On Tuesday, I wrote a post “Praying for the Sharks” where I shared how I pray for my sons, and in particular, for my youth pastor son, Jason, as he took a group of teens from his church for a week of camp.
This is the rest of the story.
The group had a marvelous time at the rustic camp in Virginia, sitting together in services, barreling down a super-long slide that plunged them into the lake and laughing at the funny moments from the blob. And for those of you who’ve never seen a blob, think of an enormous air pillow that sits on the water. One person climbs on the front and then another person jumps from a platform onto the other end, catapulting the first person into the air . . . and then into the water.
They could have called it a good week and been done—but God had plans for something that would turn the week into an amazing one that they will remember forever. You see, on that Wednesday night as the girls gathered in their cabin, God’s sweet presence blew through that room, squeezing hearts and changing lives.
And it overflowed even further when they joined the guys in the chapel. Before the evening was over, 21 young people had met Jesus. On Sunday night, they gave their testimonies at church, sharing what God had done for them.
As I sat in the congregation on Sunday night, I noticed the words “I was saved 7/22/15” written on the back of a teen girl’s T-shirt. Those words moved me to tears. The evening was sweet as I saw visible results of answered prayers. And it was extra special for me as I got to see how God is using the life of my son and daughter-in-law to reach young lives for Him.
I listened to Jason tell about their week, and as I watched teens wipe tears from their cheeks as they talked about meeting Jesus, the thought hit me about how many people had invested in that priceless moment.
I thought about Tad Marshall who’d been our son’s youth pastor during Jason’s teen years. Tad and his wife, Pat, invested love and countless hours and prayers into my son. They helped shape him for the job God has him in today. I thought of our pastor and all the Sunday school teachers who’d taught Jason so faithfully each week. They were all part of this moment.
I thought about the financial investment this church had made for the week at camp, about the parents who’d made it a point to send their teens, and about the many prayers that had been prayed over that group of young people by their pastor and the people in their church.
Yes, folks, investing for God is the best investment you’ll ever make. Just ask a young lady with the words “I was saved 7/22/15” written on the back of her shirt.
