Wow!  This week at Summersalt started off wide open and didn’t seem to slow down.  We studied the life of David and were challenged from God’s word on our own lives.  The staff at Summersalt is solid, and have a heart for the Lord and for teenagers.  It was such a pleasure to work with them.  I had the pleasure of being the camp pastor for 550 students and adult leaders.

The highlight of the week for me was Wednesday and Thursday night.  On Wednesday night the students were challenged to let God take off the chains of sin and be free.  About 15 students stood to confess Christ as Lord.  Hundreds came to the altar to confess sin.  On Thursday night I was blown away at God’s moving Spirit.  My nephew and niece Blake and Kelsey were there along with his girlfriend, Emily, and Kelsey’s friend Jessica.  When the invitation was given to follow Jesus and confess him as Lord, they all four stood.  It was a moving experience for me.  I closed my message with a testimony from my father.  My father continues to be a witness even in his death.  He would be so excited that they surrendered their lives to Christ totally regardless of the cost.

I was so proud of our teenagers from our church.  Kevin Miller felt like God was calling him into full time ministry, youth ministry.  Several teenagers repented of sin, and still others wanted to make their commitment to Christ public and be baptized.  They had such a great attitude all week and as they interacted with others they were so respectful.  My family was also there all week and had a ball.  The boys climbed to the top of the 15 foot inflatable in the middle of the lake.  I wish you could have seen Connor’s face when he got to the top!  They had a blast being with the big kids.

Something entertaining was the College World Series.  It was the bottom of the ninth and the game was tied.  Over 150 students and adults crowded around a TV watching USC try to capture the crown.  Curfew came, and the staff had to shut off the TV and send everyone to their rooms.  I thought there was going to be a mutiny.  The children were actually cool and respectful, but the adults were MAD!  They were very disgusted to say the least.  Maybe if we had the same passion and desire to see God move as we do a game, revival would break out!  Needless to say, it was a good call because the game wasn’t over for another hour.  USC did win the championship!!

Looking forward to next week.  I’ll be camp pastor again.

We have had a blast at Conclave in Chattanooga, TN.  It is one of the weekends I look forward to at the start of the new year.  This is the first year that my entire family has been able to come along.  It Snowed almost 6 inches!  This is the first time Connor actually remembered seeing snow and they had a blast making snowballs and playing.  The exhibit hall was a lot of fun for them as they have gotten a bunch of cool stuff.  Caden spun the wheel and it landed on an xbox 360!  Of course that only meant that we got put in the drawing to win, but we received a call from the exhibitors and they drew our name out!!  I don’t think I have ever won anything except the jelly of the month club.

The worship has been great with Steve Fee band.  Ergun Caner is a powerful speaker and the first night he really encouraged those who have felt beaten down in the ministry and made a comparison to Paul in Galations 6.  Ed Stetzer spoke today and focused on the ministry of reconciliation as opposed to the false gospel of moralism.

I sat in on Dr. Richard Ross’ breakout session which challenged us to gather prayer partners around teenagers and engage parents to equip them to disciple and pray for their teenagers.  He is such a humble and intelligent guy.  I am always challenged by him.  I got to hang out with Clayton King a bit who is one of those guys you just want to hang around.  He is a trip and is MCing the event.

I led a breakout session entitled Changing the Scorecard and had some sharp student ministers in attendance.  We looked at the current scorecards in the church that we measure to define success: budgets, baptisms, and butts in the seats.  We then worked on developing matrices to count results rather than assuming results were taking place because people were in attendance.  Had a great time with them.

The boys and I spent some much needed time together tonight at the swimming pool.  We had the pool to ourselves partly because everyone else was at the worship service.  I hate to miss anything at a conference like this, but it was important to my boys for me to swim with them and chunk them around the pool.  I missed a good message as Ergun Caner talked about discerning what God wants you to do in your current ministry and if he wants you to stay or go.  I guess I’ll get the CD and listen to it.

Tomorrow we wrap up the conference and hopefully we will be able to make it home.  The roads are pretty iced over.

This week of summersalt has been off the chain.  My students are here from Barnwell!  It has been so much fun hanging out with them and meeting new friends as camp pastor.  Also, my family came up on Wednesday.  I launched Connor today on the blog in the lake…once.  After that he was scared to death.  We did get it on video!

