The Journey Camp 2016

You can't make this stuff up......!

September 2015 - Amy and I were sitting in Charlotte, NC, with our friends who worked with Club Beyond as we were having an incredible dialogue with the guys who were running and directing a possible summer camp we had heard about. Nathan and JD were the real deal in understanding relational ministry, plus they LOVED military teens. As we finished our time together in prayer, we were looking forward to having up to 5 installations together at a summer camp for the first time in history stateside. The momentum was starting to build.....

We brought back the feeling of Kingdom building for camp and how epic it was going to be to take our students in summer '16 together in late-June, possibly with up to 4 more installation locations. Something everyone was starting to feel the vibes hit.....

Move ahead to November and December toward Christmas and the bottom falls out.....all my buddies are looking at other options as Club Beyond at their locations are closing the doors and by the end of the semester in December only about FIVE kids were interested in camp and literally wanting to go at all. To say that I was expecting camp to fall through and not attend would have been 100% accurate. Nobody was interested at all and I shared with folks that we probably will take a small 5-10 group of kids to camp maybe. 

After getting into the spring '16 semester and still sharing the opportunity for our teens to go to camp, we started to see some wheels turning. It wasn't until early March that BOOM....we were 100% booked....FIFTY SEVEN.....yes that's 57 teens were booked to attend camp along with 5 adults. We even had a waiting list if people dropped out. We shared with the camp our group grew to a point beyond our original estimate and they were more than pleased with God's momentum on our eventual arrival to camp. 

Not only we had our regular teens booking spots, we had one teen fly all the way from Qatar to join us as they were stopping over stateside for a trip to see friends and families. Then, we had another student who spent time with us a couple years ago, recently PCS (move) right back to Fort Stewart and book their spot within minutes of our opening of spaces available. Yet again, another student who was with us had moved across the country and his family drove down from Montana...yes, that far, and spend camp with us as they were in the area for summer plans. Finally, we met up with one of our homeboys who moved north of us a couple hours at Fort Gordon, GA, and we were able to include him in our camp plans. To say that we roll deep as a family and spend whatever time we can together whenever it is....this is exactly it! 

We'd been doing summer camps with our teens for every summer we had been here, so to expect something to happen with the vehicles would be expected. Every year, something would occur where we'd wonder if we had the transportation necessary to get our kids to camp. This year was nothing different. Our group was so big that we knew immediately we'd need a bus and 2 vans. It was via multiple issues with bus classes and getting people into them and then the classes being dropped/closed that we knew God would have to show up with our bus driver situation. It ended up being a 'no fail mission' via the Chaplain and we ended up getting what was needed, only days before departure. Then, the TMP (van) driving situation was even more of an issue as apparently being our leader was a 'okayed' driver to take care of it, her boss didn't like the idea overall. Thank the Lord I had my license and we were set, but goodness, another thing with the vehicles to get our 62 to camp! 

Continuing to watch the days evaporate on the calendar, we noticed that an amazing number of students didn't drop this year before camp. Perhaps it was the reason they knew this was our finale with them and the final camp we'd go together, or God had something else in store, but we'd see. The normal drops literally hours before camp did come though. However, God still reigns supreme and it was UNREAL who was allowed to go when those drops came together. 

As we all gathered at the Victory Chapel at 0730 so we could get our teens together with their gear, stuff and emotions, the trip was just beginning. Although the van ended up getting there later than expected, our kids showed up at camp only 6 minutes after our desired time to arrive. Again, God showed up there too. The camp was perfect from the moment we drove onto the college campus as one of the people was speeding by us with a big American Flag as our vehicles entered to empty our kids on the property. 

The week unfolded incredibly as I already knew 3 guys who wanted to get baptized at the camp whenever we were going to do it. Kadence, Matt and Trey all reached me and talked about the impact and desire to follow Jesus and take their faith to the next part of their journey. Unbeknownst to me, God was going to blast open the doors throughout the week to the point that on the 23rd of June in the mid-afternoon, we were going to baptize NINE....yes 9 teens into His Kingdom and their personal journey of following Jesus. Adding to the original three included Kyleah, Abigail, Alyssa, Kayla, Timmothy, and Tabitha. Overflowing with immense joy throughout the opportunity, we were able to lead these teens into a life-changing moment with Christ as they took that step into His Kingdom. 

