Day 2 at Camp Areté: Wisdom and Gospel Truths
Today marks our first full day at Camp Areté. We delved into the first chapter of Daniel, exploring the wisdom with which Daniel navigated his captivity. Daniel’s deference to authority and unwavering trust in God for the outcome serve as a powerful example for our campers. By wisely choosing his battles over things that directly contradict scripture, Daniel stood firm in his faith and trust in God for the outcome, even rising to the second in command in the most pagan system of government our world has ever seen. A man used of God, who didn’t run away from the battle but wisely chose which ones to fight doing so with humility and trust in God. God used Daniel in a powerful way!
Daniel’s story is crucial for our walk today. Emma, one of our veteran counselors, confirmed this very thing when she shared how her counselor time with her girls revealed their gratitude for having a biblical roadmap to navigate our modern, often pagan, world. This feedback is incredibly encouraging, as it demonstrates God’s word actively shaping the lives of our campers. It reaffirms our mission here at Camp Areté.
Activities started in full today, beginning with a series of icebreakers led seamlessly by our new activities director, Chris Freels. His leadership brought smiles and laughter, confirming our confidence in his ability to thrive in this role. The challenging counselor time on Mondays was met with success, thanks to your prayers. Counselors connected deeply with their groups, focusing on the crucial topic of the Gospel and how to share it. When challenged to provide examples of Gospel-sharing, the campers excelled, articulating that the Gospel is Jesus Christ—His death as our substitute and His resurrection to conquer death, with our only response being to believe. Hearing the campers’ clear understanding and connection with this truth was a joyous moment, reminding us of the power of your prayers for us and our efforts in clearly articulating this message of grace. Don’t worry, we will continue to beat this drum throughout the whole week!
We are quite grateful for the prayers, particularly around the salvation of our campers, as a few have expressed doubts. They questioned if they were to die today, would they be 100% sure they would be with Jesus? This is exactly the type of information we have been asking for. We have work to do and are prepared and anxious to do so! Pray for us as we work through these doubts and questions.
Praises and Petitions
Praises:
- Clear presentation and understanding of the Gospel of Christ among our campers.
- Jeff and Ginger’s exceptional work with our servant leaders.
• The privilege of participating in this work that God has prepared for us.
• We have been made aware of some doubts around our so great Salvation
Petitions:
- Prayers for Will Bates, who is managing knee discomfort.
- Strength and wisdom for our counselors as they address the challenges our campers face.
- Endurance for all of us as we continue our camp journey.
- Safe and timely return of Pastor Dave, as he navigates difficult times with his family.
Have Your Say…