I’ve met some cool friends.  Amy, Corbin, Kye, Bobby, Julie (who I keep calling Laura and who got saved tonight!!), Lauren, and a ton of other teenagers.

But the coolest thing this week was that tonight we celebrated over 25 students who came to know Christ.  Some of them came to know Christ in their church group devotion time last night after being confronted with their sin in the message last night.

I feel priveledged to be a part of their spiritual story.  Every time they tell their spiritual story to someone, I will have a small part.  My prayer is that they will be the spiritual story of someone else…and someone else…and someone else.  God continues to rock my world.

I am standing in the back of the worship center at the close of week one watching students worshipping our Lord with hands raised high.  There is an excitement at what God has done in their life this week.  Our desire was that they might leave this week owning their faith.  That they would havde statements that begin with I believe… that they could defend and be firm about.

My prayer is that as they go back to their communities that they will be missionaries on the largest mission field in North America.  If people do not come to know Christ by the age of 18 there is only a 20% chance that they will.  College students are leaving the fellowship of believers in the droves.  30% of those active in church ministry will remain.  That is not including those who are not even a part of the church.  Statistically, parents are not raising their children in the Lord and are not impressing the truths of the faith on their children.

So WHO is going to take the message of the gospel to them!  Jesus used 10-11 teenagers (his disciples) to change the world (there is evidence to believe that John was as young as 13).  I believe that he can do it again.  Don’t let your life be a Christian Walk…Run, Set the Pace, Be the Church to the Community and allow God to transform the World through you beginning where you are.

Summersalt has been phenomenal.  The theme is Captive and our desire is for students to not be held captive by the myths and philosophies of this world but be grounded in their faith in the good doctrines from the Word.  The staff is awesome and the worship is great.  Steve Rohrlack and Cory Singleton have produced a seamless, Christ centered camp.  Very well done.  Judd from Gateway Baptist is leading worship and is electric.  I have the honor of speaking.   I have also met some great friends this week.  Jason, Heather, Miranda, Jack, Nick, Jay, Lee, Alexandria, Sarah, Lydia, and Alex.  There are also some great student ministers here like Kevin, Ian, Bernie, Johnny, and James to name a few.  My heart goes out to those who dedicate their lives to influence the next generation.

Monday we challenged the students to train themselves and put forth effort into what they believe.  I Tim. 4

Tuesday they were challenged to nail down what they believed about the Bible and why.  Then they were urged to read it, if it is they believe it is the very breath of God.  II Tim 3

Wednesday was heavy.  We talked about the doctrine of sin.  Ephesians 2:1-3.  We had several students come to know Christ during their church group devotion times after the worship and message.

Tonight is going to rocking.  Pray that students will come to know Christ tonight!

By the way, Whiteoak has had a face lift and it looks unbelievable.  Roger Orman and Tim Hughes led the charge in building a high ropes course, covering the basketball area, and a new cool lounge and snack bar.  It’s awesome!

I had the pleasure of hanging out with the students of FBC North Augusta this past weekend at DNOW.  Charlie Swain is the student minister there and doing a phenomenal job.  David Sons is the middle school minister and is rocking and rolling.  I was so impressed with the students and had such a good time hanging out with them.  The theme this year was All Stars and we studied three All Stars of the faith; Zaccheus, Peter, and Moses.  Charlie Hall led us in worship and was so down to earth and humble.  Their band did an awesome job during the weekend.

 Let me give a shout out to the girls flag football teams.  They were balling.  It was wet and nasty on the field, and they were diving all over the place and going all out.  That is what it takes to be an All Star, going above and beyond the competition.

 Let me give a few shout outs.  Logan sprained her knee and bruised it all up during the final game.  Had to be carried off the field.  She really did leave it all on the field.  She was a trip this weekend.  Caroline and Rachel were intense on the field of competition.  Kaleb learned about his name sake on the side lines.  Andrew was intimidating and talking junk to a wide receiver who on the next play burnt him and scored a touchdown!  He was a stud.   The twins Alonzo and Fonzo were smooth operators. 

About 10-20 students confessed Christ as Lord, and others obeyed God’s direction in being obedient to the question What is God calling you to do? 

I made a lot of new friends over in NA and look forward to seeing what God does through their lives in the years to come. 

