After church on Sunday Mark and I headed out to youth camp in Spokane. What an experience! I find it difficult to even describe the emotions of the last 24 hours. First of all, you have to understand that it has always been our desire to love and invest in every age person at our church. We want the kids of our church to know us and love us as their pastors, too. We work hard to show up enough so that our kids and teens think that our presence is normal. We youth pastored too many students who never even met the lead pastors at our church and come graduation, they felt out of place in the church. It is our hope and desire that each child and teen feels a part of our church as a whole, while also finding their place in their own age-appropriate ministries. It’s all about balance!

It is with that mentality, that our experience at youth camp was so rewarding. When we walked into pre-service prayer and watched our students calling out to God, that was awesome. And then to have them literally run over to us after prayer to say hello and thank you for coming…wow!

We also showed up on the night that our youth were hosting the service. That meant that they got to lead worship, opening games, etc. I watched as our students took the stage. Their heart was to lead people into worship and not to have it be about a performance. And that’s exactly what happened. I watched them with tears running down my face as I realized that probably none of them would have been doing this a year ago. They were far from God and needed a change. The last year as a part of our church, including the launch of our youth ministry, made all the difference in these student’s lives. It was yet another moment for me that made all of the sacrifices worth it.

We also got to hang out with them on Sunday and Monday. I wish you could have seen it. Everyone – from the youngest to the oldest, from the jocks to the comedians – was included. They have created an environment where everyone is loved. Period. You are safe, accepted for who you are, and you are a part.

They are good teenagers. They are funny, kind, passionate, focused, and loving. I’m proud of who they are! I’m also proud of Kris, Jeff, Angela, Chris and Gina for molding and shaping these students into all that God has for them. You are GREAT leaders.

This weekend we will have 37 kids/teenagers/staff at camp. I could not be more excited for our church family! Camp has played a role in my life that is dramatic and I give full credit to my camp experiences for leading me down a very good path in life.

I first was introduced to the love of Jesus at camp the summer before Junior High. It was at Hungry Horse Bible Camp in Montana. I still remember walking outside of the chapel that night, looking up at the stars, and knowing that my life would be different from that point on. I also gave up a lot of bitterness at many camp altars throughout my teen years. I sat alone at altars and met God there. I cried with Him, hurt with Him, and it was there that I learned to be dependent on His mercy. I also experienced joy at those same altars. I sang, danced, jumped, and felt the freedom in Christ that the Bible talks about. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit sitting next to my camp counselor, Joanna Weaver, one year. The next year, I went back to Kids Camp as my first year as a cabin staff. It was there that God broke my heart for people. I would never do anything but ministry. It was settled at a camp altar. Then when I was 20 years old and travelling on a drama team, I met Mark, my husband, at camp. It was two years after that when I took a job overseeing our Network’s summer camps. I stayed at the camps summer after summer and watched teen after teen experience what I had experienced. Life change.

And our 37 people are experiencing that this weekend. Mark and I will drive to Spokane on Sunday afternoon just to see the last night of camp with our teenagers. I know that God will whisper to my heart some of the amazing secrets that He has in store for some of them. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, I will know that our kids are having their first night at an altar in Auburn. I know that even as a 3rd grader, He will be calling some of them to be teachers, missionaries, and leaders. I know that He will heal hearts of kids who have went through divorces. I know that He will give them self-esteem when they feel so insignificant. I know that those kids will never be the same.

I wish that my kids were old enough to go to camp. There is nothing that I am more excited about than giving them those memories. It’ll be a few more years, but you better believe that I’ll be the first one to sign up!