Brandon came to camp a “dark” young man.  His brooding personality combined with gothic clothing gave the aura of someone who wanted little or no conversation.  Yet here he was, 8 hours from home at YFCamp in British Columbia, away from the pressures and expectations of every day life.  His Campus Life director told me the other day, “There always seemed to be sadness and depression hanging over this kid.  We prayed all year for Brandon to come to camp.”

But something miraculous happened… over the course of 6 days at Rock Ridge. In a very clear and compelling way, Brandon not only heard the great news of God’s love for him through Jesus Christ, he saw it modelled through Kyle, Vince and other YFC staff and volunteers. He witnessed the freedom of laughing and taking risks on the zip line and out on the ski lake.  He was encouraged (and joined in!) to sing loudly.  In his cabin one night Kyle and Vince challenged the young men in their cabin to be warriors in prayer, to yell out for God to conquer the pains and obstacles in their lives.  For Brandon and these “tough” guys from inner city Tacoma the idea of shouting their prayers was revolutionary. “You mean God’s ok if I yell out in prayer? I thought you had to be quiet,” one asked. Kyle’s response was simple, “We’re in a spiritual battle…so let’s yell out like God’s warriors!”

This kind of openness from Brandon literally freed him up to experience God’s love in a dynamic, refreshing and renewing way.  Brandon surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and the change was, in Kyle’s words, “an absolutely 180 degree turnaround”.  The darkness was gone, smiles lit up his face, and Brandon was engaging both staff and kids.  God’s Spirit is now at work in his life, changing him from the inside out.

Last Friday camp finished for 175 students and 75 Tacoma kids hopped on buses and vans to make the trek back to T-town.  Brandon was one of many kids who jumped into a new relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time. Several others recommitted their lives to the One who saved them.  Kyle, Vince, Josiah, Ruth, Lauren and others know that the life change that began at Rock Ridge has just started.  Follow up with each student, encouragement to get plugged into a local church, find fellowship and accountability with Christian friends…this is the hard work. For this is where the Enemy is hardest at work creating distractions, stirring up conflict and trying his best to tell these students “what happened at camp wasn’t real…forget about it.”

But Brandon knows different. His life, his attitude, his demeanor are all changing for the good.  Now Kyle and Vince will walk alongside him daily so that the life change that began at Rock Ridge continues. After all, our vision at Tacoma YFC is “to engage young people in the life long journey of following Jesus  Christ”.

Thank you to all who gave generously to help these kids go to camp and for the hundreds of people who were in prayer for this week at Rock Ridge. Next week we send over 100 kids and staff to YFCamp (July 6-11) at Island Lake in Poulsbo and anther 40-60 kids and staff to City Life camp at Warm Beach (July 5-10.  Please keep these camps, the speaker and program (skit) crews, the camp staff, counselors and our kids in your prayers. We expect more of the same amazing work of God in kids’ lives!