Meet the Staff [Part 3]

 Hello! My name is Ashley.

I am from Greenfield, IN, which is about 20 miles east of Indy. I am currently studying elementary education at Purdue University. I am going to be a Red Brush Area Director. I want to be at SpringHill this summer because I was there last summer for the first time ever and I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with the facility and I really enjoyed getting to know all of the staff. However, my favorite part, and what’s drawing me back this summer are the campers. It is awesome seeing how God grows them in just a matter of a few days. I like that SpringHill incorporates this into every aspect and activity of camp and I am so blessed to be a part of it. I am most looking forward to meeting the campers and helping them experience God, as well as encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Him.

Hello! My name is Anna.

I am a sophomore at Purdue University studying nursing. I was born in China, but I have been living in Chicago for the past 11 years. This summer, I will be working as Craft Lead, and I am so excited to see how God will be working in my life and the lives of campers and staff. I love SpringHill because of their mission in spreading God’s love to every person at camp- campers and staff. Last summer as a High Adventure Instructor, I saw how God strengthened every camper through His word to help him or her step out of their comfort zone and overcome their fears during the high adventure activities. I also experienced how God’s love empowered every staff that worked day and night to ensure that in the midst of the thrilling and fun camp activities, meaningful conversations about God were still happening.  For this summer, I am especially looking forward to working and building relationships with my team along with other staff, and to use my experience with God last summer as a resource of encouragement to them. I also can’t wait to see how God will change my life again through the campers. So all in all, I love SpringHill and I can’t wait for the summer to be here!

 

Jude: Defending the Faith

When is the last time you read the book of Jude?  You know, that really short one just before Revelation.  This is a seldom taught and thus seldom read book of the Bible but it is so important to us in this day and age.  Jude writes this very urgent letter to instruct his readers on how to identify false teachers.  Jude does not hold any punches in his short letter when it comes to the character and judgment of these misleading leaders.  He compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah, fruitless tress and fallen angels.  Jude implores his readers to “contend vigorously” for the one true faith and gospel. He warns them to beware of self-seekers who wish to detract from Christ’s gospel.

So, what does false doctrine look like?  False doctrine is anything that places its focus outside of faith in Jesus Christ.  So, I have two questions for you.

Do you know your faith well enough to know when it is being attacked?

Are you actively involved in defending the faith?

There is no shortage of critics and false teachers of Christ.  I wonder what our families, schools, cities and countries would be like if we all began to stand up for our faith?

 

The Church: Vitamin or Oxygen

I recently had the opportunity to speak at Terrace Lake Community Church in Columbus, Indiana.  I took this opportunity to do some study on the local church, the following is an abbreviated version of what I shared.

The church has many roles in the lives of believers, however most fit in the following categories; worship, teaching, discipline, fellowship.

• Corporate Worship is our opportunity to return praise and honor to God.  It is our chance to stand in awe and give God acceptable worship. (Hebrews 12:28, 10:2)
• We also benefit from the teaching of the church.  If we are willing to truly submit ourselves to the authority of this right teaching we will be transformed by it. (Col 3:16, Titus 2:7)
• The least desirable of the roles of the church in our life is discipline however it is the most necessary.  Too often the church prefers to sidestep this responsibility in favor of not making anyone uncomfortable.  It is, however, this very role that protects the church (Heb 12:5/11,  1 Cor 11:32) as well as followers of Christ. (Mat 18:15-18, Gal 6:1-2, 1 Cor 5:1-5.)
• Fellowship and encouragement within the body of Christ is an aspect of the church that is very unique.  Where else can you find people who share the same life changing experience of the gospel, are truly committed to the well being of each other and all, give time regularly to the advancement and betterment of others’ children and freely give of their time and money so that this body continues to grow and thrive? I understand that this is a picture of a healthy church, however it is this idea of community that we all to often selfishly keep to ourselves. (Hebrews 10)

If the above is what we get from the church as believers next we look at what our role is within the church.

• Praying and working within the church. (1 Cor 12, Acts 2:42-47) I once heard that the fastest way to see if a church is a healthy, Christ-centered church is to look at the length of the list of volunteers in the Children’s department and nursery.
• Giving to the ministry of the Church. (Acts 4:32-37) Do I give what is possible and when “I can” or do I truly sacrifice?
• The church is to be a Family.  You will never feel like a part of this family until you give yourself fully to it.  Are you open to correction? Are you vulnerable?  Are you an attender (come when able), participant (come regularly, even some non-Sunday events), Involved (regular attender, help within church and give when able) or Invested: I tell others about the Church, I see myself as a teacher/ leader, I am constantly involved in at least one ministry of the church, I give until it hurts, I am committed to the success of the church (even if it means staying when leaving would be easier) The success of this community truly matters to me, when it hurts I hurt, when it rejoices I rejoice.

The church is Christ’s bride and chosen presence to the world.  Christ died for the church and will redeem her to be His bride.  Do you think He cares about how we view and treat the church?  Do you act like He cares about how we view and treat the church?

Do you treat the church like a vitamin (beneficial) or like oxygen (vital)?