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How do you get your students to understand the importance of camp? How do you get them to understand the impotence of being receivers, not just in the moment, but for the future? These are the kind of questions I wrestled with as a youth pastor. I made a video a while back where I shared some thoughts on a message gave to my students about the fire and the passion of the Holy Spirit and the importance of bringing back the fire they will receive at camp You can watch the video below
In light of what I said, and still believe, I have mixed emotions and today I want to expound on the subject of the post camp Christian life and ask you a few questions.
Here was my talk with campers:
Imagine a caveman who hears or sees other tribes of people not only surviving but thriving because they have an advantage : Fire
If that caveman (men, women) wants the same for their tribe, they must leave their tribe, maybe with a few others, and go looking for this fire.
Failure to bring back fire means
– Their tribe cannot cook their food
– Their tribe has no light at night
– Their tribe cannot stay warm in winter
Bringing back fire was critical for them and is spiritually critical to you. Without the fire of the Holy Spirit and His passion for Jesus Christ, your youth ministry and church:
– Cannot grow
– Cannot love each other
– Cannot fight spiritual battles
I encouraged kids to bring back fire, not only for them but for the whole tribe. I want/encourage/desire them to show a similar amount of passion they showed at camp, but that’s not fair of me.
I don’t think that a kid who comes back from camp and doesn’t save the whole neighborhood isn’t saved or didn’t experience Jesus. I think there are other traits to the Christian life beside zeal or enthusiasm, like a deeper love for others and understanding grace and mercy. Enthusiasm for God seems to be the preferred trait among us Pentecostals.
What I have noticed in the Pentecostal churches I’ve worked in, is that a physical, demonstrative, display of faith is what is valued most, so that’s what I encouraged in teens; but for teens to show an authentic, passionate fire for God, we must teach them to stoke that fire through prayer, the Word, and action (loving each other, etc.) so they have something to get excited about.
I’d love to help bring fire back to your youth ministry. If you’re needing a camp/retreat speaker, please feel free to contact me, thediscipleproject@gmail.com
If you’re the one needing the fire, why not join other youth workers in my coaching group.
If you’re wanting more articles on reviving your youth ministry, check these out
9 Dynamic Ways To Revive A Dying Youth Ministry
Rebuilding Your Declining Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry Revival Requires Relentlessly Poking The Fire