Senior High camp may be a few weeks past already, but the impression it left will hopefully last a lifetime.
Creatively directed by Keith and Sandra Hadley from the Chicago area, the week was a time of connecting with God and each other through organized fun and learning. Each day had its own hashtag and corresponding activities. For example, #ThrowbackThursday included stories from a few camp alumni, a 50’s ice cream social, and a counselor hunt. Besides relating to each other during activities, the nature programs and chapel time encouraged reconnecting with God.
The theme of the week was ‘our story,’ of which God is the author. The Bible already tells us the beginning and the end. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). And it was all very good. But when Adam and Eve were tempted to be like God and run their own story, their sin affected every generation after them. Man was cursed to live in the world as we had made it. You can’t have both your story and God’s. But according to God’s overflowing grace, He has promised to take that curse away if only we believe and repent. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins” (Psalm 103:2-3). And at the end of the story, Revelation says, “Come Lord Jesus, come,” because He will return again. Now the question is, what will the middle scene look like?
A few campers and dorm leaders summarized the the main points they learned about how to live according to “His story”:
“Most of the guys had been going there for years, and they knew each other really well. It was the first time for one of the guys, and I had expected to have a bit of a challenge ensuring that he felt as a part of the group. The campers made sure to include him right away, and he became part of the group., Having these high school guys serve their fellow camper in this way was a clear example of how Christ worked in their lives to love each other.” (Dorm leader)
“I saw God working in a camper who when someone was alone, (they) would go up to them and invite them to an activity or to just hang out.” (Dorm leader)
“God needs to be my ‘main vein’.” (Camper)
“Trees need the sun to live just like we need God to live.” (Camper)
“Worldly items won’t last–your impression will.” (Camper)
“What do you want to be remembered by?” (Camper)
Don’t forget to mark you calendar for a summer camp reunion at Winter Recharge!