Training camps that change lives
It is a season of training camps here in Gainesville. We’re sending a record number out to the field on trips a month or longer.
The World Race camp moved to inner city Atlanta the same day as 120 Real Life participants (plus 60 of their parents who came by for a tour of our base before leaving) arrived.
It’s amazing how powerful these camps can be. Young people have a lot of junk to unbundle before they can effectively minister in the field. This blog from Shannon Morgan gives us a view into how God uses them to change lives:
I’m near the end of Training Camp and I just don’t
have the words to convey what kind of an experience this has been.
Honestly, this has been one of the single hardest things I’ve ever had
to do (and not in the ways you would think). I’ve seen the Spirit of
God move in a way I had never seen before. I’ve seen the miracles of
God in a way I have never seen before. I have seen the Body of Christ
in a way I have never seen before.I came to camp expecting a physical boot camp but
received something very different. It has been physical, yes, but that
hasn’t been where the majority of drain, intensity and wreckage has
come. This is the most emotionally and spiritually exhausting place I
have ever been. I’ve had to peruse the files of my deepest pain over
and over, journal about it, talk through it, grieve it, and lay it down.But you know what? On top of being the most unbelievably hard place you could imagine, this place has such a freedom. This place has such a healing. And this place has freed and healed me.I’m still processing an enormous amount of what has
happened here over the past week, and soon I will blog here about it.
But as for now, I’m completely blown away, emotionally ravaged,
spiritually empowered, and ready for the rest of my life (after getting
some much-needed rest).Let me just say this plainly: I was delivered this week of demonic influences, strongholds, mountains, and pain that has plagued me for my entire life.
I did not know it was possible to feel the lightness, freedom, peace,
and joy that I feel now. I’ve been a Christian for nine years now, and
the only time I have felt such a change was when I first came to Christ
and received His salvation. I received the Holy Spirit at fifteen, so I
knew of the supernatural events He can release on our lives. But until
this week, I have never received the healing of the Holy Spirit and
walked in power over demons and the darkness of this world, but this
week, I have.I wish I could bring all of my friends here to
experience this. To devour this spiritual feast, to revel in this
unbelievable, incomparable fellowship, and be changed by the love I see
in the eyes of every teammate.Has it been worth it so far? A hundred thousand times, “yes.”
Comments (6)
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I John 1:7 How wonderful if we could all be so transparent with our lives – trusting the shepherd of our souls to take care of things. Great testimony…maybe we should all go again?
how exciting for yall.
Amen!
Good stuff – can us old folks go?? 🙂
We always can use the help – come on!
Wow, I am so joyful that you were able to experience something so life changing!