Each spring in Czech we put together a couple of training events for Czech youth groups on how to use English camp as a tool to reach teens in their communities. It's a time to gather everyone together to talk about the big picture. To have 10-15 youth groups together in one place gives the students a vision that this is not just one event, but part of a movement of God. This is what God is doing all over the country. We want them to be encouraged by being together and hearing stories of what Jesus is doing not just in their communities, but all over Czech.
We start Friday night by focusing on Christ and His word. His glory is the purpose and goal of all these camps. The we spend Saturday teaching seminars on how to lead a small group discussion, how to invite your friends to camp, how to be a member of a team, camp songs and games, working with Americans, appologetics, all the different details of camp.
I love the training times because it gives me a chance to reconnect with all the groups I've done camp with in the past. It's a bit of reconnection overload. I get glimpses of what God has been doing over the years in and through so many of the people I've met here. Aleš is the leader of the youth group in the city of Poděbrady. He is one of a kind. He works a normal job, has a family, and in his spare time he leads his youth group. The connection that I've seen him nurture with his students is awesome. He has quite literally loved these students into the kingdom. Ondra is a friend and coworker that many of you have met. He led a seminar on how to take the friendships made at camp and make them last all year.
The final picture here is of my youth group. We haven't done camp for two years, so everything is new for us again. It was so good to be able to watch them soak it all in and talk about the different seminars they went to. This year I am focusing a lot more on leading them to pray for camp and for their friends. I want them to beg Christ for the salvation of their friends. Pray for us as we seek to see God glorified in Tábor this summer.

Comments