My son, Gabriel, and I are off to youth camp tomorrow. I don't know how long it's been since I went to youth camp. I started going in the 9th grade and finished in the 12th (or so I thought). Then I went as a youth minister for 5 or 6 years. Then I went as a single staff pastor in my first church for another 3 or 4 years. But that was ... oh, I don't know ... a lot of years ago.
The youth camp I'm preaching at is the same one that I went to as a kid. When I was going I remember looking up to the men who were preaching. They were dynamic and spirit-filled. They inspired me and helped me to be better than I was before (and that wasn't that easy to do in those days). In those days I never dreamed that some day I would be the one to fill those shoes. It feels a little like "full-circle."
It's important to me that I'm going with my son, Gabriel (13). We'll have 8 hours on the road up there and 8 back to talk. He will be staying in a cabin with his cousins from Houston who are going with their church (the church I grew up in). It's another generation of Orozcos invading this youth camp. Boy, this "full-circle" thing is contagious.
Pray for me. Pray that my body will be able to take a week at camp. Pray that my mind will be sharp enough to keep up with these kids. And most of all pray that my heart will stay true to its first love, Jesus. He's the reason I'm going.
blessings,
pastor ellis
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