The Brock Family

There are only two weeks left!

That’s right. Only two weeks of summer camp left. What does that mean?

Well.

That means the Summer Staff team has been running hard and fast to keep up with almost hundreds of kids and teens over the past eight weeks! In those eight weeks we have seen God do amazing things. I could tell you the number decisions that have been made, but I don’t think that does justice to the miraculous work of Christ these past eight weeks. So, let me tell you a story instead.

A few years ago, Pastor David (Pastor of the church we attend in Newberry Springs) met a cashier at a local gas station. This gas station is a common stop for us desert folk. It’s the nearest gas station and the most convenient for filling our quads and jeeps.

Over the next couple year, Pastor David kept going to the same gas station, at the same time of day, and kept talking to this same woman, the cashier. One day, about a year ago, when Pastor David made his usual stop at his usual time, the cashier was there but something seemed wrong with her. He asked her what was going on and she let him know that her daughter had just died. Her daughter was young. It was sudden and she needed someone to do the memorial service. Knowing Pastor David was a pastor she asked him if he would do it. He jumped at the opportunity to help her.

A few weeks later, Pastor David, Josh Bunger, and I drove out to Barstow. We met with the family and friends of hers and Pastor David did the Memorial service. Two important things happened that day.

First, Pastor David had the unique opportunity of carefully sharing the hope of the gospel to a large group of unsaved people.

Second, I played football with her sons after the service. Both of them young. Both of them not sure how to handle the loss of the sister, but happy to be doing something they both loved. Football.

So, what does this all have to do with Junior Camp? I thought you might ask.

This summer, one of her sons came to Junior Camp!

One of the first things he said to me when he saw me was, “Mr. Bodie! We got to play football again, cuz I’ve been practicing and I think I can beat you now!”

I laughed and responded with, “We will see about that!”

On Tuesday night, Mr. Jayce (the Junior Camp speaker) shared the gospel. That night, her son spent two hours talking with his counselor about Jesus. He had many questions and was not ready to accept Christ.

As the week continued, I shared with our church family that her son had been asking questions about Jesus at camp. Many people prayed.

Wednesday past and he wasn’t ready.

Thursday past and still nothing.

By Friday morning, Mr. Jayce, his counselor, and I knew that we were running out of time, but we were thankful God had allowed us to at least plant the seed of the gospel.

By Friday night campfire, I was sad he hadn’t believed in Jesus yet, but I figured we would get a chance to play football again and he had such a good week of camp maybe he would come back next year.

Just as we were about to start campfire, Mr. Jayce pulled me aside and told me he had challenged her son to a game of connect four in the game room. Hoping to ask him about Tuesday night, they sat down to a game and by the end of it through a series of questions her son told Mr. Jayce that he wanted to pray and tell Jesus that he believed in Him!

That’s the power of God working through a gas station, difficult circumstances, the local church, and camp to bring hearts to Him. That’s why I work at camp! Those are the stories that say so much more than numbers on a page.

I still haven’t had a football rematch with her son, but something tells me I’ll get a chance soon.

So, why do I need your help?

We have two more weeks of summer camp still in front of us.

We have kids who have never heard of Jesus. We have kids who have heard of Jesus, but need to draw closer to Him. We have tired counselors who need God’s grace to help them love kids well. We have a tired program team who need God’s grace to keep making camp fun and facilitating the preaching of God’s Word. We have tired operations staff who have lots of work still to do. We have a field in front of us. A harvest impending and a desperate need for God to make it all possible.

Could you pray for us this week?

Here’s a few specific requests:

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• Energy and health for our Summer Staff.
• Unsaved young people would believe in Jesus.
• Saved young people would take the next steps in their spiritual growth.
• I would have time to finish a number of videos over the next few weeks.
• That we will finish the summer well.
• That our program team will be able to both facilitate camp now while we prepare for camp in the Fall.
• I’m preaching at Junior Camp in Camp Assurance this week – could you pray that the kids respond well to God’s Word.