Like adventurous ships
pulling out of a harbor, venturing into the wide blue sea, I watch our campers
every summer head out into the next phase of their lives. Where will they go?
What will become of them? God entrusts them to our care for just a short
period, but we make the most of that time, equipping them with the training and
navigational tools they need to follow God into the great unknown.
Sometimes they veer off
course, like David* who came to camp as a teenager but got caught up in
partying and drugs after he outgrew our program. When he reached his low point,
he called me up, seeking guidance for reconciling his relationship with God. I wrote about that story last year. Now
he’s working steadily, seeking God daily, and giving of himself as the primary
caretaker for his uncle and grandmother.
Other times they encounter an
unexpected storm, like Sherry* who grew dramatically in her relationship with
God at camp, but experienced the devastation of domestic abuse and failed
marriage as a young adult. Now she excitedly reports that God is healing her
and has used her experiences at camp to birth a new passion for family
ministries in her community.
Then there are those who
manage to stay on course, like Carol* who came to camp throughout her childhood
and followed God into a successful career in banking. She stopped by a few
weeks ago to share how much camp impacted her life and that the lessons she
learned here still give her guidance today.
These are just a few of the
ships that radio back to the harbor from time to time. There are thousands of
others out there, and we know that the Lord has his eye on each one. As long as God enables us, we will
continue equipping these vessels of God to be ready for whatever adventure
awaits.
*names have been changed
