Crawling Blindly

The last day of camp at Alpine Ministries offered another full slate for NBC’s Teenlife Ministries. After breakfast the group set out for adventure in the caves of West Virginia. The youth group was split into two groups. One group explored a cave that was dry and dusty. The other group traveled to a cave that was more wet and muddy. Both offered their own challenges.

Regardless of the group, both parties spent time below ground witnessing God’s creation from a new and different perspective. The footing was treacherous at times, and some of the passages were very tight. Patience was a virtue as the groups took their time to walk and crawl through portions of the miles of underground passages.

During the course of the journey, the guides conducted a “blind crawl” that tested our faith while in the unknown. With all of our lights turned off, each hiker slipped into a crawl space, moving through the tight passage to the other side. One by one we passed through, pulling ourselves along on our stomachs. At times we could feel the ceiling above touching our backs, and yet we could not see our hands in front of our face, let alone know with assurance we were headed in the right direction. It wasn’t until one of the guides reached out to tell us we had arrived. The exercise took many of us way out of our comfort zone in a way we had not experienced before.

Like that blind crawl, we often find ourselves in spots where we feel almost suffocated. It appears there is nowhere to turn, the walls are closing in, and we can’t find the escape. We struggle to locate the right path. We feel alone and helpless. But in that darkness, God provides the much-needed light. He illuminates our path and leads us to safety.

Friday’s activity challenged our bodies and our resolve. It also served as a metaphor for those who don’t know Christ. In our few hours underground, we were reminded of the many that are lost in the darkness. We, through Christ, can provide that light and be their guide.

Our teens attended the final evening service of the week, but a time of reflection by the campfire later in the night served as a perfect end to a long and rewarding week. Around the glow of the fire, many in the group took turns talking about what they enjoyed from the day, what they learned, and what it meant to them. We also looked back at the week in its entirety and shared memories. It was a wonderful time of fellowship as teens shared how they had made important decisions this week and we rejoiced in that. Cheers were raised to the heavens, tears were shed, and our group bonded over a memorable week that was part of the Lord’s plan.

Saturday morning we will depart early and begin the return trip to Noblesville. Pray that we will have safe travels. Also pray that the momentum that has been built this week will continue on after the teens return to their routines.

The River Wild

This week’s teen camp has been packed full of activity, but Thursday’s outing may have been the best yet. NBC Teenlife Ministries spent four hours rafting the New River, an activity that was like nothing else. We set out in three boats and traversed several rapids on our way toward New River Gorge and its scenic bridge. It was a memorable way to again take in the splendor of God’s creation.

The trio of boats first started in relatively still water as our guides worked with us on paddling as a team and practicing maneuvers before starting the journey. During the course of our adventure we encountered multiple Class III (moderately difficult), Class IV (difficult) and one Class V (extremely difficult) rapid. Between rapids, teens were able to jump out of the boats for a free swim, or perform backflips off the boats into the water. At one stop, those interested were able to ascend a rock face and plunge into the water below. Many participated. Along our trek a rainstorm descended from the mountains, providing needed relief from the heat and a fun experience.

It was thrilling to encounter each rapid. As our guide instructed us to continue paddling through the worst of the water, our instinct was to stop and instead focus on staying in the boat as we were jostled to and fro. But teamwork, and everyone paddling in unison, helped us brave the swirling water to advance downstream for the next challenge.

The New River can be compared to our daily lives. There are stretches where the water is mild, with very little tumult. But inevitably there is a trial or struggle that can be as difficult as the river was violent at times on Thursday. Just as our three boats required the teamwork of all on board in both the easy stretches and the difficult, we need God at all times, not just when the going gets tough.

Thursday night Pastor Russ Smith delivered the message of salvation during the evening service. He clearly laid out to all campers why sinful man can never reach heaven without first being in God and accepting the free gift paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice. Many of our teens have professed to be Christians, but please pray that this message, and those earlier in the week, will stir their hearts. We want to see teens on fire for the Lord anxious to advance His kingdom.

We finished the evening with a trip to Dairy Queen and some time to reminisce about the day before returning to camp for testimonials. Tomorrow we will take our final excursion of the week, exploring caves here in West Virginia. Pray that our adventure is without incident and that we can once again marvel at nature.

Flesh Wounds

After being postponed for a day, the Noblesville Baptist Church teen group returned to the hill Wednesday morning, June 14 for three hours of paintball fun. The activity was worth the wait as the group of 18 that participated were split into two groups of nine. Team Orange and Team Black squared off in four battles, with each teen aiming to shoot at and eliminate the competition while trying to emerge unscathed.