And if that wasn't enough, we noticed incredible Christ-movement in ALL of our teens, no matter if they shared it with us. God's Holy spirit showed up in ways we couldn't imagine, but He wanted to provide a final culmination on the last night with all of our teens. Just as Jesus shared in the washing of the disciples' feet, the leaders were asked to the front of the stage and the teens were allowed the opportunity to do the final part of living what they believed in their own personal faith - serving another. Therefore, the students were given the opportunity to come down and take a towel and wipe off our feet. Personally, I have never felt this kind of incredible joy and humility in serving our teens.....EVER. To be in that moment knowing that our pending departure is coming and the kids were coming in huge numbers to wipe down our feet in love and sacrifice - that was unreal. My own words can't describe how I felt. 

Yet, I am not finished. Being our teens were the ONLY military-centered group which came to camp, the flavor of our kids was AW SUM. The other groups got to see the idea of true family come together in a way some other leaders shared with us as incredibly blessed. Many adults walked up to myself or other leaders saying that it was refreshing to see the Gospel lived out in a love that can't be described in how we work with our teens who have parents serving our country. Many groups left camp with one another, knowing they'll see each other days, months and even years down the road. Our kids....not so much. Truthfully, they had to farewell Matt as we dropped him off to fly to Texas to be with his family in his new state and home as he prepares to head to the University of Houston to focus on petroleum engineering as a freshman in college. Yet again, we dropped Alex off to his family as we said farewell to him for coming with us to camp and re-engaging us as his family of peers who love him and he prepares to head to Chicago and go to college and prepare for life after high school. Finally, I had to say farewell to another student (again) as Gavin headed out with his family to visit other friends before flying across the globe back to Qatar. 

See, we provide a place and space and a VOICE for our military teens. They are HEARD, not just seen. Best yet, they were LOVED this week by the Lord and Creator of our world and met Him for the first time. No matter the junk, past, present or eventual future of our teens and their lives - Jesus brought it and NEVER TURNED DOWN. 

Although as it occurs each year with its struggles off and on, whether seating assignments on the vehicles aren't what were expected or dorms weren't as comfortable or whatever small things came up - Jesus showed up. The kids loved the camp. They loved the speaker, which many mentioned how great he shared the Bible in a relevant way so they can understand it. To that, we are humbled. To be able to celebrate life well with our teens like we did was impeccable.  

As the days continue to dwindle down for our eventual departure, Jesus provided something that Amy and I will never forget in how we were able to serve our teens of Stewart and Hunter. The perfect finish to His perfect story as we are called to serve. 

In His grace, joy, peace and glory.......thankful to be part of these teens' stories. 

Phil & Amy 

***If you'd like to partner with us financially, prayerfully or any other way, please reach us at pparsons@myyfc.org or amyparsons7414@gmail.com or you may go to this link online to give in whatever way you feel led: http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons

June 2016 Newsletter

The End of an Era

Amy and I with Alyssa after graduating.

 When I arrived here on the ground at Fort Stewart 4 years ago, I was greeted warmly by Alyssa, a student who had just completed her 8^th grade year. She had been a part of Club prior to my arrival under the tutelage of my predecessors. Alyssa and her two sisters have always been very involved throughout our time here. We just finished up the season of attending graduations and award ceremonies for our middle and high school students. Alyssa was one of our high school graduates this year. It was amazing to be present for the day she entered high school as well as the day she completed her high school education, as well as many moments in between. After the ceremony, friends and family were allowed to gather on the field for photos. As we made our way through the sea of people, Alyssa quickly found us and her face lit up with a smile as she was so glad we were able to make it out to see her and our many other Club students celebrate this milestone. Over the past 4 years, her family has had to endure a lot of hardships, as her mom has battled serious health issues, and her dad recently retired from the Army in order to care for his wife. Alyssa, along with her sisters, Stephanie and Kayla, have voiced their appreciation many times of how we were there to support their family through some pretty difficult times. “Club has been our family, and we’re so grateful to be able to celebrate the joys, as well as walk together through many rough storms; we love you Phil and Amy and we’re not sure where we’d be without you and Club.”

The 2016 Bradwell Institute Tiger 

graduates celebrate their finale together!

