I have fond memories of my youth camp experiences growing up. They were always fun. In fact, one summer I worked a session of camp doing kitchen cleanup, so I could afford to attend multiple sessions of camp. Camp was a very important part of my spiritual formation.
With that being said, I work hard to make sure the urban youth, that I now work with, have the same opportunities to attend camp and make their own memories. When the youth minister at our overseeing church invited our teens to attend their fall retreat at Camp Tahkodah I jumped on the opportunity. Last year (the first year we joined with them) 
I took approximately 10 teens. This year, I took 18. There were a total of 140 teens from Missouri Street and Wonder City. We left West Memphis at 5:45 Saturday morning and returned at 4pm on Sunday. The two days were packed with activities—both fun and spiritual. Most importantly our teens learned just how AMAZING (this year’s theme) God’s grace truly is.
But this weekend retreat also provided a time of growth for Wonder City. This was the first Sunday since Nathan and Jenni left (August 1st) that I would not be there. Additionally, our Servant Leader that normally leads worship had to work and the only other individual who can drive the church van was also supposed to work. I had arranged for a guest speaker. I had coordinated with our Servant Leaders about worship. But it was going to take the church stepping up as a whole for worship to come together Sunday. People were going to have to find their own way to church and others were going to have to do things they were not accustom to doing. So, what happened? Our van driver thought is was important to be at church and took off from work to drive and be there. Worship also started 45 minutes late. But I was told that it went very well. Some of those who participated in worship, I would have never guessed would do the things they did.
This weekend has reminded me just how amazing God’s grace is. God’s grace is always amazing. It was amazing to me through my camp experiences. It was amazing by providing the opportunity for our teens to attend the retreat. It was amazing to our church as members stepped up and made sure that worship happened. God grace is also amazing to Wonder City as this Sunday was our 7th anniversary. Seven years ago this past Sunday, Wonder City held its first Sunday worship service as a church.
I am reminded of the psalmist in Psalm 136 who recounted all the mighty acts of God—all the ways that God had been gracious to his people. And after recalling each gracious act the psalmist states, “His faithful love endures forever.” God’s grace has abounded and will abound for all time. He is always working to show his grace in our lives.
With that being said, I work hard to make sure the urban youth, that I now work with, have the same opportunities to attend camp and make their own memories. When the youth minister at our overseeing church invited our teens to attend their fall retreat at Camp Tahkodah I jumped on the opportunity. Last year (the first year we joined with them) 
I took approximately 10 teens. This year, I took 18. There were a total of 140 teens from Missouri Street and Wonder City. We left West Memphis at 5:45 Saturday morning and returned at 4pm on Sunday. The two days were packed with activities—both fun and spiritual. Most importantly our teens learned just how AMAZING (this year’s theme) God’s grace truly is.But this weekend retreat also provided a time of growth for Wonder City. This was the first Sunday since Nathan and Jenni left (August 1st) that I would not be there. Additionally, our Servant Leader that normally leads worship had to work and the only other individual who can drive the church van was also supposed to work. I had arranged for a guest speaker. I had coordinated with our Servant Leaders about worship. But it was going to take the church stepping up as a whole for worship to come together Sunday. People were going to have to find their own way to church and others were going to have to do things they were not accustom to doing. So, what happened? Our van driver thought is was important to be at church and took off from work to drive and be there. Worship also started 45 minutes late. But I was told that it went very well. Some of those who participated in worship, I would have never guessed would do the things they did.
This weekend has reminded me just how amazing God’s grace is. God’s grace is always amazing. It was amazing to me through my camp experiences. It was amazing by providing the opportunity for our teens to attend the retreat. It was amazing to our church as members stepped up and made sure that worship happened. God grace is also amazing to Wonder City as this Sunday was our 7th anniversary. Seven years ago this past Sunday, Wonder City held its first Sunday worship service as a church.
I am reminded of the psalmist in Psalm 136 who recounted all the mighty acts of God—all the ways that God had been gracious to his people. And after recalling each gracious act the psalmist states, “His faithful love endures forever.” God’s grace has abounded and will abound for all time. He is always working to show his grace in our lives.
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