Mission 2008 @ Camp Chenaniah

The work God has been doing is just WOW!  Every time I turn around I see God touching people and caring for them in unique ways.  What’s more, is that I see the Lord using the NC campers in amazing ways!  The work crew, the craft team, the Bible lesson team, the sports team, the counselors, the drama team, the mess hall team, not to mention the incredible leaders who have helped plan this from the biginning, and no doubt the praise and worship team–EVERYBODY is doing what he or she has signed up for!!  After 2 and a half days, I am so proud of our group!!

Special ‘God-stuff’ is happening all over the place.  Tonight, for example, a girl by the name of Grace (not from NC), came up to me with the perfect verse of the day.  It’s Matt. 6:14-15 in the Message Bible and I used it in the chapel talk, tonight.  Tonight’s chapel was about forgiveness.  Asking for forgiveness for our sins and forgiving the people who have hurt us.  Our whole day was about grace.  This afternoon our Bible class was about the story of Joseph who forgave the same brothers who hated him and ended up selling him.  Our theme for the week is “In it 2 Win it!”  And so for today, since we’re on God’s team, we have forgiveness through Christ.  And we’re called to forgive others as He forgives us.

After an amazing praise and worship with Brad and Mark and the band, and after an incredible drama the NC campers did, we all went outside to our cabin groups to share.  I just sat with a group of high school aged campers–about 20 of them.   They started sharing their struggles.  One talked of the parties he’s been attending.  One commented on the thoughts and desires he’s been having about girls.  One talked about his bad language.  One talked of the hurt between his mother and him.  It was so cool to pray with these guys and to sense their awareness of God’s grace and to see them experience acceptance from the other guys and to just hear that they’re forgiven.

I AM SO THANKFUL!!!!  We are living our dream!  Our vision to impact people has come to life!  God is definitely the miraculus conductor who has brought this week of camp and this ministry opportunity to be!

To whoever might read this I ask a special favor.  Please stop what you’re doing right now and thank our awesome God who is working in us and through us on this trip!  For one thing, we’ve become unified.  It’s not an “us and they” around here.  It’s a “WE” here.  We’re all yearning to grow closer to God and to understand his purpose for our lives.  We’re all teaching and encouraging eachother.  We’re all In it 2 Win it!!

Also, please pray that God continues his work as we have the rest of this week ahead of us.  Pray for health and strength as the New Community kids attend to their responsibilities. 

Right now as I sit here, twenty minutes later after our group of guys closed in prayer together, I still see students sitting with other students encouraging them and praying with them.  I still see a counselor sitting with a couple of students wiping away some tears.  There’s healing here.  PRAISE GOD!!!  

Chad Glass