Lessons From Friends

It has been a good start to winter. 

I have been meeting new kids at San Juan Hills High School, gathering for breakfast and Bible study each week with a core group of boys, and we had our first big event, Eat the Menu at Taco Bell.  Overall, my leaders and I have been able to meet and interact with over 30 kids and we hope to turn that into a weekly practice with Club launching in the Spring of 2014.  This last weekend, I attended my first YoungLife Camp at Oakbridge.  None of my high schoolers were able to make it, so I subbed in as a counselor for the High Rollers Capernaum students, our students with special needs.

At camp, I learned many things about how YoungLife shares the Gospel with young people who may have heard the stories, but don’t know about the life being offered to them by Jesus.  I saw kids laughing, dancing, playing, and meeting God in worship all in one weekend.  More than these things, I was able to encounter the amazing faith and dependence on God that these High Rollers have.  They know that Jesus is close to them, they hear his voice.  There is no division between “life with God” and “normal life” for these students.  They see God’s provision in their lives every day. 

My buddy for the weekend was Joey, and he shows amazing faith in everything he does.  He worships as if no one is watching except his heavenly Father.  When the Gospel is preached, he responds with tears at the beauty of God’s love.  When hearing of Christ on the cross for the thousandth time, he responds with true sorrow; when hearing the news that Jesus is alive, he rejoices as if he has seen God face to face.

I’ve been told that the heart of YoungLife is encapsulated in camp.  This past weekend, I was able to hear and see and experience that core of this ministry.  Beyond that, God showed me His heart through the love and faith of these Capernaum students.  I am so excited to continue to contribute to YoungLife’s ministry here in San Juan Capistrano, but this weekend God reminded me that His ministry is to simply love each person that we come across, like Joey does, like Jesus does.

-Josh