When God Speaks
Summer Youth Camp 2006

Speak my Lord... Your servant is listening...

Summer Youth Camp (SYC) 2006 is over. Once more we have experienced God’s faithfulness in sustaining us and in meeting the needs of the campus ministry. We thank the Lord for refreshing us after a tiring but fulfilling preparation for the said camp. The Lord reminded us of the great privilege we have to be ministers of the Gospel among students. We feel humbled and honored that in our weakness and brokenness the Lord uses us to display His power in and through us.
“When God Speaks” – Knowing and Doing the Will of God, How to Recognize God’s Voice and Respond in Obedience was this year’s camp theme supported by “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47 and “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways…” Hebrews 1:1.

The camp aimed to know clearly when God is speaking, recognize His voice and follow Him. Also, to examine ways God speaks through the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, through prayer, through circumstances, and through the church or other believers. The camp provided us opportunities to deepen our understanding and appreciation of God’s love and passion, be equipped as God’s servants extending His Lordship in all areas of our lives and learn the discipline of communing with God through the group devotion (quiet time) every morning, small group sharing and discussion and also through the plenary sessions expounded by the speakers, Pastor Edward Loyola and Kuya Ron Nieuwsma. As one of the quiet time topic says, “Freedom in Christ means Living by the Spirit,” Christ has set us free. We are no longer enslaved by sin; we are free from our sins. We are now slave by Christ.

We should always desire to glorify Christ in all that we do and say. We were challenged to submit ourselves to God in prayer because of the obvious acts of sinful nature of men identified by Paul in Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like…” Also to plan out ways that we can demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in our life even after the camp in our homes, campuses and church stated in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Our walk with God is a very personal thing. Just as your salvation is based on a personal relationship with God, so is your calling and discipleship also an intimate transaction between God and you. Sometimes, He calls us late in life, as in the case of Paul. At other times, God breaks the silence by speaking our name in our youth. The Bible shows us that the men whom God calls thus inevitably become history makers, changing their world by their utter devotion to God and His Word. When God whispers your name, He is definitely calling you, and He will make you the best for your assigned task. You will experience God working in and through you to accomplish His purposes.

One thing I have found helpful is to identify “spiritual markers” in my life. Each time I have encountered God’s call or directions for my life, I have mentally built a spiritual marker at that point. A spiritual marker identifies a time of transition, decision, or direction when I clearly know that God has guided me. Over time I can look back at these spiritual markers and see how God has faithfully directed my life according to His divine purpose. This helps me see God’s perspective for my past and present. Just like what the camp directress, Ate Mina Gone, has told us during the camp orientation, God is faithful with His Word and His promises never fails. We are living witnesses to His modern day miracles of putting together bits and pieces of broken lives and relationships. We had a total attendance of 61 people in the 3-day camp, 3 kids, 26 staff, 2 speakers and 30 delegates. Eight (8) of those delegates followed Christ’s call to water baptism. They declared their faith, shared Christ’s burial and resurrection and celebrated their part to belong in God’s family. It has been a symbolism for them their death to their old lives.

Thank you for your partnership in prayer and giving.

God be with you!
BBC Team 2006

Click here for Camp 2006 pictures
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