Ten years ago I spent a 'work weekend' at a new property Young Life had recently acquired in North Georgia, called Sharptop Cove. It was a tired old Baptist camp that the ministry planned to make 'the next Windy Gap.' Windy Gap is an amazing camp I had visited in high school nestled outside Asheville, NC. Let me assure you, this property in Jasper, GA was a far cry from Windy Gap, but we worked all weekend, clearing brush and cutting down trees for roads to be cut--and we prayed. We prayed that the vision of a premier Young Life camp in this location would come to fruition and lives would be changed.
Fast forward 5 years, when my husband and I (dual income, no kids) moved to our small town and joined a small, committed group praying for Young Life to start a ministry in our town. Within one year, the four couples on our committee had seven babies. Momentum was lost.
Three years ago, God showed up in more ways than I can recount in this post, a significant amount of money was raised in a relatively short time. Almost two years ago we were able to interview and eventually hire a real staff person (Sweeney) and start an 'official' Young Life area.
Two years ago my husband and I attended a committee retreat weekend at the beautifully restored Sharp Top Cove. The vision of transforming the old camp had been realized. During our weekend we spent time face down on the floor of the main 'club house' praying for the countless high school students who would sit in those seats one day and hear the Gospel.
Tonight I sat in that very room surrounded by 19 college leaders and 2 dozen high school students from our town--and Sweeney who is leading the trip, even as he continues to battle the Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma diagnosis he received this Fall. Even more beautiful is that our group of 20+ students was made up of boarding students, local private school kids and kids from the group home (including J).
As I looked at the way God had pulled together years of life experience, ministry and most importantly prayer---all in this one moment---as the Gospel was being presented. It was almost more than my heart could take. How can His Sovereignty be questioned?
I don't want to forget this moment, but I also don't want to take for granted the countless other moments that are yet to come. May we not forget that God's timing is so very different than ours! All the waiting was nothing compared to that moment tonight when there was no other explanation but the Provident Hand of God.
When I walked out of the clubhouse into the crisp Winter night air, my eyes couldn't help but be drawn straight up to the clear star-laden sky. My heart could not be help but be drawn to awestruck worship. He is amazing. I am in awe of our infinitely creative Creator and the mind boggling way He weaves the world together in His unending pursuit of us.
King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life?... What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it. 2 Samuel 7:18,20 (The Message)To God be the glory!
8 comments:
I absolutely LOVE Sharptop Cove. I went during my high school years and it is such a blessing. The place is phenomenal. Young Life was such a huge part of my life and it's incredible to read about it from your side of things...as some one who worked so hard to get it started. Young Life started in my small town while I was in high school and it took a lot of people working extremely hard to get it started. But, it was such an incredible thing. I know that all the students who were a part of it are extremely grateful (even if we didn't realize it then) for the people like you in our area who prayed and worked so hard to get things started. I've seen God do amazing things through Young Life and through Windy Gap and Sharptop Cove. Both of those places are dear to my heart.
What a wonderful thing to be able to see the fruit of your labor....and prayers.
My husband used to be very involved in Young Life when he was a Youth pastor in his pre-preaching days...=)
That's awesome! I know that Sharp Top is a special place. I led a group from Texas there when it first opened. Thank you for continuing to pray for and support YL. It's because of YL that my father is a Christian and through him I became one too.
JMom....I agree with you on what a lovely place Sharp Top is. I actually worked there as a GA counselor during high school when it was the Baptist Camp and was brand new - we were the very first group to ever use the place.
I am glad it's still being used to further God's Kingdom. :-)
oops that was supposed to read...
G.A.(Girls In Action) camp. I guess we don't do that anymore, now we have AWANA's.
God is so faithful to let us see with our eyes the way His hand moves. Makes me remember the Psalm "Who is man,that Thou art mindful of him?" So very grateful for the blessing of His confirming work in the path you are on.
Thank you! Two years ago you were praying for my son, who was there last summer. Our God is an awesome God!
this post brought tears to my eyes this :o) thanks for the reminder of God's faithfulness! What JOY it is to serve such an incredible God!!! praying for your adult committee and sweeney!!!
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