I just finished 2 weeks as Camp Pastor at Summersalt Youth Camp at Whiteoak Conference Center.  The theme was The Gathering and it was a study of the early church and how our current church lines up with them.  It was a challenging week for churches and students and was an awesome experience for me!

Here are a few highlights.

• Launching my son Caden 15 feet in the air on the blob in the lake
• My son Connor falling asleep in my wife Leisa’s lap during everyone of my messages.
• Meeting new friends like the triplets Maggie, Bailey, and Kelsey (all got saved during the week), Jason and Steven (cool guys who continued the worship service after the worship service), CJ (caught an 8 foot shark with a rope and his bare hands), Cati Lee (caught the game winning TD, had to be there), Daniel (I licked his foot), and 100’s of others from all over SC.  There were 600+ while I was there the two weeks.
• My youth group tackling me the last night with hugs.  I serve the best teenagers in all of SC.
• My niece,Kelsey, hanging out with us and bringing a friend that got saved the second week.
• The maturity of the staff and the silliness they had as well.  Steven Lester I will get you soon you scary man you.
• Johnny Pack making me laugh out loud on several occasions and filming my intro for my survivor application video.
• Defeating Andrew and the crew on the volleyball court.  Maybe next year boys.
• Cory and Steve’s encouragement.
• Singing God of this City with the names of the churches flashing up the last night.
• Changing the end of the message on the last night to talk about Mephibosheph (2 Samuel 9) and Steven Rutland playing Carried to the Table.
• Watching 15 students boldly stand up to confess Christ as Lord the first week and 6 students the second week.  It wasn’t easy…no music, no prayer, every eye on them.
• Dozens of students confessing sin and repenting at the altar.
• Climbing the Rock wall and Fischer and SaraLynn belaying me.  I outweigh them by a few pounds.
• Watching three of my former students lead as staffers and teach in a PIC that I learned from.  I was like a proud father.

That’s to name a few.  It was an awesome week and a great opportunity.  Thanks to Steve Rohrlack and the crew for the opportunity.

I spoke at Lexington Baptist Church this past Sunday for my buddy John Swindler.  He has been there for an unprecedented 10 years breaking the youth minister stay average by about 8 years. 

At any rate, JB and I had a great time with the students from Lexington.  My brother, Luke, came over and hung out.  He is the Lexington Assistant Principal.  Sharp guy and loves the students.  He’ll be superintendent one day somewhere.  I taught him everything he knows and he has taught me how to interrogate students when they are suspected of a crime!

I preached about Gideon and encouraged the students to be Courageous.  To be leaders in their school and in the state.  Maybe there is someone in that group that will rise to the occasion and be obedient to God.  Maybe it will be Maggie Davis (I told you I would give you a shout out!) or Laura Grace (what’s up!). 

The weekend came to a close for me last night as I addressed the students of FBC Sumter for the third time.  We first talked about Becoming someone with Genuine Faith, then Becoming a Trail Blazer, and finally Becoming the Aroma of Christ to the World.

Beau has some awesome students and is doing a phenomenal job with the student ministry at FBC.  He has a passion for his students and for the Lord.  The mark of a good leader is when he is not around everything continues to work smoothly.  He brought his little girl home from the hospital on Saturday morning and missed the morning session, but everything didn’t miss a beat.  He has some great leaders who love teenagers.  I was very impressed with all of the adults I interacted with during the weekend. 

As for the students, You guys rock!  Miles, William, Brandon, Sweet T, Joshua, Michael, Mary Grace, Mary Bennett, Kaitlyn (who beat me on the pop singer game and then rubbed it in my face, Jerod, and who could forget Chip! 

Keep up the good work in Sumter.  Be the church to your school this week.  It is more important that the world see an authentic Christian at your school than marking your attendance on Sunday morning. 

Hope to see you guys again sometime…

I am in the Senior High Men’s home in Sumter, SC; and they are teaching me about the ways of the world.  I am in the process of speaking to their student ministry.  Beau Bradberry is the man with the plan and a big head, Sweet T told me to say that.  Anyhoo, these are some great students up here and hopefully they will be blazing a trail next week at their school.

Stay posted on the results…

Joshua said to say, “Can I have yo number.”

Scott said to say, “umm.  Have a nice day.”