Events

Aug 30 2021

Finally Arrived!!

I couldn’t believe the excitement that was building as campers waited for their friends arrival at Ability camp in Oklahoma. It was the first camp for special needs adults in the midwest and we were blessed to be part of what would happen that week.

Anticipation mounted as camper and counselors sat in the hot sun anxiously awaiting the moment they would see a familiar vehicle enter the parking lot. Campers knew it would be transporting someone they held dear in their hearts and they were having difficulty containing their excitement. And then it happened! That friend arrived, and stepped out of the vehicle. It was like watching someone walk down the celebrity red carpet at the Oscar Awards. There were cheers, pictures, high fives, waves, shouts and hugs. It was both funny and heart warming to watch.

I can’t help but think that this is how Jesus feels about us. He is anxiously awaiting for the day that we will come home. He is preparing to receive us with open arms and to welcome us with excitement and celebration.

Are we looking forward to the moment that we step onto that street of gold and see Jesus face to face for the first time? Will we walk triumphantly toward Him with our arms open wide ready to embrace our savior? Will we have an acceptance speech ready that recognizes and thanks Jesus for the influence and impact He had on our life? Will we be able to speak at all or will we fall to our knees and just worship Him?

As the week unfolded, I watched both the new and old relationships grow. I took notice of the love and acceptance that was evident in virtually every activity. I watched as campers and counselors encouraged and built one another up. There are so many stories that I could share about the week but I can sum it up this way,

A week at Ability Camp is the closest to heaven that we can get here on earth.

That may be an extreme statement but it’s not about the activities, it’s about the attitudes. Every time I spend a week at one of these camp, it puts life into perspective and reminds me of the acceptance and unconditional love that Jesus has for me. It is now up to me to share that love with others with the same excitement and enthusiasm.

Aug 25 2021

Anticipated Prayer

As a children’s pastor and missionary to children, I know the value and the importance of bringing children into a better understanding of prayer and the impact that it can have on their lives. For years, God has been stirring my heart to provide opportunities for kids to experience prayer in different and meaningful ways. It started nearly 10 years ago at district camp. God was leading our team to emphasis prayer options following the evening chapel. That was the beginning of something absolutely beautiful. Over the years prayer during day camps, overnight camps, midweek services and Sunday morning classrooms have become the time that kids look forward to with great anticipation.

July 2021, “The War Room” was introduced at The Good Shepherd Ministries day camp. (The War Room is the name given to our prayer room) Pastor Kenny and I had talked in great length about the idea, the implementation and the expected outcome but I couldn’t articulate exactly what that would look like in a real setting. We might not have known the particulars but Holy Spirit knew exactly what needed to be done to draw these kids into a spiritual realm where they wanted to be and expected to meet with God himself.

The week began with 30 minutes in The War Room. We entered into the presence of God with reference and respect and left after having a meaningful encounter with God. By the end of the week each group was spending upwards of 60 minutes and wanting more time in the War Room with Jesus. They had experienced just a touch of God and were craving more.

Our kids can be drawn into the spiritual realm and have an intimate relationship with Jesus. Are we providing them with the opportunities that they need to draw into that relationship? Are we allowing them time to practice their skills in hearing God’s voice? Are we giving them a variety of ways to enhance their time with Jesus?

Our children aren’t lost because they don’t know who Jesus is, but they don’t know him personally

Aug 25 2021

Tragedy Humanized

For the past 48 hours I have been praying for six Afghan Christians as they made efforts to leave the country to escape the violence, persecution and certain death for following Jesus if caught at any of the checkpoints as they made their way to the airport. I am ashamed that it took a prayer request from a friend, that had direct connections to this group of people, to humanize the tragedy that is taking place in Afghanistan. As events unfolded, I received updates of their progress, their setbacks, and their uncertainties. As more people joined together and prayed for them to make it safely through airport gates and onto a departing plane, God provided. After two days we received report that they had boarded a plane in Kabul to begin their journey to the states where a community of believers are waiting to receive them into their family.

Photo represents the urgency to leave the country and not a picture of the six described in this post. It does represent many others that need our prayers.

How must God have felt during this tumultuous journey? How sad must He have felt that His children had to endure such suffering? How disappointed must He have felt that there were christians around the world that saw the news of what was happening and didn’t cry out for God’s intervention. What will it take to humanize the stories that we are hearing in the news media?

We have freedom in our lives and in our faith but are we taking it for granted? Are we looking at our freedom as an unconstrained opportunity to share the gospel with as many people as humanly possible or are we wasting the blessing that God has given us through this freedom?

“Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.” 1 Cor 7:13

As we continue to journey through this year together, let’s not allow distractions to keep us from learning, growing, sharing and delivering the word of God to those around us. We must move forward, making Jesus the priority and urgently sharing His word with others. We don’t know the hour or the day that Jesus will return but we do have the good news of Jesus and how to guarantee eternal life with Him. How many will you reach with that good news?

May 04 2021

AWAKEN Kids Camp

This will be Camp Wannahockalugie’s 10th year of bringing the message of Jesus’s love and forgiveness to the more than 900 elementary age kids since it’s beginning in 2011. After a disheartening year of COVID restrictions, Camp Wannahockalugie is opening its doors to campers again this summer the week of June 21-25. It’s a year of new and fresh beginnings, a year that has AWAKENED us to God’s possibilities in our lives and we are excited to be bringing a message of hope and love to a fresh group of campers. This year’s theme is AWAKEN and is set in the heart of farm country so campers can expect a farmer, a talking chicken, farms animals and all types of farm equipment, that will contribute to the farm atmosphere. Through song, instruction, prayer time, recreation and crafts, campers will be taught about God’s plan and purpose for their lives as they step into God’s possibilities. If you live in or around the Clear Spring MD area and would like to join us for a week full of fun, excitement and biblical teaching you can register online by clicking the REGISTER button below. We would love to have you.

Dec 28 2020

AT Station Winter Retreat

Winter was warm and fuzzy during the Ability Tree AT Station winter retreat. A group of campers and chaperones came together from New York to Oklahoma. No traveling involved since this was our second virtual retreat. But this didn’t deter the camp from having fun. Again we got to meet everyone in their home environment and meet some of the special family members in their lives. The weekend was a mystery as we tried to figure out the theme for 2021, it had been taken!! But how, who, when, where? What were we going to do? Fortunately, AT Special detective Burt Macklon was on the case. We played games, had group BINGO (a camper favorite) saw our medical team in action and learned from our recreation team how to make a HUGE mug of cocoa. But most importantly we were able to spend time worshipping and learning more about God during our service times. In the end, through all of the activities the theme was recovered. 2021 brings with it “FREEDOM”. Freedom to be who God created us to be and to walk in faith and discover our purpose as we serve HIM! What will 2021 look like? Stay tuned for the next episode of AT Station.