Soaked in Grace

I promise we have taken pictures, but internet was not cooperating with Haven's computer last night. So I am giving updates, pictures will come sometime.

We have had a blast playing bazooka ball (like paintball but more like Nerf Guns on Steroids), tubing was awesome, blob is great, lake sports, zip line (weeeeeeeeee), pool games, and more and more fun. We played volleyball as a church group and had a blast. Dustin and I were captains. My team won, but it was funny to hear the kids say that Dustin just kept yelling at his team to do better and I was encouraging my team. That's right, Dustin=Mr. Competitive and Justin=Encouragement.

Worship last night was awesome. The message was on Grace. We read the story of Rahab from the book of Joshua. It was a good reminder about the "labels" that get put on us and how we don't have to live in them. But the bigger picture was on the Grace that was Soaked on Rahab when she had faith to believe in God. She believed in God based on the testimony of those who had been through the Red Sea.

Our challenge was to receive Christ by faith through grace. We talked about the difference between Guilt and Godly Sorrow. Salvation is a one time deal, but repentance takes place daily in a believer's life. Godly sorrow leads to repentance.

We had another student join God's Family last night. In fact, he is the same one who didn't believe in God when he started coming to church. For the last several months we have talked on Wed. Night about evidence for God and really focused on the fact that God is real and Jesus was raised from the dead. This paved the way for his heart of stone to be transformed to a heart of flesh.

It was so cool, I just knew he was going to surrender to God this week. In fact he was the first person to stand up in a room of about 400+ kids. If you won't stand for Christ at camp, you will never stand for Christ at home or school. Awesome time!!!! Thank you for your prayers, God is Faithful.

**Special thanks to those who have given to make this possible. Your money is making a kingdom difference. So far all of the kids from our group to make decisions to follow Jesus or who are really thinking about it, came to camp on scholarships that you paid for. Again, your giving is making a difference. Thank You!!!! God is blessing your giving.**

Technical Difficulties

Great things are still happening...including technical difficulties! :) As soon as the JCafe is back up and running, you'll get pictures of your awesome kids being their awesome selves!

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Washed

Alright, in my attempt to actually blog, here we go:

Camp has been great so far. We were all confronted with our sin this week with the theme that we are Stained. A couple of things that stood out to the kids:

1. Sin is not what we do, it is who we are.

2. We are born sinners (my baby to be will be a little ball of sin)

3. Sin is inherited based on Adam and Eve's choice to disobey God.

4. God is Holy and therefore "allergic" to sin, i.e. God can have nothing to do with sin, which is why Adam and Eve were banished from His presence, and why sin separates us from God.

5. Jesus paid the price for our sin and can WASH us clean.

We have had one decision to follow Christ and a couple who God is working on their hearts, but they just can't verbalize the Gospel yet. Please rejoice in salvation and pray that God's Holy Spirit would make things clear to students and that the call to Follow Jesus would be understood.

We have had a ton of fun, but also some serious inward reflections on God working in our lives. Student are being challenged to Go Beyond--Taking what they are Passionate about doing (sports, hobby, talents) and combining that with a group of people that they are Burdened for. Some student will decide to host an event to raise money and to ultimately share the Gospel. I feel like this may be the year where some of our students sense God's Call to Go Beyond. Also, pray that Going Beyond wouldn't just be an event, but a lifestyle.

Pray, Pray, Pray for us. God is at work, but Satan is trying to distract us. We have had one student who used to not believe in God actually pray for us and hint at knowing there is a God. We have also had sickness and silly drama. Prayers are needed. Prayers will be answered.

Thank you...A Special Thanks to those who have sacrificed to allow us to be here. Your time and money is making a Kingdom Impact and we are eternally grateful.

Thanks!!!!!

Justin

Pictureless Blog...Reasons To Follow!

Great things are happening here tonight, so I'm too busy to post pictures! :) You will be seeing pics of our kiddos ziplining and playing bazooka ball! Hold tight, parental units!!!!

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.:Washed:.

The kiddos are all at the shack (SHACK ATTACK AHHHHH!!!!) dining on the glorious sorbets, as Gina and I sit here enjoying the awesome AC in J Cafe. I present you the promised pictures...

The theme of Crossings this year. WASHED. 1 Corinthians 6:11 "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Matt McDougal leading worship. (He's been at SGBC before, so that makes him doubly awesome!)

John Nix declaring the truth of the Scripture.

Camp leaders...David, T, and Patrick.

Fun shot of Hannah and Sarah. **Check out that cool kid behind them :D**

Peek-a-boo shot of Haley and Paige.



*Just so you know how the chaperones look on Day 1...we'll compare them to Day 5 later :D*

Justin and Gina.

Dustin and Haven.

We Have Arrived!

Just a quick note to let all you anxious parental units know that we arrived safe and sound. Everyone's unpacked and settled in. We're headed to dinner right now. Pictures to come! :)

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It's that time again!

It is once again time to pack up and head to camp! Our youth will be heading out tomorrow morning around noon. We have 11 girls, 10 boys and 4 chaperones going to Crossings at Jonathan Creek this year. Be in pray for this to be a great time of growth personally for our youth and a time of growth as a community to. 

Crossings here we come!