Bible Camp Vibes

Our testimonies and a prayer for my children

Photo by Rachel Coyne on Unsplash

Two of my children are at camp this week in Tennessee.

I am biting my nails over if they are wearing sunscreen and watching out for ticks. Even more, I am praying that they will be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. I believe God is at work in this world and even in wild hearts of children just like mine.

Several months ago, I came across a book critiquing the Bible camp culture of the ‘90s. I’m not sure how much has changed and some of the criticisms may be justified, but I cling to the good I see in our denomination’s example: the fellowship of believers in a natural setting with focused worship of the God often squeezed out by homework and peer pressure and astounding levels of self-centeredness.

I know that all of that doesn’t go away when sleeping bags are spread out on dusty bunk beds. There will be boy/girl drama, poor decision making, and overindulgence at the ice cream bar. There will be minimal sleep and overused slang and clothes that are better off incinerated.

But there will be discipleship like iron sharpening iron. There will be silences long enough to hear a gentle whisper. There will be my son and my daughter set apart and seen by the Lord and some of His finest servants.

There will be the Word. And that will be enough.

I know because I’ve been there.

My sunburned legs stuck to a metal folding chair during the evening service at Camp Chautauqua. My eyes stung with chlorine and sleep loss as I wrung out the last bit of energy from a family sized bag of Sour Patch Kids.

My hair was tied in countless braids, the result of a trend going around the cabins and my general cluelessness about fashion or hygiene. I didn’t get a camp boyfriend, and I probably had fungus growing on my scalp, but I still had a life-changing week.

I don’t remember who the speaker was or what passage he spoke from. I can’t assure you I didn’t walk to the altar because social pressure was radiating from the empty seats around me, but I had a sense of calling I couldn’t define.

When the speaker ventured beyond an invitation to salvation to surrender and service for Christ, I knelt down and offered my life for ‘full-time Christian service.’

No one walked me through this. I simply spoke a promise to God with all the naive determination of a child with a secret dream. Did I know what I was doing? Would the Lord really use me? And… how?

A red ribbon has kept place in my husband’s Bible for more than 20 years. It represents a decision he made at camp in ninth grade. According to his age, he wasn’t supposed to be there. But he ‘snuck in’ with his older brother, and God didn’t hold it against him.

Missionaries and local pastors emphasized world evangelism and challenged the students to take the gospel to the nations. They united around a desire to preach Jesus where he is seldom named and is unrecognized as the loving creator and willing savior of all people.

When the emotions and camaraderie of camp wore away, Paul’s commitment remained. It grew stronger through years of serving in the local church: riding the bus to pick up kids, pulling all-nighters as a youth pastor, and training for the mission field.

That ribbon now lies between pages of Scripture in the language he learned just to share its message. We have seen that message bring change. There are churches growing and reaching out to their communities in unique and beautiful ways. There are families choosing to serve Christ in a place that makes that choice seem impossible. They inspire and encourage us every day.

We look around and marvel at all God has done.

We cling to the good.

We hold on to the ribbon, and we are thankful.

Back when I was at sunburn camp, I didn’t know God would bring a boy into my life who shared my dream. When Paul signed a student pledge, he couldn’t see how our youthful zeal would cross oceans and give us a beautiful life in exchange for surrender. What could a fifth-grader and a ninth-grader understand about any of that?

How sweet it is to serve a God who shows up in rooms of goofy middle-schoolers and sugar-hyped teens. Who has taken our tender promises to heart and patiently led us through a decade of ministry. Who gives just enough grace for today but has plenty more for tomorrow.

That God is worthy of all we can give from all the years He will give us.

And that God is with my kids at camp this week.

May they wear their sunscreen, watch out for ticks, and listen closely — because God is still speaking to young people today.