What an amazing week at Panama City Beach with our PULSE students and Elevate students from Dexter, Missouri! If your teen missed out, you DEFINITELY want to make sure they go next year!
Here is a quick recap:
*The first night, we had 14 confirmed salvations! Not to mention at least 10 more the last night.
*Friday morning, at 5:00am, we baptized 14 students at the beach during a sunrise service. It was incredible!
*I preached an entire series from the book of Jonah. The students were so hungry for the word that most of the sermons went an hour and a half and it seemed like 30 minutes. They couldn't get enough!
*Our very own student pastor taught the afternoon sessions. He did a series entitled "God's Will Is Whatever" and gave practical ways for the students to grasp God's will for their lives.
*Danya, our worship pastor, also taught a morning session on getting into the presence of God. We had 3 conference style sessions a day, and each session was jam packed with worship and the word. And the students LOVED it!
*Student pastor, Tyler Feller, and our good friend Kryst Lyke, also taught morning sessions and did a phenomenal job!
*The last night, I challenged the students with a message; "A Moment or a Movement". Many camp experiences are short lived. So I challenged them to get serious about their walk with Christ or we wouldn't be seeing them next year once the "hype" wore off. It was incredible as they stood to talk to youth leaders about holding them accountable with their walk with Christ!
*We had an "After Party" for the students the last night. We celebrated and worshipped for nearly 2 hours! The students prayed for one another, their leaders, and their pastors. Students were standing up and testifying and preaching...it was a humbling experience.
*On the bus ride home, the students began worshipping and standing to give their testimonies! We even had students standing and preaching the last night of camp that had JUST been saved this past week!
Tonight, Pastor Steven did a phenomenal job casting vision for our student ministry. He taught on our mission at Generation Church; Loving God, Loving People, Empowering Lives. He taught that 4 things must happen for the movement to continue:
1. Grow Bigger
-Be relentless in inviting people
2. Grow Closer
-Grow closer to your Christian friends, leave behind old influences.
3. Grow Up
-Leave behind all the drama, gossip, jealousy, bitterness and grow mature in your faith.
4. Grow Yourself
-Start your own worship time, Bible reading, and prayer time.
It was the best camp follow up message I have ever heard. The students did not want to go home! They worshipped until we made them leave. I was truly blown away at what God was doing in the midst of these students.
Not only that, but at LEAST 60 students stood to say they wanted to serve and be leaders in our church!!! Wake up adults, the students are leading the way! It's time for YOU to step up and get involved!
Church, this is only the beginning. This isn't just about our students, it's about what God wants to do in our church. Get ready, because the movement has just begun...
