ISLS NTC

It was a little cold for the SPECIAL

Last week we had the opportunity to work through the National Training Camp Principles with a group of 27 students from all over the world.  I have been through the principles training many times but this was the first time that I had the opportunity to teach it to a large group. I was in charge of the audience of one principle. This focuses on 1 Kings 18 and the idol worship toward Baal. I have heard the teaching many times but as I begin to talk  about verse 28 when the prophets began to cut themselves with swords as they cried out to Baal to satisfy them and to show his power I was moved in a whole new way. I had images of those that chase relationship for value and worth, of athletes who will do anything, push beyond what anyone should to serve their sport or their need for power. I was reminded of things that I have done to fill my desires and cover my pain. However, when put to the test these false things that we worship, that we make the centre of our lives. They don’t come through in the end. They just leave us crying out, wounded, lost, hurt and unsatisfied. In the same way when athletes discover that their sport cannot really supply them with the worth or the power they desire. They reach the top only to realise that they have two choices. One fight to hold on to that peak, to regain that rush or retire, and if they stay and fight they soon realize that every time they get to that peak again it doesn’t quite compare to the first victor, so they spend the rest of their time pursuing this unachievable goal. It was cool to see as I spoke the Holy Spirit moulding and shaping my time, teaching me and seeing the impact on the students as well. 

 

After all the principles were taught, we ran the students through the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Many of the students had some ideas about the special, so there was some fear when we arrived. I had fun injecting bits of Canada’s special with the way they normally run it each year. There were many challenges for the students:  injuries, struggles and frustrations but along with that there was also a lot of great competition, perseverance and teamwork. When we reached Golgotha at the end of the marathon, it was challenging and encouraging to hear the impact on the students. I had wondered through the process if some people were getting anything out of it. At the end they shared that they had gained a new impact of Christ’s sacrifice, they were burdened by what He had done; each lash of the whip, the pain of the cross, the people’s taunts and spitting. One of the students shared that as he ran, the people encouraging him became the crowd mocking Jesus, spitting on him, cursing him. This student made an amazing observation, at the end of the special there are people congratulating you, hugging you, encouraging you. At the end of Christ’s journey, He was left alone, dead on a cross. Carried to a grave and placed behind a stone. There was no one to congratulate Him this side of heaven. Yet He went anyway, He endured anyway, and He accepts our sin anyway. Then He rose again and is sitting with God interceding on our behalf and loving us despite ourselves.

 

I have to say there were a few challenges with this ministry, the hardest being that I was not able to participate as we were in charge of running it. For some people this wouldn’t be too hard but it was interesting to experience. I wish that I had spent more time lifting the students up in prayer. That is one of my biggest challenges. Knowing that we were there to intercede and to cover the time in prayer pulled out one of my weaknesses in my walk with Christ: persistence in prayer. One of the other things God revealed to me is that when I feel intimidated or challenged in a situation one of my first reactions is pride. I begin to look for faults in those around me to build myself up. This was something I didn’t realize and I am working through with God. One of the things I am doing to counter it and letting God change my heart is that when I start to think poorly against someone I begin looking for the presence of God in them, looking for their heart, looking for the things that make them special and seek to build them up.

Something God has taught me a lot about recently is the trust and unity within the body of Christ. How our love for each other has its depth not in the way we feel about each other but the way we feel about Christ. Because of this God called me to trust the group and share my struggles with pride, to apologise to the group and to build them up toward their ministry. It doesn’t matter if you have known them for years or only hours; genuine believers in Christ are family and can be trusted with emotion, struggles, fears and successes.

 

During my time at ISLS, I made some friends that I look forward to coming alongside of on our respective journeys. Each of their hearts for their country and for Christ and His work was such a blessing. I even had a chance to practice my Spanish and during that, time I was reminded once again of how much I love Hispanic culture. Not sure what God will do with that passion, but that is a concern for another day. I want to thank you all for your prayers for this time and know that God was moving.