Pastor's Corner - June 11th, 2021

The past couple of weeks have found me thick in the work of Camp preparation and planning for the United Youth Camp program down in Arizona, at Camp Wamatochick. The past month of that work has been quite challenging on the Camp planning front as we have had a number of staff unable to attend for various reasons. As each staff member drops, it leaves a hole in the roster that is difficult to fill, and has resulted in the staff assignments needing to be redone a number of times. By Thursday of this week, I was down to no additional staff to fill the holes, and this morning I lost three more - and for the first time - didn't have staff to move into those holes, and those roles lay empty.

I couldn't help but think of the story of Gideon. 

His story is one that is incredible to read - how the people of Israel were within this cyclical rotation in which God punished Israel for their transgressions, then raised up a Judge, who pointed the people back to God - He fought their battles, and they prospered, only to --when times got good-- turn from their God again. 

Gideon's story begins with God calling him for a special purpose - to defeat the people oppressing the people of Israel at that time, the Midianites. Gideon humbly asks God, "Are you sure? Me?" to which God confirms his calling - telling Gideon to go and tear down the idols that were set up to baal and asherah, and build an alter to Him. 

In Judges 7, God's plan is set fully into motion - with Gideon raising an army of Israelites to go against the Midianites. 

God however has other plans - helping Gideon to learn to trust in Him. 

God begins to winnow down the numbers of people who would go and fight. From the group of people, God told Gideon to let those who were fearful and afraid to leave. 22,000 people walked away. He brought the people down to the water, and those that lapped from the water cupped in their hands numbered 300.

9,700 of them were removed.

God told Gideon - it was by those 300 men, that he would deliver Israel from the Midianites.

The odds were impossible. They were vastly outnumbered, the Midianites were powerful and trained foes. Gideon was outmatched and the mission was a suicide mission on paper. But God desired them to be able to give the glory to Him - when the victory came. That they could not boast of their own works. 

God delivered Midian into their hands in an incredible miracle. 

It didn't matter how many soldiers they had on their side, it didn't matter how many soldiers the enemy had. God was fighting their battles, that was all that mattered.

These youth camps that we put on - they're not our camps, I may be a steward of the camp, charged at this time with directing it - but it is God's camp. These are God's kids - the battle, ultimately is His. 

I'm not sure how God will deliver us at this time - but I look forward to seeing Him work. I know He will take care of it, and I know He will provide, and like Gideon - I will place my trust in Him. We would appreciate your prayers for our Camp program in Arizona - that God provide the staff, and God provide us with the means to serve His youth effectively, turning them to Him.

I hope you have a fabulous Sabbath.

Lots of Love,
Ben