Going to Camp

Tomorrow we leave for youth camp. This is the fourth year Sovereign Grace Church has invited Trinity to share this experience. It is a privilege to be invited. It is a privilege to go. There isn't anything better we could give our teenagers. For not only is this a place and time where kids encounter God, it is a place and time where kids connect with their parents in a significant way. Here is a place where it is cool to hang with parents.

One of the highlights for our family is when during one of the evening worship times, the singing stops and the teens are encouraged to go to their parents and pray for them. Not the parents for the teens, the teens for the parents. There is a holy buzz of voices - teenage voices, giving thanks and interceding for parents.

Another highlight is seeing and hearing over a hundred teenagers lifting their voices, hearts and hands in worship to God. But not only is this an exhilarating worship experience, it is a time of deep theological instruction and challenge from the Word of God. But not only is this a time of biblical instruction it is a time for application. Parents and teens break away and spend time together discussing areas where each wants to apply the teaching. There is honest and open giving and receiving of care from parents and teens.

Unless you've been to youth camp there is really nothing that compares to it. But try to imagine giving your kids a summer adventure that lasts four days, with lots of friends, with lots of fun but along with all that has the spiritual benefits that lasts a lifetime. In my thinking that is worth just about any amount of money. Certainly it is far more valuable than the cost of the camp.

Each year a few more from TFC come along. I hope that over time this is something that every parent will write in their summer calendar, and in their family vacation allowance. One joy of experiencing something great is sharing the experience with people you love. I'm eager to share this joy with more and more of you.