STORIES FROM CAMP

The power of camps is found in the impact it has far beyond the week itself.  Many of us (including some of us in the NCNSM Office) can trace our calling to ministry back to a camp.  Others can remember the moment God set them free from an addiction or habit, while others can take you to the spot they made the decision to follow Christ.  We are excited to see what future ministers and leaders God has raised up this summer.  We celebrate this last month of camps through the stories told by the students themselves. 

The following are testimonies and stories of what God did as summer camp this last July!

"An experience I will never forget, that's how I can explain Church Camp at Old Oak Ranch. Even though I'm a pastor's daughter I've never felt that close to God until the first night at worship. At worship they broke us down, they broke the barrier and after that it's safe to I know everyone in the room felt the presence of God. We were all brought down to tears and there's no way of explaining how we felt that night because it was indescribable."

“Even though I am small I can still be a leader.”

 

“I was able to pray for people out loud.”

"My experience was unlike any other. Something I will never forget. Words cannot describe the feeling I had experienced there at church camp. Honestly that is the first time I have felt God. God broke up. He showed us how to open up. I will never forget the feelings I had. I want that feeling over and over again. We learned that we can take it to our churches, it isn't just a onetime thing. I want to take what I have experienced and have someone experience the same as me, be touched by God. In a way that will change their lives forever. It changed mine."

“I will follow the path God is leading me down and do what he is calling me to do.”

"I've never experienced God until camp and I hope to experience that for the rest of my life.  God touched my heart and set a fire there while I was there.  The feeling is indescribable, something that you have to experience for yourself.  God spoke to me for the first time ever in my life, reassuring me that he is with me no matter what."

“God filled me up with His love.”

"He baptized me in the Holy Spirit." 

 

"Before camp this year I had such pain and bitterness in my heart; so many memories and regrets. My life was like an iceberg: everyone saw the smiling face of a girl, who had such a great life. But underneath I was empty; I was hurt, I was angry… I filled my voids with everything I could.  During camp God showed me how broken I was… How much I NEEDED him, I was far past wanting. The first service I broke down, I laid myself before Him and gave up all I was. Everything the speakers said was aimed straight towards my heart, right on, every single service. It was truly amazing. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for the world. I feel God’s presence so much now, it’s the most beautiful thing that I’ve ever experienced, and if I had to go through everything that I went through just to get this…. Then it was totally worth it." 

 “I was reborn, I don’t feel empty anymore now that I have accepted Jesus.  I will continue to spread His word and help others.”

“I’m actually excited about going home because now I can be a vessel of God to impact people around me.”

 "I was taught so much through the course of the three days at camp. I learned to fight against the devil, and to recognize when he is trying to change my mind about my love towards God. I learned to not fear the things that could hurt my body, but to fear God himself; because why fear something that could only hurt my body, when there is something even greater that could hurt my body and my SOUL? Camp is the greatest thing to have ever happened to me. Being there had, “flipped the switch,” in my life. It has taught me so much and had started a fire in me that can’t be put out. I only regret one thing, and that is the fact that camp had to end."