 As I reflect on Alyssa’s journey, I think about the many students that have passed through the doors of Club here at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. It has been so amazing to see God work mightily at these two locations. When I arrived, we struggled to reach kids, sometimes only having 2 kids show up. We persevered, remained faithful and obedient to the call, and God brought the harvest. Before I knew it, God was blowing open the doors and students flooded in. Regardless of whether a student visited Club one time or came regularly for weeks, months, or years, each student has impacted our lives in one way or another.
 

Amy and I with another graduate, Matt,

who will live with us until he attends

camp with us as a 'finale' with Club here.

 4 years. That’s the amount of time a student spends in high school. It’s also the timetable for a student to earn a bachelor degree. I’m sure if I thought about it long enough, I could come up with countless other journeys that last 4 years. Never in my wildest dream, did I think that God would bring me down to this area to serve these middle and high school students at these 2 locations, and move us to somewhere new after only 4 years. With so many families moving in and out, we thought we would always be the ones left behind; a constant and consistent piece of the community here. God apparently has different plans for us. Leaving is definitely bittersweet and the coming weeks will be very difficult as our time here winds down, however, we are excited to see what He will have for us as we move forward in that same manner of faithfulness and obedience.

Amy and I with Christian and his mother after his baptism in the
insane rainstorm that hit us late in the afternoon.

 Although we are the ones moving, we want to also share with you some phenomenal God moments we’ve experienced as of late. Take Christian, a past Club kid who is now on our Hunter leader team and helps when he can at Club when he’s not working or volunteering for the Tybee Island Fire Department. It was over 2 years ago when he said to me that he accepted Jesus while attending Carolina Point with our group in the summer of 2014. While walking alongside him in the past 1.5 years, I was able to share with him the joy I felt in his decision and what the next steps looked like in his life with Christ. Glance to another student named Justin. His mom shot a text my way on Easter Sunday asking if “I were there—aka Savannah Christian Church” where they were at that moment. Sadly, I had to share that I was not, but in Chapel services on Fort Stewart. Justin informed his mom he wanted to wait until the moment that I could physically baptize him. Fast forward to getting all the pieces all together and we scheduled within guidelines of the Hunter outdoor pool and so all families and friends could be there to observe—then boom….a rainstorm resembling something torrential hit Hunter. Pool Closed. Christian’s mom had come all the way from Miami and that day was the only moment we had to get this done. After scrambling for options outside the normal parameters of pools around post, we found ourselves in the front yard of one of our other students’ homes filling up their baby pool in preparation of baptizing Christian and Justin. Don’t even worry about not having the ‘plugs’ to hold the air on the sides of the pool, we had kids hold it up! Dodging multiple local lightning strikes and raindrops, we were able to successfully baptize Christian and Justin, just as we hoped. No matter what came our way, God made the way for it to happen and to bring about life changing impact on these guys’ lives. All because we chose to stand in the gap and show up. 

Justin (holding towel) with his family and friends as we gathered
after his baptism.

 Just as we have impacted the lives of these students and they have greatly impacted our lives; we remember the pivotal role you play in this journey. You have been a huge piece of our story here as we have worked to serve these students and families. Every moment, whether we celebrating, or whether we’re giving comforting hugs and wiping tears, has been made possible through your prayers and financial support. As we transition to our new location in Kansas, one thing remains steadfast: our call to reach every military teen. For those that have already joined our team, we hope that you will continue to remain on mission alongside us. For those that have yet to join, we pray that you will consider jumping on board and help us continue to impact these students’ lives for the Kingdom. Information on how to join us can be found at this link: http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons and we have our own video sharing the 'how and why' we work alongside military teens located here: https://vimeo.com/153276728.

Celebrate with us: 

• We got to see a record crew of graduating seniors from Bradwell Institute who have spent time with us at Club. 
• Two of our Hunter teens were baptized in the midst of a major rainstorm! 

Join us in prayer: 

• Summer camp will be 20-24 June in Toccoa Falls, Georgia, with our record 64 people!
• Pray for the leadership team members who have shown interest in helping with the youth ministry when we depart in early July. 
• Our final weeks are coming to the forefront as we prepare to say farewell to the 3rd ID and Marne Pride. 

In utter obedience with our Stewart and Hunter teens in this life down in Southeast Georgia until our final day,
 

Phil & Amy