EQUIPped to Serve: A Leader’s Perspective
Summer is in full force, and so are our EQUIP Retreats! Over the next two blogs, I (Holly) would like to share with you testimonies from a couple of the adult leaders of our EQUIP Montana camp. God is working mightily in the hearts of young people across our nation, but these accounts will also reveal the spiritual growth and encouragement the adults who work with these youth experience. When we invest in others, we grow, too!
Laura’s Reflection
Going into EQUIP this year, I had big expectations (partially based on last year's experience, even knowing that each year would be different) to see God work in amazing ways, to have deep conversations with teens, and to feel an overwhelming love that conquers all!
And … all those things did happen… just not in the way I expected; they didn’t look the way I thought they should! (That’s why I’m not the Author of the universe, cause I’d royally mess the story up!) This year, leading up to camp was hard. Spiritual warfare was bringing me down before I even started. It was overwhelming, and I felt so underqualified. Then I got to camp, and it was hard, upon hard, upon more hard. But God … He showed up when I least expected it, and in a way I didn’t think He would.
Some of the "hard" from the week was still popping up on the drive home Friday, and I was exhausted.
On Saturday, after camp, I really never left the couch; it was a mental exhaustion beyond anything, and I just needed to curl up in God’s presence, to be still and know that He is. And then, I could start to look back over the week and see the moments.
In reality, I’m not sure whether last week was more for me or the girls I was asked to serve.
Just when I wasn’t sure that I was the one that was supposed to be there―I had no answers, and no fixes, I was so underqualified―God would sprinkle down a moment just for me. One of my special blessings was that my jacket grew heavier and heavier; the burden was more real than I realized. Why, you ask? I had a pocket full of heart rocks that random campers were giving me throughout the week. Some were campers I didn’t even know well, yet they knew me and my love for heart rocks. I call them love notes straight from God! (I now need a new bowl for my new rocks, ‘cause my first bowl is full.)
I knew that I didn’t know how to fix any of the brokenness I saw in my girls, but God did! I had love and lots of hugs and arms that could hold them, with a shoulder to soak up the tears … and maybe, that was my purpose, to give a hug and hold on while the tears flowed. Maybe if I held on tight enough, the broken would be squished back together. And I knew I was there to share the love of our Heavenly Father!
And when my heart hurt, when my tears flowed, I had some beautiful ladies who I am so blessed to know, just hold me and squish the broken in me back together. I was reminded of Psalm 13, and His steadfast love for us.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
One of the first things said in the second session was that sometimes we just need to shout out “Jesus, I need you!” (Joshua 6:20), and, believe me, that was repeated many times last week, “Jesus, I need you. I can’t, but you can!”
There were multiple conversations where we discussed how sometimes old wounds get reopened so God can scrape away the next layer of infection, allowing for deeper healing―much like what is done for a bad burn. It hurts, but the healing is worth it. And hearts began that healing.
I got to see Jesus leaving the 99 for the one, in real time! I was invited into the journey, the heartbreak, and the first step toward the next chapter of her story!
God invited me into the journey with the girls in my cabin, whose burdens are heavy, whose stories are heartbreaking, but their joy will light up a room, and their giggles are so contagious. I was created for such a time as this, put there for a purpose …
- To be there, a safe place for them to share the burden, an encourager to lay the burdens down.
- To read them sweet, simple bedtime stories that remind us “Who Sang the First Song” and “What God Does Is Mostly Love You!”
- To have them sit down and write a letter to themselves about the week for me to send to them later. (They were so focused in writing all the things they’ve been learning!)
- To encourage them to write a note of appreciation to one of the speakers who spoke truth into their life during the week … and they each sat down and did it immediately, and then delivered them! So cool!
In reality, I’m not sure whether last week was more for me or the girls I was asked to serve. I walked away, unsure if the week had been successful or not, but I served with a willing heart, and God truly did the rest, as I could not have accomplished anything on my own. Seeing hearts given to God and lives being changed is definitely a success!
In the midst of my failures, He was there, and He did all the work!
Dave (Glander) mentioned that the broken, the ones who don’t grow up in a Christian home, are more the reality now. In other words, the ones who grow up in a Christian home and know Jesus all their lives are the minority. Well, I’m in that minority, and I’ve often wondered how God can use me because I didn’t have the miraculous “God saved me and turned my life around” story. My journey has always been one of gradual growth, leading me into a deeper relationship with Him. But, He still asked me to be willing to go, and I was. It was hard, but it was so, so good; it drew me in even deeper and filled my heart with an even greater desire to serve Him. His love is steadfast and real! I’m so thankful I answered the call. In the midst of my failures, He was there, and He did all the work!
I’m thankful I could embrace the joy in the midst of it all, the heart rocks, the silliness … apparently, my being ambidextrous really can mess things up, but I did shoot the right-handed bow, left-handed! Hahaha, and was successful! Serving with amazing people who love God is truly incredible! So much good was sprinkled throughout the week!
If you are ever asked to be a counselor/leader at camp, I highly recommend it, but I’d also warn you that it’s a challenging―though very rewarding―way to experience God.
As I (Holly) read Laura’s reflection, I was reminded that her experience, although in a temporary location and timeframe, could and should also be the experience of every Christian parent of a young person. Many of the youth at this camp were literally in tears as they shared their longing for close, meaningful relationships with their parents. And many of them also shared that even their Christian parents don’t talk about spiritual things at home. Please keep reading...
What About You?
- Parents, we invite you to challenge yourselves to be spiritual heroes to your children. Their spiritual training (Deuteronomy 6:5–9; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4) is your God-given responsibility (not the church’s or the Christian school’s), and we know you can do this with the Lord’s help. If you have that desire but don’t know how to get started or what resources to tap into to learn with your children, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email at info@rforh.com. We love you, are praying for you, and are here for you, wanting to support you in any way we can.
P.S. Parents, we have one tool I believe will encourage you―our documentary, Within Our Reach! Join Carl Kerby and me as we share vitally important information to help parents reach their children. You can watch it here, free of charge:
Why not begin by downloading our FREE APP?
To encourage you and your children in your walk with Christ, download our free app, where you will find hundreds of digital resources to train and equip you in staying bold in your faith. Just click HERE, and look for the blue asterisk on the black background.
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