As children and teens prepare for youth camp this summer, we anticipate God doing great things in the hearts and lives of these young people. One question rises above all the rest as the most important question to ask at summer camp as we pray, work with, and plan for youth camp. That question? What is the next step?
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
Children and teens arrive at their various camps from all kinds of backgrounds and journeys. Each one on his or her own path toward eternity and hopefully Christlikeness. As they go, we need to pray and be mindfully aware of one important question for each one, “What is the next step?”
Solomon wrote, “Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26). Two takeaways from this verse: First, when you ponder the path of your feet, you consider the next step. Second, your steps are established when you place your foot on solid ground. We hope for both those things for our campers.
For every person, that question holds a different answer.
- For the one who does not know the Lord, the next step is repentance for sin and faith in Jesus, what we call salvation. We pray and hope for this person to accept Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord.
- For the one who knows very little about Jesus Christ and being a disciple of the Lord, the next step is a commitment to follow Jesus as a better disciple. We desire greater commitment to walking as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
- For the one who is caught in sin, the next step is repenting of that sin and committing to righteousness. We ask God to bring conviction, that the camper would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and for the next step toward godliness.
- For the one who is doubting his or her faith, the next step is encouragement in the Lord. We pray God opens the camper’s eyes to the world system, world views, and the simplicity of the Gospel.
- For the one who is discouraged and downtrodden, the next step is hope in the Lord. We sorrow with this camper and ask God to grant this one the hope of the Gospel.
This list goes on. For each camper, we understand this answer will be somewhat different.
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK AT SUMMER CAMP
As we ask this question, we look for one primary way to help this child move toward Christlikeness.
Are there many places this child can grow? Absolutely.
However, as parents, grandparents, guardians, and youth workers, your camper cannot take all those steps in one week or in one instance. Instead, we want to help the camper just take the next step.
In order to take the next step, two concepts must be clear for the one who strives to help.
FIRST, WHAT DOES THIS CAMPER NEED TO COMMIT TO AT THE HEART LEVEL?
This student needs God’s insight and renewed commitment toward Christlikeness at the inner man level. His or her heart needs to grasp something. Possibly what this camper must grasp is a promise from God’s Word, an awareness of and exhortation from a biblical truth, and a new glimpse of the glories of Jesus Christ. We pray for God to grant that one needed sense of truth that helps the camper take the next step toward godliness.
SECOND, WHAT DOES THIS CAMPER NEED TO DO AT THE BEHAVIOR LEVEL?
As part of the next step, this camper needs to do something. Insight alone at the heart level does not lead to change. Instead, this camper needs help doing what is right as a result of his or her commitment at the heart level. A commitment to change without a plan to change will not help the child change; in fact, the camper may determine that change is impossible. Therefore we want to encourage them, alongside us, to take that next step of behavior change as well.
MAY GOD HELP OUR CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH THE NEXT STEP
As our children and teens prepare for youth camp this summer, may God help our children and teens both have the insight and will to take the next step. As they go, we need to each pray for God to use His Word, the Spirit’s influence, the counselor’s guidance, the music, and the fellowship with other teens to work together in our campers’ hearts to change them. We pray for the speakers, the musicians, and the workers that God would grant them the right words, sensitivity, attitude, and timing to help the campers identify and take the next step. Finally, we pray that God would show mercy and grace on the campers and do a mighty work in each of them.
This article first appears on Kevin Carson’s website found by clicking here.
If you are a parent or youth/children’s worker, you may also want to consider reading these two blogs as well:
