficult stuff. For me it’s been emotionally, spiritually, and mentally draining. It has also been a reminder though that the work that God calls us to will be difficult at times. It is even more important that when we are doing God’s work that we lean on him and seek guidance from him when things get difficult. We can do nothing on our own. We can only do things through the guidance and direction of Christ.

This first week has also been a powerful reminder of why I am here this summer.  It has qualified the calling that God has placed in my life to be here. There is so much work to be done here. The doubts and concerns that I had before coming to camp this summer are slowly beginning to disappear. I can confidently say this is where God has called me. I hope that I will be here next summer, but I know that through all I have learned it is taken one step at a time.

Today... Not Tomorrow....

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

It has been a long week. There has been a lot on my mind. I arrived at Camp on Thursday, May 24^th. The next day I left for Seattle, WA. I returned to camp the following Tuesday. I began staff training that night and kids arrive on Sunday, June 10^th. This week there have been several things on my mind. School work has been one of them. I am entering my final week of class, taking four classes, trying to keep up. It’s an uphill climb to the end, but I am pushing towards that end to get finished. Then there has been staff week.

This week I have been thinking a lot about why I’m here. Why did I choose to come back for a fourth summer? Why did I choose to say no to other opportunities, opportunities that would take me away from camp? What is going to happen after this summer? Will this be my last summer here? I have found that the more I focus on what’s ahead, the more I become distracted from what’s happening now.

My goal this summer is to work hard, and stay in the moment. Not to worry about what will happen at the end of the summer, this fall, or beyond. Focus on the here and now so that I don’t let a moment go by. Matthew 6:34 is a good reminder of this. The kids have arrived and it will be a good summer!

A Glimpse of Camp...

Since this blog is mainly about Camp and my experiences at camp, I though it would be fitting to post the Camp Promo video This will give you a little glimpse into what Camp Ridgecrest is all about. If you listen really closely you just might hear my voice in the video... This video does sum up why we do what we do at camp. We aren't in it for the money, but because there is an opportunity in ministry to "Impact kids lives for God's Glory through discipleship and adventure".

Following Jesus... One step at a time

Over the past several months I have found it more difficult than I thought in making decisions. I have found that having to choose between multiple good options is very tough. I have made some important decisions though over the past few months. In the fall of this year I will begin my seminary journey at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Murfreesboro, TN. I will be pursuing a Masters of Divinity Degree. It will be a 3-4 year degree that will prepare me for ministry. Because of the format of the program, I will be able to continue to live in Madison, Alabama and not have to relocate. After much consideration and prayer, and passing on some other excellent opportunities, I have decided that I will return to North Carolina for another summer as a counselor at Camp Ridgecrest.

When I return from Camp, I will be looking for an opportunity to get involved in ministry to further enhance my studies at Seminary. I will be looking for a youth minister or associate youth minister type position. I don’t know what opportunities will arise on that front, but I will be open to whatever direction that God leads me in.

There is some comfort in knowing that the pieces are beginning to fall into place. There is some uncertainty though of how things will work out in the future. I do know that I have more of a confidence in trusting in God and the direction that he will lead me in. I’m excited and nervous to see what’s next!

The Cost of Following Jesus

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23.

In our walk with Christ, Jesus calls us to follow him. It’s that simple… or is it? We are all for following Jesus until we realize that it will cost us something. We are fine with going along for the ride as long as the ride is comfortable. But, truly following Jesus will not be comfortable or easy. It will be difficult. But that is the cost of following Jesus. To follow Jesus we must deny ourselves, we must give up our old ways, everything that is not pleasing to God. Many struggle with this but it is doable. It takes discipline and focus. He goes on to say that we must take up our cross daily and follow him. Here’s what he’s trying to say, if you follow me day in and day out, it’s going to be difficult, you are going to have to give up things, give up comfort, but it will all be in my name and it will glorify me in the end.