Success on the “battlefield” requires bravery, teamwork and a single focus on the objective of achieving victory. When in the midst of battle you can learn much about your team, and the opposition. Over the course of three hours on the course the goal was to deliver far more successful shots (and paint-splattered opponents to prove it) than what you received. By the signs of the welts displayed by some, there were successes and failures. Nobody from either team left the course without being hit at least once.

While the competition was all in good fun, when we leave Alpine later this week, we’ll return to a world where the slings and arrows of the world are all too real. Welts will be replaced by the threats of peer pressure, the desires to fit in with the crowd, and those trying to break us down physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our personal battlefields are littered with obstacles and pitfalls. The threats are always present, and take on many shapes and forms.

But we must remember we are not alone in this battle. God is sovereign and helps us to navigate the battlefield if we let Him. Jesus paid our sin debt and bore the stripes so that we may have eternal life. We know that the journey is not without strife, but we can rest assured in the outcome. We just need to place our trust in Him.

Later in the afternoon the youth group went out into the hills of West Virginia on a hike to take in God’s masterpiece. We traveled a little over 30 minutes from camp to Hawks Nest State Park, where the group hiked along an old railroad trail. It was amazing to see the terrain of West Virginia and how it differs greatly compared to the Indianapolis area. To observe God’s handiwork up close and to know he is responsible for it all is truly inspiring. After spending time exploring the falls along the rail trail, we departed for dinner and then returned to camp for the evening service.

Pastor Russ Smith continued his teaching on 1 Thessalonians 5:14, this time with a message titled “No Man Left Behind.” Smith spoke about how Christians are in this fight together, and that we all fall, but that the strong don’t stay down. If you are strong, give support to the fallen. If you are weak, don’t be afraid to seek help in getting back up.

After a short testimonial time following the service, the teens enjoyed an hour in the pool before wrapping up the day. During the time of testimony is was encouraging to hear teens complement one another, discuss how the teaching has impacted them, and the lessons they are learning through each day’s events. Wednesday was long, but packed full of rewarding activities. Tomorrow we will take on the adventure of white water rafting. It will be a challenging day, but sure to be a memorable one.

Continue to pray for our youth. They are learning both through the daily excursions and our time of delving into the Bible. Pray that this week will open their eyes to God’s word in a way they may never have experienced before. Pray also that they continue to make valuable connections with their fellow youth group members.

God's Plan at Work

The second day of camp (Tuesday, June 13) started with a clear itinerary. After breakfast the youth group was to participate in a three-hour paintball excursion followed by lunch and a service project at a local Christian school. God had other, and better, plans.

We were aware there was a chance of rain that may hinder plans, and that weather materialized after we had ascended the hills surrounding the camp and began the instructions prior to paintball. The camp has specific rules that if there is thunder, any paintball activity is halted and the team descends back down the hill. Unfortunately, before our training was complete, the three hours of gameplay was cut short before a single paintball was fired.

With the change of plans, the decision was made to reach out to Greater Beckley Christian School to see if we could begin our service project early. The youth group got the go-ahead and soon we were on our way to the school, located less than 10 minutes from camp. As we began the journey light sprinkles turned into a downpour. The heavy rain continued even after we unloaded at the school and prepared to tackle the work available. The rain kept coming, hard and fast. Shortly after arriving, a lightning strike nearby caused a transformer to fail and the school lost power. The sump pump that normally handles excess precipitation could not help as the hard rain continued and the school’s cafeteria began to flood.

As disappointed as the teens were that we had missed a morning of spirited competition on the paintball course, our group was needed for much more important work. At the school, we immediately pitched in to help wherever needed. For some, it was cleaning lockers, visible only by flood lights that dimly illuminated the hallways. Others were pressed into action helping to clear the inches of rainwater that had swept into the cafeteria and threatened to damage the nearby basketball court. And still some wiped down lockers and scraped old gum off the bottom of desks and chairs (yuck)! With only a small staff on hand, our arrival a few hours before the originally scheduled time was truly God’s plan at work. Noblesville Baptist Church should be proud of how our teens stepped up to meet a need, and they glorified God through their efforts.

The morning and early afternoon served as a wonderful illustration that God is in control. Our teens will get a chance to return to the hills and play paintball before the week is complete, but for the moment, that activity was put on hold for a greater cause. It was rewarding to give of our time with service to others in mind. In this case, our teens showed God’s love through their selfless work.

