The Sunset Is Becoming More Evident...

Who would have ever thought that a smaller Christian camp located in the northern section of Ohio would show me the biggest challenges of life. I personally did not look at this camp in that manner before I arrived through the camp pillars. I remember how I talked to family, friends, and other staff members that I had this plan on what I would write about because of my approach to the summer. I felt that this camp was going to grow me in my experiences in working with youth and also being a part of a team setting for a good amount of time. The interviews went well prior the summer, the business cards were polished up, and the resume looked as if nothing could be any better. I drove from Indianapolis to an area between Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio and had my world turned upside down (but for the better).

There are only two camp groups left before I return home from my summer of ministry. Last week we had our first of two CYSC groups (which are the two Catholic groups that rent out the camp property). This group is definitely loud, crazy, full of life, and ready to take on new challenges. This past week I had some of the biggest challenges that I faced this summer. I can already see, just from this past weeks experience, that what the Catholic group believes is different from the Christian environment that I have been involved with. Through the week I had some of the most interesting discussions with people about what they believed, their prayer life, etc. and at the same time was challenged with some things that were brought up through the week. My week actually got to a point where I became very negative in my own personal mind and that the Bible meant nothing to me because I could not follow it (my own words). I had one of the biggest downfalls at the midpoint of the week because of some things taking place in the group and at the same time I found some of the staff that I work with (the other guys) came up to me and offered prayer, support, and even a foot washing as a sign of love and direction to Christ. This group also has the most programming that I have done in any given point of the summer. The programming for 200 plus campers averages to about six hours a day which equals to 30 hours by the end of the week. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a lot of ropes, archery, and team-building (WOOOOOOOOOOOOO)!!!!! Even with the busy schedule I found that this week challenged me in my programming areas as well as my patience and respect to the people around me.

This week, looking back, needed to happen for the growth and maturity that Christ is trying to use. There was a scripture that came to my mind that relates to this mindset that was used in 1 Peter...

 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)


Being in the Christian life is very much like growing up in a physical life. In the day to day physical life you start out as a newborn baby and work your way through adolescence (so much fun)!!! teenager, young adulthood, adulthood, and the final stage of old age and eventually death. The spiritual life is very similar to this setup in terms of the stages of walking with Christ. When we find Christ scripture says we "become a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) it is like the spiritual birth that people find when they accept Christ for the first time. As we grow up in our faith by watching others and filling our minds with every great thing that comes from Christ (Philippians 4:8-9) we become like a child and falling in love with the life Christ provides. As we grow up we realize that Jesus is the true source and we are part of Him (John 15:1) and that is when we grow up and find what is true and false in this life. Jesus had a way of using this life so that we may find Him, love after Him, and desire more of His mercy. There is no longer a need to go through other sources to get to Christ, for we have DIRECT ACCESS to our Father that says that we are no longer considered workers but part of His perfect family (Galatians 4:7).

As the summer winds down and the end is near for my last summer ever of camp ministry I look back at the other years that I have been involved with camping and what God has done through every season. As I look back to when I was 15 and first becoming a counselor by becoming a Counselor in Training (CIT) I did not appreciate this life as I do at 24 and nearly at ten summers in summer camp ministry. Going from a volunteer CIT to a Program Manager has not been an easy route but it has been something that I look back on and thank Christ for all that He has taught me, even in the times when I was not serious about Him. In the end I realize that I just want and desire more of Christ and His grace and truth, to be intertwined in His presence. Be blessed everyone, and for this week be praying for God's spirit to impact every crevice of my life and for my life to be parallel to His life.

Pondering Toward the End of the Summer...

There is a lot going through my head as I sit and type this blog out after a couple of intense of guest group weeks. Over the last couple of weeks there have been a couple of Presbyterian groups (from New York, Ohio, and Michigan) that have been a joy to work with. I am also sitting here and cannot even begin to fathom that there is only three weeks left of camp. THREE WEEKS OF CAMP LEFT!!!!!!!! Where has the time gone, seriously???? Anyways (as I tone down myself) I had the opportunity to have a good relaxing weekend and at the same time a chance to learn, struggle, and grow in my relationship with Christ. These camps, along with the guest groups, have shown me how much I truly need to rely on Christ. I am also sitting here and listening to the new David Crowder Band album and there was a song for over one minute that kept saying "Amen" over and over. The song started out in a quiet tone and then intensified as it progressed. I kept finding myself playing that song over and over as I found myself closing my eyes and feeling the strength and presence that Christ really brings out. The biggest lesson I have learned this summer...

