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.