At Ponderosa Lodge this summer, we spent each week studying the faithfulness of God.  Every day, campers would spend 20-30 minutes alone reading a Bible passage on God’s faithfulness.  They would then spend 30-45 minutes studying that same passage together in their cabin groups.  Students loved this time in God’s Word!

On the advice of my boss, we created, “The 21 Day Challenge”–a 21 day Bible reading plan for students to take home and continue studying passages about God’s faithfulness.  It’s our vision at Mount Hermon that camp is much more than just a mountain top experience for students.  In order for this to happen, they need to stay connected to God’s life-giving Word.  I really had no idea how many students would take “The 21 Day Challenge.”

As the summer came to a close, we started hearing from campers.  They were done with “The 21 Day Challenge” and they wanted to know what they could read next!  I was absolutely blown away.  I never thought past the 21 days.  I figured that if I could get students in God’s Word for 21 days, it would be amazing!  What’s even more amazing is that students are now taking part in our “Beyond the 21 Day Challenge.”  They are actually reading their Bibles and loving it!  One student shared this on our Facebook fan page:

“I love spending a little time each day with God, which surprised me because at first I thought I wouldn’t like it.”

I am blown away at God’s power to change lives.  I am also blown away at how little I sometimes expect from Him.  I learned a valuable lesson throughout all of this—it is time for me to stop underestimating God’s power to change lives.

To learn more about Mount Hermon’s “Beyond the 21 Day Challenge” you can click here.  To read today’s passage, click here.

…My son Nate is currently deployed and wanted me to tithe for him.  Here’s a check for $100 to go towards your Military Campership Fund.  Thanks for being such a refuge for many!  I’ve attended your Christian Writers Conference and love Mount Hermon!

Take care, and on behalf Nate, thanks for supporting military families.  This is his 4th deployment and he is now a single parent with full custody…TOUGH!  But he appreciates Mount Hermon helping out people like him.

In Jesus Love,
Denise on behalf of SSgt Nate

J. R. Loofbourrow Director of Advancement

Mount Hermon has experienced another wonderful summer of God’s grace, love and joy.  Thank You for your support.  Your gifts don’t just fix “stuff” and provide “stuff.” They are part of the bigger picture that God has for this special place, where people are transformed, healed, rejuvenated, and equipped!

Update: Another gift just came in from Denise on behalf of Nate.  She shared the great news that he is coming home SAFE from his 4th deployment to see his kids and family – PTL!!!

For King and Kingdom,

J. R. Loofbourrow

Sunday, September 12, 2010
7:00 p.m. / Main Auditorium
Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center
Near Felton, California

FREE ADMISSION
Voluntary offering received
Dress warmly for indoor-outdoor venue

Singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey has been altering both the musical and ethical landscape of this country for decades—both as the “Paul” of the legendary Peter, Paul and Mary, and as an independent musician who passionately believes in bringing the spiritual into the practice of daily life. He has recorded over 45 albums, both as part of the trio and as a soloist.

John Fischer is also known as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and also an author, magazine writer, and public speaker. He composed some of his most famous songs while on staff at Mount Hermon in the 1960s and 70s, and is widely known as the “grandfather of contemporary Christian music.”

Join us for this one-time special concert in the redwoods.

For more information, call 831.335.4466, or toll-free to 1-888-MH-CAMPS.

It’s crazy to me that I just had my last week counseling for the summer. Ponderosa has truly become a second home to me. (more like 3rd or 4th home, ha)

I love it.

I love the camp, I love the people, I love the campers, I love the smell of the pines, waking up early to the morning mists, feeling the afternoon heat, I love Santa Cruz, and most significantly, this place has made my love for God grow incredibly. I can’t even express to you fully how much being a counselor has stretched me and caused me to grow.

Two main things I’ve learned:

1. How to truly love people… by loving God.

At camp I am given a group of girls that are mine for a week. Obviously, I never knew any of them before that week. My job is to love them, be Jesus to them. When a person is given a group of girls with different personalities, passions, and views (along with maturity levels) it’s easy to look at the group and think to oneself, “Well, these girls aren’t my type of people so I don’t need to hang out or love on them that much,” but as a camp counselor it is my job to love themfully, no matter what they are like or who they are. I’ve discovered that the only way I can do this and have the patience and a heart full for each and every one of them is by learning to love God more. By loving God more, I am able be filled with His pure love, which in turn causes me to have a huge heart for my girls and other campers. I’m amazed at the moments where I look at a camper that I usually would think, “Why the heck would I want to be around this person,” but I’ll be thinking to myself, “Wow, I LOVE this girl. I want to love on this girl”.

2. How to truly trust God for strength and taking care of my issues and struggles.

Camp is not a place where I’ve gotten a lot of alone time, if that at all. My thoughts are consumed with those around me. Don’t get me wrong, being a selfish human being, I definitely thought about myself a lot, but at camp I have other people to worry about too. As each week went by my physical energy decreased and my issues started coming out. It was hard for me to just fully give it all up to God for strength. Not just strength to counsel with energy and focus, but strength to deal with my issues and struggles. At camp, whatever weakness or problem a person has comes out. In an environment of ministry, where people are serving, it’s hard to hide those issues and not deal with them. I learned though, that God is so incredibly faithful to give me that strength and endurance I needed both physically and emotionally.

I feel so rewarded to have been a camp counselor at Ponderosa Lodge. All summer, I was blessed with support from my fellow staff (family). The community here truly feels like heaven! I felt so blessed that every day, whether I wanted it or not, Jesus was smack dab in my face.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24

In the 15 years that I have been doing youth ministry I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “Today’s youth are the future of the church.”  I disagree with this statement. I believe that today’s youth are the church.

Just take a moment and read through stories in the Bible of the people who were the same age as today’s high school students.  Mary, young King David, Esther, Josiah, and Daniel are just a few examples.  Many of these people did great things for God and His Kingdom. Why would it be any different today?!

One of the best ways that we can contribute to this revolution is by raising up student leaders who are equipped and empowered to be lovers of Jesus and ministers of the Gospel.

John Wesely once said,

Give me one-hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon earth.

I would add one small clause to this quote:

Give me one-hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, 30 years old or 15 years old, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon earth.

Let’s be people who lead the church in this revolution!

If you are interested in Revolution, please call/email me with any questions or you can register by calling 1.888.MH.CAMPS.  We are here to serve you!

-Charlie Broxton :: Director of Youth and Young Adults

CONGRATULATIONS to Lisa Bogart and Marci Seither. They entered the Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest and were just notified that they won! They’ll be whisked off to Rye, New York to stay at the Wainwright House for five days. The editors at Guideposts magazine will teach them everything they know about writing first-person inspirational stories.

Guideposts chooses only 15 people out of the thousands who enter, and they hold this contest just once every two years. This is a remarkable achievement for both Lisa and Marci, who I know worked very hard at crafting a story for the contest. They have been regular attendees at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conferences and have taken numerous classes to hone their craft. I applaud their efforts, their determination, their willingness to learn. I know they will have a fabulous time in New York.

Way to go, Girls!

B.J. Taylor, Guidepost Representative & Faculty member for Mount Hermon Writers Conference