During Tuesday’s evening service Pastor Russ Smith continued his series based on 1 Thessalonians 5:14. His message was entitled “Courage Facing Your Fears,” and he encouraged teens to be the friend that comforts those with fears instead of mocking them for their fears. He spoke of four fears that afflict teens: fear of man (Proverbs 29:25), fear of rejection (John 10: 27-28), fear of failure (1 Corinthians 15:57) and fear of the future (Romans 8:28). Afterwards our group visited the snack shop and then came together for a time of testimony.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the teens will again try to play paintball in the morning. As much as the excursions are a fun experience, pray that the Power Groups conducted each day and the nightly services will fall on fertile ground. Our hope is that each participant will return home Saturday ready to live what they have learned during their time at camp.

Taking the First Step

Teen camp began Monday morning, June 12 bright and early. A group of 22 youth and sponsors arrived at Noblesville Baptist Church at around 6 a.m., and less than an hour later, we were on the road to Alpine Ministries in Mount Hope, West Virginia. With Pastor Hack at the wheel, the NBC bus covered more than 350 miles in close to seven hours, making only one stop along the way for lunch.

Upon arriving at Alpine Ministries, the teens settled into their dorm rooms on the campus of Appalachian Bible College and we were quickly off to our first event of the week. Without a doubt, the theme of Monday was about getting outside our comfort zone, and that was accomplished on the high ropes course at the camp. For some, the experience was exhilarating. For others, it was a significant challenge in overcoming the fear of heights and being uncomfortable in the surroundings more than 25 feet off the ground.

Before ascending into the ropes course, instructors took the group through training and explained that the equipment was rated to be strong enough to hold a Volkswagen. Despite those reassurances, it was still tough for some to take that first step and place their faith in the rigging, feeling as though they may plunge to the ground. In many ways it is emblematic of our relationship with God. We know He is the Creator and is there to protect us when we stumble, yet we often fail to place our full trust in Him. Instead, we try to go it alone.

Tackling the ropes course on Monday afternoon set a great tone for the week to come. These teens will be challenged daily, and we pray that they grow by being tested to move outside of their comfort zone. We as sponsors pray that during this week each grows closer to the Lord, and makes a stronger connection to other Teenlife Ministries members.

After dinner, the group joined the rest of the camp in the night’s evening service. There, guest speaker Russ Smith brought a message entitled “Making The Hard Choices,” preaching on 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Smith talked about the importance of submission, and how being submissive does not make us weak. Instead, submission leads to humility and success. He also discussed making decisions with intention (Galatians 6:7) and devotion to God, truth and people (1 Corinthians 4:14). It was a though-provoking message for our teens, and sponsors, to digest.

Following the evening service, our group spent the nine o’clock hour playing games at the pool, and then finished up our first night with a group devotional. It was a long and activity-packed day, and as we concluded the devotional, there was less than an hour left before Tuesday’s beginning. Tomorrow (June 13) the youth group will get the day started with a paintball activity, and after lunch, we will participate in a service project in the local community during the afternoon.

Pray that this week our teens will be receptive to the teaching they will hear each day. Our hope is that they enjoy the experience, have a blast during the activities, but are also open and receptive to the messages they will hear. Also pray that Pastor Hack and the sponsors can be resources for these teens as the Lord does his work.

Exploring Detroit

From the time we arrived on Tuesday until we wrapped up the cook-out Friday night, our days have been filled with outreach efforts. Saturday we took a step back and spent time exploring downtown Detroit. We began the day with a late breakfast (9:30 is late by the standards this week) before departing for Eastern Market. Think of our local farmers markets multiplied by 50 or more. We moved from one building to the next, storefront to storefront looking at the myriad things available. The teens split into groups and shopped for about 45 minutes before we began our trek to the waterfront.

Detroit Missions Team and some Spread The Word interns.

Our journey took us to the Detroit River by way of a converted railroad track (think Monon Trail for those in Hamilton County). Along the way we saw many expressions of art in the underpasses and walls that lined the route. From the river you can view Windsor, Ontario on the other side. Our tour took us along the waterfront, where General Motors is headquartered, and we stopped for lunch before proceeding to Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. After a group photo there, we headed back to Inter-City Baptist Church.

Kaleb Clark, one of the NBC teens that joined us for this trip, turned 18 on Saturday, so we celebrated with tacos for dinner. Some of the group also participated with the Spread The Word interns in an intense game of ultimate frisbee. The night closed with a bonfire, cake and ice cream to make Kaleb’s birthday celebration complete (even some light showers couldn’t dampen the party), and testimony time. Several shared the impact this mission trip has had on their lives, and it was a great way to reflect on how God has used each of us during this week of focus on the people of River Rouge.

Happy Birthday to Kaleb Clark!

