Reunited Through Living Water

With Week 4 wrapped up and Week 5 on the move, campers and counselors will tell you that time has been flying by at camp! And every week God is making his transforming power known. Recently a camper at the Shores was baptized, proclaiming the truth of this power publicly. This was a great snapshot of how God’s glory rocked the lives of not only the camper (we will call her Emily), but the parents and counselor as well.

When coming through the gates of Shores, it appeared like it would be just another week of summer camp for Emily. Growing up, she had moved several times and really struggled to have consistent friendships and a good relationship with both of her parents. On top of feeling alone, she had been struggling with depression for the past six to seven years, causing joy to be a rarity in her life. During Emily’s “hang time” at camp with her counselor, she unveiled her past and even mentioned “I have not felt joy for so long.” They discussed how people will fail her, and relying on “feeling” God will fail her, but knowing and believing truth while relying on Christ never will.

As the week went on, her counselor began to see some changes. The girls in her cabin embraced and loved Emily for who she was, encouraging her to share and experience life with Christ. When she was with her cabin as they laughed and sang various songs, her counselor said, “I saw her face light up and thought, ‘God, you are doing great things already.’” And by the end of the week, her counselor mentioned that Emily had a completely different perspective on life. Instead of dreading the arrival of her parents with the attitude she had brought to camp, Emily verbalized her excitement to see them on Saturday and “sprinted after their car with joy overflowing.”

That day, Emily embraced the idea of being baptized and her parents, counselor, and other staff were witnesses of God’s glory in that moment. It was evident that God’s love was overflowing as she hugged her father, both weeping in each other’s arms. Not only was Emily reunited with her parents, but also with Christ through her baptism.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with [Christ] in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Romans 6:4-5

This is the transformation that can occur within six days. “I think about her a lot, almost every day, praying she can continue to pursue the Lord,” her counselor said.

With so many kids coming to the Shores for the rest of the summer, we are praying big and expectantly for more life transformation!