So you can see by looking through my blog that I have neither blogged much or blogged recently. I will give you a little background on a camp, Riverside Cove, then I will tell you the reason that I have asked you to read this. There is so much more to the story of the Cove than what I will include, but I will do my best to portray the amazing work that God has done through the West family in creating this camp in Western North Carolina.
Riverside Cove's Story
Many years ago, Jerry and Carolyn West felt like they were being led by God to take out another mortgage on their home to buy some surrounding land. They did not know exactly what this land would be used for but felt like God was leading them to buy this land, which would one day be used to help kids. Jerry was retired, and they had just paid off their home, so to everyone around them taking out another mortgage was foolish, but they were obedient to God's call when obedience seemed foolish. Fast forward a few years to when Amanda Stewart, a friend of the West family, told them she thought they should start a summer camp on the property they had bought. Again, the prayer warrior, Carolyn, sought the Lord and they were obedient in starting the camp. Due to restraints in place by the Health Department for not having a commercial kitchen, the camp is considered primitive and can only run for 72 hours per overnight session. The first year the camp had 19 campers enrolled and has grown to now have two overnight sessions and a day camp, which are already full for this summer. One amazing aspect of Riverside Cove Camp is that every single overnight camper gets to attend for FREE. There is no charge for the three-day camp in which the students get to experience creation through hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, boating, rope swings, and most importantly hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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| Last Day of Overnight Camp Session 1 |
God is Working
This past summer, I had the opportunity to work Riverside Cove for the first time. I can say from being in the midst of this camp that God is undoubtedly at work. We don't know exactly what He is up to but there is no doubt He is at work here. God has used this camp and the West family to show me grace and the love of Christ in the past year in amazing ways. Jerry and Carolyn's son Keith and his wife Hope have become amazing friends, as they have poured out the love of Christ in the short time that I have known them. I have been so encouraged by their willingness to go and do wherever God leads.
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| Me and My Girls |
This year, Keith has asked me and my partner-in-crime, Casey Melvin, to help run a girls' basketball camp. The camp will be of similar format to the overnight camps. The girls will stay in cabins with a cabin leader, they will wake up for morning devotions with their cabin, eat breakfast, go to morning club consisting of games fun and a testimony, then a couple hours of intense basketball skill development, followed by lunch, a fun outing in the afternoon, dinner, another club with a talk given by Keith, and another devotion/reflection time with their cabin. This 3-day camp, like the other overnight camps, will be completely free of charge for the girls. BUT, we need this camp to fill up. This camp is something the Lord has been stirring my heart towards for 3 years now. This is another opportunity to use coaching basketball, which I love, to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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| A Little Cabin Competition! |
Here is where you come in. I need your help. WE need your help. I have been asking the Lord over the past couple of weeks what else I need to be doing for Riverside Cove. The Lord has shown me through a prayer warrior, Carolyn West, that sometimes all we can do is pray and trust God. The past couple of days I have felt a strong urging to write this blog and send it out to people that I love and trust. I am asking nothing more and nothing less than for you to LABOR in prayer with me.
We read over and over again in the Old Testament about people groups crying out to God in prayer for big things to happen and God is faithful to them. Paul says we should labor in prayer. That description of prayer tells me that it's not always easy and it takes work and commitment, but there are also so many examples in the New Testament of people devoting themselves to prayer:
Acts 1:14...the apostles joined together constantly in prayer
Acts 2:42...the believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread & prayer
Romans 12:12...command to be faithful in prayer
Ephesians 6:18...always keep praying for the Lord's people
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." - Colossians 4:2-4
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| Casey and the Prayer Warrior/Dance Champion, Carolyn West |
I am asking that you commit the next two weeks to LABOR in prayer with me. Starting May 17 and going through May 31, 14 days, will you pray with me everyday for these things:
- Please pray that on June 1st, there will be 45 girls registered for basketball camp. (This is a huge increase in 2 weeks from the 14 girls registered right now)
- Please pray for Hope and Keith, as they move from Dallas, TX to Cullowhee for the summer to prepare for camp in July.
- Please pray that God would guide and direct leadership in the planning of camp this summer so that all workings lead to His praise and His glory.
- Please pray that the Gospel falls on fertile soil come July. We know that many of these kids have never heard the Gospel before and come from some pretty rough backgrounds. May they experience the love and grace of Christ.
- Please pray Colossians 4:3-4 for myself and all others working the camp. "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should."
- Please pray that God does "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within."
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