August 2014 Newsletter

We’ve ramped up for all school year long for this and it’s here – high school summer camp at Carolina Point! Max capacity of 26 students, 5 adults and 3 Project Serve college youth blew away any expectation we had in the fall when we began sharing the vision of camp. When the final list of attendees was compiled it was apparent that God had the right group going with us and He was going to show up, big time!

The whole Fort Stewart/Hunter crew after our battle during
the Hunger Games competition.

As soon as we stepped off the vans, electricity ran through our veins. The staff’s awesome welcome along with the opportunity for free time around the camp was perfect for our students. From being launched off the blob in the lake to chilling out by the newly built pool, our kids got comfortable quickly. Before all of us knew it, we were finding ourselves dressed in dark clothing in our cabin teams ready to accomplish the feat of the police obstacle course. Mud, gunk, epic fire hose being shot at us and keeping their fearless adult cabin leader clean were part of the overall plan. Teamwork. Camaraderie. Family. Another moment in the week we found ourselves all dressed to impress in our cabin competition outfits – Army cammo gear . It was epic to see from afar. There was no misplacing our group of teens who came together and were competing against other teams with one another.

Our group atop the mountain after the hike,
with the Carolinas and Georgia as backdrop.

Looking back in the past 6 months, we've seen unsurmountable explosion on the scene of our youth who need Christ the most. We've seen students throughout the past half year who have an understanding of Christ and God, but camp brought to light those youth we had no idea in their belief system. One was Kyle. We knew his home life wasn't the greatest just by his interactions at Club and honestly, he was a good kid from the outside,  typically cheerful and open to talk and catch up often when he came to Club.

Kyle with our guys during worship time.

Camp pushed Kyle outside of himself and apparently his belief system. He shared with us that he was more of a scientific guy and not into the whole "God thing" life we all lived. One evening soon during Club time at camp while we were worshipping, Kyle headed out of the room and I was outside right there with him checking if he was alright. He stood there exclaiming to me, "I just can't do it.....I see how you all worship and I can't do it. I don't understand how you all can do it. It's great, but I can't sit in there anymore." As he calmed down, we walked back into the Club room and heard the Club talk.

Kyle with his cabin group after the first night of an
awesome police obstacle course. 

 God moved again within him as we walked back to the cabins together. Kyle shared some of his darkest secrets with me and how he felt like he wasn't going to have a home when he got home, specifically jail time for his previous actions before camp. Then he excitedly told me, "I want to have what you all have....I WANT TO BELIEVE." Rather than push hard, I shared how he needed to share things with his cabin mates and leader and that I was there for him. I also shared with him how God was meeting him right where he was in his own mess at camp. No judgment, nothing. Thankfully Kyle got to meet with the Creator of our universe at camp, all because we didn't give up on his 'awkward' actions and lifestyle. Prayerfully I hope we get more opportunities to check in with him and walk alongside him as Christ did with His disciples long ago. This IS what it's about. In the trenches, living life, discerning what God has for all of us one step at a time. 

If that wasn’t enough, we had numerous breakthroughs with many gals and guys in the week of camp in North Carolina. God brought the harvest of those students who needed to unplug from the normal military life and expectations and get with Him and His people. Our teens’ ability to become more vulnerable in their own lives became evident as we went through the camp ropes course together. They started to experience God’s mercy, love and kindness through His creation and the people around them.

Our group of awesome young men on the formal dinner night:
truly a 'band of brothers.'

We at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield ask each of you to continue to pray for all of our students who attended Carolina Point with us this summer. Pray for the students’ hearts as they opened up to the Creator of our amazing lives and universe – that they seek more of Him in the coming school year. I personally ask each of you to pray for our upcoming launch back into the regular school year of ministry. Please pray that we follow what God wants, not what we want for our teens. Pray we discern and educate our leadership in the manner that honors God and aligns all of our hearts toward serving these amazing teens in the upcoming year.

Graciously humbled to serve each day,

Phil & Amy