Camp camp camp!!
What a fantastic time had by all 24 kids and 4 leaders from Mt Roskill Baptist Church, and 550 people appoximately on top of that from all the different groups that represented at E-Camp Finlay Park 2006. No real problems to counter, just fun and fellowship had by all.
Perhaps the highlight of camp for me was the 5 kids who decided to become Christians on Saturday night. Sure, the theology presented to them by the camp speaker was a bit dodgy, but the general message of salvation through Christ was there, as well as in the talks us leaders had with the 'fab five' after. There were tears shed, smiles all round... it was just fantastic. The converstation I had with the guy who wanted to talk to me was facinating. He decided after hearing the message and making his decision (he is from a Christian family) that he wasn't going to do anything bad anymore, to always do what his parents said, and to be nice to everyone. My face just cracked a grin - I remember saying something extremely similar to that in my early teen days after hearing a compelling message. Still, after some conversation with him, explaining to him that you don't stop doing bad stuff, but instead you strive to be like Jesus in everything whilst still falling down often (nutshell explanation). He got it (I think). So exciting. I'll let you all know the journey of a 11 year old new Christian.
The question I've been battling with in light of camp is "How much emphasis do we place on the Bible?" There is NO DOUBT in my mind that there is to be nothing less that what the Bible says, but in a way, how should this be put across to intermediates? Obviously you're not going to have a discussion the way 15, 18, 22, 25 year olds discuss the Bible, but what tickled me from the speaker at camp (Stu Duval) is that basically... there was NO use of the Bible at camp during his meeting talks. He did what he did best - storytelling. In some ways, I thought of them as parables, just like Jesus did. But it seemed he used his stories to fit in what the message was meant to be, in other words: the story, then fitting the Bible message around that. It was like buying a painting and deciding to add bits to it you felt should be there.
BUT, at the same time, (I'm not talking about his theology he presented to the kids, that's a whole nother post in itself), his stories were that - parables. Effective to the kids (they loved him). However, the word was not, in my mind, adequately presented.
See my dilemma?
I'll keep sitting on it while I dive back into the world of study and reading.
8 weeks to go of full time study. My feelers are out for full time work. Got a few nibbles, but I will keep you posted.
Photos of camp to come soon.
What a fantastic time had by all 24 kids and 4 leaders from Mt Roskill Baptist Church, and 550 people appoximately on top of that from all the different groups that represented at E-Camp Finlay Park 2006. No real problems to counter, just fun and fellowship had by all.
Perhaps the highlight of camp for me was the 5 kids who decided to become Christians on Saturday night. Sure, the theology presented to them by the camp speaker was a bit dodgy, but the general message of salvation through Christ was there, as well as in the talks us leaders had with the 'fab five' after. There were tears shed, smiles all round... it was just fantastic. The converstation I had with the guy who wanted to talk to me was facinating. He decided after hearing the message and making his decision (he is from a Christian family) that he wasn't going to do anything bad anymore, to always do what his parents said, and to be nice to everyone. My face just cracked a grin - I remember saying something extremely similar to that in my early teen days after hearing a compelling message. Still, after some conversation with him, explaining to him that you don't stop doing bad stuff, but instead you strive to be like Jesus in everything whilst still falling down often (nutshell explanation). He got it (I think). So exciting. I'll let you all know the journey of a 11 year old new Christian.
The question I've been battling with in light of camp is "How much emphasis do we place on the Bible?" There is NO DOUBT in my mind that there is to be nothing less that what the Bible says, but in a way, how should this be put across to intermediates? Obviously you're not going to have a discussion the way 15, 18, 22, 25 year olds discuss the Bible, but what tickled me from the speaker at camp (Stu Duval) is that basically... there was NO use of the Bible at camp during his meeting talks. He did what he did best - storytelling. In some ways, I thought of them as parables, just like Jesus did. But it seemed he used his stories to fit in what the message was meant to be, in other words: the story, then fitting the Bible message around that. It was like buying a painting and deciding to add bits to it you felt should be there.
BUT, at the same time, (I'm not talking about his theology he presented to the kids, that's a whole nother post in itself), his stories were that - parables. Effective to the kids (they loved him). However, the word was not, in my mind, adequately presented.
See my dilemma?
I'll keep sitting on it while I dive back into the world of study and reading.
8 weeks to go of full time study. My feelers are out for full time work. Got a few nibbles, but I will keep you posted.
Photos of camp to come soon.
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