Last fall, I was set on moving to North Carolina and beginning a pursuit of camp ministry. I began to try and figure out the details, well, if I get this job and do this or that, then that will set me up for this opportunity or that. I was running all the possible scenarios in my head to make things work out. I was ready to make that leap, but it was going to be on my terms. I wasn’t going to do anything until it was completely comfortable to me.

That’s not the way God works though. This is something that I am beginning to see. God rarely reveals his master plan to us, nor does he let us set the plan on our terms. To have the willingness and open heart to follow Jesus, we must come to this realization. There is one thing I know for sure; I feel a call to ministry. Do I see myself in camp or youth ministry? Yes! Do I know which path to take right now? No. But I am working to open my heart to him and be willing to follow him in this ministry wherever it leads.

Right now, I am putting Touro University, with the M.S. Camp Administration and Leadership degree on hold. In the future, I hope to pursue this degree, especially if I find myself in a Camp Ministry position. I do know that I am called to ministry. Now to figure out where he calls me to learn and serve him. I am actively looking at two different seminaries, McAfee Theological Seminary in Atlanta, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Murfreesboro Tennessee. I come from a strong Baptist background and in the more recent years, a CBF Baptist affiliation. These are important aspects to ministry that I want to put that the forefront of my theological education. This summer, I will return to Ridgecrest Summer Camps for my 4^th summer as a counselor. I thought last summer would be my final one as a counselor, but I absolutely thrilled that I will have another summer as cabin staff.

I ask for prayers as I continue to discover what’s next in my pursuit to fully follow Jesus wherever he leads.

The Call of God...

“God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude.”
― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Traditional Updated Edition

In determining God’s call on your life, it can be difficult. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what God has called you to. Eugene Peterson writes in his book “My Utmost for His Highest” that if we can clearly point out a single specific time where God’s calling to us was clear, then he questions If we really heard God’s call on our life. I think what he means here is that, when God calls us to do something he is persistent. He will place opportunity after opportunity and drop hints left and right as to what he wants for our life. Sometimes we realize this calling but we struggle with following his call. Often times he requires that we do things that are uncomfortable. He requires us to do things that we don’t fully understand, that we aren’t fully sure we can do.

For the past three summers I have had the opportunity to serve at Ridgecrest Summer Camps in North Carolina as a camp counselor. Going into this job my first summer I would have never expected what an impact this camp would have on my life. The past few years I have been thinking about what am I going to do with my life? What am I called to? I realized a couple of years ago that God had called me into the Ministry. As I continued to work at Camp, I realized that that was something that I wanted to do full time. Knowing that those jobs are hard to get and they don’t pay a lot were stumbling blocks. I went back and forth as to if I wanted to do it, or if I should go into Youth Ministry in a traditional church setting.

I will graduate from Strayer University in May with a B.S. Business Administration. I am applying to Touro University Nevada and will be pursuing a M.S. in Camp Administration and Leadership. I am planning on returning to Ridgecrest this summer. After the summer is over, I will be looking for a job in North Carolina in the Asheville area. I will look for a job in the camping industry so I can gain experience while I work on my Master’s Degree.

I have lived in Alabama for the past 22 ½ years. I have never moved out of Madison. I have been thinking for the past couple of years how I would like to move to North Carolina. It has just been a far off dream though. The realization has set in though within the last month that I have made the decision to move to North Carolina next fall. I have had mixed feelings. I don’t feel like I am making the wrong decision at all, however, it will be a new start, away from family and long-time friends. I will be leaving everything behind to start something new.

Most importantly though, I feel that this is what God has called me to. His calling has never been stronger in this decision. There is a lot of uncertainty in moving forward in this decision and at times, it feels uncomfortable. But I truly believe in my heart that this is what God has called me to. He will provide if I trust him and follow him and he will be glorified through my actions.

I know the next several months will be filled with many mixed emotions as I make plans to move to North Carolina. At times already it seems so unreal, like man, I’m really going to do this. It’s exciting, but scary at times too. There are things that I know I am going to miss here. But in the back of my mind is the words of Jesus “Drop your nets, and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus fully, means to give up everything you have to him, when he asks for it and to follow him, surrendering it all for his name.