I AM NOTHING WITH CHRIST!!!! NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED CHRIST, I NEED HIS PRESENCE, I NEED HIS HEALING POWER, I NEED HIS MERCY, I NEED HIS ESSENCE, LORD, I NEED YOU COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This has been one of the hardest lessons to learn, and to this day it is still hard to grasp. This summer has not only been the biggest learning experience that I have had in recent years but it is also been the one that has provided the best growth professionally, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. I am working in program areas that before the summer started I had no prior experience in. I am a regular at the rock wall where I either belay people up the rock wall, repel them down the wall, or run the zip ladder from time to time. I can also be found teaching kids how to do archery, hold a bow and arrow effectively, and shoot at a precise level. Sure, I have only been learning these activities for part of the summer but doing them over and over has caused me to find a passion in them and find a way to impact lives through the activities. I even found myself telling my grandma the other day that I may have found a new hobby with archery and may even find some facilities to shoot around from time to time.

I cannot stress it enough in this post, OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME AND WONDERFUL GOD!! There was a couple of verses that I read yesterday that really impacted my face and faith at the same time. Both are found in 1 John. 1 John 4:4 says...

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.


1 John 5:5 says...

Who is He that overcomes the world: He who believes that Jesus is the SON OF GOD! 




Through the summer I have been keeping verses on a sticky note on my desktop of things I need to remember, live by, and also: LIVE OUT! That is one of the biggest lessons that I have learned this summer. We as people of God need to live out our faith, not just look at it and think it is a beautiful thing and then go along with that. God is HUGE and WANTS 100% of WHO WE ARE! This is truly the hardest thing to grasp and I continue to pray that He will show how this looks and how this is used in today's life. Be blessed everyone through Christ alone!

The Learning Curve...

The first guest group has come and gone, and a lot of big happenings have been taking place at Camp Otyokwah. The big building at camp, Hopewell Hall, has been renovated and the camp was able to host its first dinner since the summer started. The first guest group was a fun group to work around that provided many opportunities for growth and inspiration.

During one night of the week the older and younger kids were split into two groups with the younger group watching "Facing the Giants" while the older group watched "Courageous." I personally took an opportunity to join the younger group to watch Facing the Giants and then walked down to the older kids and watch the other movie. Facing the Giants personally taught me that there is truly nothing to fear when Christ is at the driver's seat and is in full control. There are many opportunities that we feel that we know the answer and that there is no other way around that. Christ says multiple times that we can live in His truth and example, which truly is challenging and humbling at the same time.

The camp is now at the sunset mark and there are only a few more weeks of programming left. When I first wanted to write to you all I had a different picture of how this summer was going to be. Well, let's just say that Christ had other plans. Be blessed everyone through the name of Jesus alone.

Bring on the guest groups!!

Wow!! That is the only word I can truly put into context that can truly place any kind of image of what is truly going on this summer. The summer staff and myself just hit the halfway point of the camp season and it does not seem possible. I still remember being the only person at camp (with the exception of the full-time staff) and getting prepared for the staff training period. Looking back halfway through the summer I have formed so many memories, and also met various amounts of obstacles head on.

I still remember watching the youngest group, Pioneer Camp, arrive to camp. For the most part this camp was their first experience at any type of camp setting and it was truly a blessing to see how they reacted to the silly games, as well as the times of singing songs and worshiping God. Now that the actual camps that Camp Otyokwah runs are in the past it is time to look ahead at the guest groups that will be arriving. The first group that will be arriving is a Presbyterian church located in Cincinnati. This will be different to see both how the programs are run but also what it will look like to take a step back and become mainly a facilitator.

Challenge courses will come into play as well as more intense programming. Even though these are guest groups, and the other camps from the past weeks have returned home, it does not hurt to pray for the campers and staff alike. Jesus made it clear that prayer is an essential and sometimes overlooked tool that is used in the Christian walk. Prayer is more than just getting together and talking about problems but it is also the only channel we have to talk with God directly and view Him in the glory and splendor. Christ already knows what we go through on a daily basis and at the same times He desires our full attention, faith, trust, and love in situations. Proverbs 3:6 talks about us acknowledging God in ALL WAYS and through this Christ will make our confusing, demanding, awkward paths straight. Even though it will not always be peaches and cream God promises, and will continue to promise, His everything in our lives... things like guidance, preparation, faith, words, listening ears, and the list goes on and on.

Continue to pray for the past summer, as well as the summer weeks ahead. It has been warm and muggy but Christ has worked in everything. Be blessed everyone, for He truly is God of ALL!!