One Week Away From Normal!

In just a few weeks we begin one of my favorite times of the entire year. I call it, "One week away from normal!" Most call it summer camp.

I grew up going to a Christian summer camp every year as a kid. It was such a fun time. It broke the cycle of normal in my life and gave me opportunities that I didn't have everyday at home. No TV, no access to a phone, no computer, no unhealthy friends, it was simply a time to get away, get with God and connect with other Christian friends and have fun.

Jesus practiced this type of activity all the time. As we read through the Gospels, we see that Jesus consistently broke away from the norm to pray and spend time with His Father. It was in those moments that Jesus was able to stay aligned with the Fathers will.

I'm afraid that today, many don't understand the importance or the power of one week of camp in the life of a student. Many parents and youth pastors working with our students today, did not themselves grow up attending a summer camp. Therefore, the lack of that experience keeps them from encouraging their students to go to camp.

There are many great camp stories of lives being changed and impacted by the power of God at camp. My life is one of them. However, one of my favorite stories is of contemporary Christian music recording icon Toby Mac. Toby tells his testimony of heading off to a church camp as a young teenager. On his way to camp, Toby convinced two of his other friends to accompany him, telling them it was a basketball camp.

It was however, far from a basketball camp. The first evening, the three young teens sat amongst the others as a minister preached the Word of God. During the message, one of Toby's friends leaned over and said to him, "Hey, I thought you said this was a basketball camp?"

As the week went on, Toby grew fond of his cabin counselor. One night mid-week, Toby got out of bed went over and began to speak with his counselor. During that conversation, Toby made a decision to follow Christ. That one week away from normal, gave Toby a chance to hear from God. Toby, has had a tremendous impact upon the Christian music industry, ministering to thousands of people every year.

One week away from normal. Will you give your students the opportunity to break away. It is my hope that every Christian parent, pastor and youth pastor, will give their students every opportunity to have an experience that just might change their lives forever.