Dear High School Community,

Last week we had the opportunity for a three day getaway to the Wu Kai Sha YMCA Youth Village for HS camp.  Though it got chilly at night time, our time was filled with sunshine and smiles.  As the Spiritual Formation Coordinator, I get the privilege of organizing these activities so that students and faculty have the time and space to focus on being together and building relationships.

What makes camp really wonderful is that this is all taking place in community.  Camp is a clear witness for our students to the first part of Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”

It is the local church partnering with ICS and the prayer (and goodies) support of parents.

This year we tried something different and invited four different speakers from local churches to share.  Pastoral staff from The Vine, Island ECC, The Gathering and Harvest Mission Community Church shared on John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Over the course of the four talks, we explored Jesus as the all-sufficient fulfillment and were challenged by the second part of Hebrews 12:1, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” - our temptations, our labels, our religious pride - and embrace God’s grace provided through relationship with His son, Jesus.  

And the next part of Hebrews 12:1 is the great challenge of continued discipleship.  Camp is a wonderful event, but rather than living for the emotional and spiritual high of big events, our calling is to, “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 

Finally, verse two tells us how to achieve this even as camp memories fade and we settle back into mundane routines - by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.” Communing with Jesus doesn't require traveling to a mountain top, visiting a temple or getting away to camp, He is available to us by simply by returning our gaze to Him.