Tomorrow our team will divide up and attend two churches. One part of the group will attend Grace Baptist Church in River Rouge. After spending the week there, it is a fitting way to close out our time in Detroit. Another group will attend Resurrection Church, located a short distance away in Lincoln Park. David Doran, Jr., son of Inter-City Baptist senior pastor David Doran (mentioned in a previous post) is the pastor of this relatively-new church plant. With the busy events of Friday, I failed to mention that in between all of our activities that day we spent some time going door-to-door in Lincoln Park talking with the locals and inviting them to the church, which meets in the local VFW Hall. Several of us had great conversations with people in the community that very well may show up Sunday morning. We look forward to worshiping at both locations.

Sunday afternoon we will pack up and depart from Inter-City, our home away from home since Tuesday. We will drive to Sandusky, Ohio, and Monday will be spent at Cedar Point. It will be a fun way to cap the experience, and we’ll arrive back in Noblesville late Monday night.

Pray that the seeds we have spread in River Rouge and Lincoln Park fall on fertile ground. We may not see immediate results Sunday morning, but our hope is that God is working in hearts. Pray that we will have a sweet time of fellowship at both churches and that our travels Sunday afternoon will go off without a hitch. Also, pray for Mike Foley as he travels. Mike has work commitments that prevent him from joining us at Cedar Point, and he will be making the trip back to Central Indiana alone. Pray that he will not encounter any issues.

Thank you to all the prayer warriors that have been so diligent on our behalf. It is reassuring to know that so many are thinking of us while we are away.

Making Connections

The big payoff for our work in River Rouge was the free community cook-out held Friday in the park located next to Grace Baptist Church. The NBC Teen Life Missions team canvassed the neighborhoods of River Rouge for several days in advance of the event, and even went out one last time a few hours before the cook-out. With a start time slated for 6 p.m., there were many that showed up early, ready for food and festivities.

Many came out for Friday's cook-out in the park.

Set-up for the event went quickly thanks in part to the many hands available to set up an inflatable slide and bounce house, grill and drink stand, popcorn, snow cone and cotton candy stands, two tents and Nine Square game, just to name a few. The Spread The Word team is used to doing this on their own, so the interns were happy to have some assistance in both set-up and tear down at night’s end.

The turnout for Friday’s cookout was exceptional. Many came out to participate, and the Spread The Word team said it was their biggest cook-out of the summer. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the event, and there were several members of Grace Baptist Church on hand to make valuable connections with the River Rouge community.

The event was scheduled from 6 – 9 p.m., but we were aware that some storms may pass through the area. Pass through they did, and made for an evening our youth won’t soon forget. Less than an hour and a half into the cook-out the wind picked up and soon a downpour ensued. Guests scrambled for cover and many of us sprang to action securing tents and inflatables the wind tried to uproot. It was an unbelievable sight, and it could have very easily signaled the end of the event.

But a funny thing happened. Many found refuge in the sanctuary of Grace Baptist Church, a building within which most probably had not set foot. Once the rain lifted and we began to clean up from the aftermath, many of the children began showing up to resume their games. Soon the park began to fill, while not to the capacity we had seen before the storm. But the people returned, activities commenced, and many stayed well past the listed end time of 9 p.m. In fact, children were getting their faces painted at 9:40 p.m. as their parents provided light via their phones.

It’s been a long week, and I was impressed by what I witnessed during the cook-out. Several teens pitched in and helped out in times of great need. Others were looking for ways to share the load, and I observed several running, not walking, to a place where they could be of service. At a time when they have logged one long day after another, this group stepped up to the challenge in a big way and answered the call.

It has also been a joy to see how this group has meshed over the course of the week. We have several participating in this team that come from other churches – even other states – and to see everyone making connections each day, forming bonds and getting to know one another more shows how God can work in hearts when we are focused on Him. Each of these individuals has given up a week of their life to be here in Detroit. They have made a sacrifice to serve. My hope is that several lifelong friendships are developed as a result of this trip.

With the cook-out behind us, Saturday will be a more relaxed time for the team. We will go on a walking tour of downtown Detroit, taking in the sights. It will be a nice change of pace as our time here winds down. Please pray that the remainder of our time at Inter-City Baptist Church is profitable. Also be in prayer for Grace Baptist Church and their ministry. Pray that the cook-out will result in guests on Sunday morning and that the church can reach more of the lost in River Rouge.

Finally, pray for Aaron Coffey and the Spread The Word team. Once we leave they will continue the weekly cycle of visiting a suburb, conducting Cola Wars and cook-outs and supporting these church plants of Inter-City Baptist Church, and they’ll do so with little to no assistance. Pray that they will be energized to complete their work for the summer, and that their efforts to win souls and advance the kingdom will result in great things.