NTS Camp Recap

By: Morgan Rhodes,
Healthy Harvest Director

In July, we had the opportunity as a church to send four EdgeTEENS and three Healthy Harvest students to “Never The Same” camp at Houghton College. This camp focused on the theme of “discovery” and the idea that once you are able to discover where God is working, you cannot unsee it.

Camp was jam-packed with fun activities, games, and spiritual learning for the students and for the leaders. Students engaged in worship twice a day, classes to further their knowledge of the Bible and spiritual gifts, and small group studies on the story of Esther. In the middle of the week, there was a session called the “cry night” which was an opportunity for students to commit (or recommit) their lives to God. Throughout the week, but especially on this day, Loren, Ethan, and I prayed continuously for our students to be touched by God and to be led by His Spirit. On this night, three students chose to commit their lives to Jesus for the first time. One of the students who chose to follow Jesus also expressed his desire to be baptized.

Though the camp focused on the spiritual aspect of the students’ lives, there were plenty of sports, games, and friendly competition for the students to interact with one another.

On the last day of camp, there was a communion and foot-washing ceremony. We had the opportunity to humble ourselves before one another and partake in an act of service that Jesus exemplifies for us in John 13. Each and every one of our students washed one another’s feet, including the leaders. This was an incredible opportunity for us to follow Jesus’ words from John 13:15-17 “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Overall, NTS camp re-filled our spiritual buckets and allowed for us to set aside five days to dedicate to Jesus. We look forward to attending next year, with the hope of bringing more students!