Eternal Investments

Today was a bittersweet day for many in leadership here at camp.

A week ago, Shirley Van Zee, the mother of two of the camp's most well-known counselors, Adam and Levi, was killed in a tragic accident involving a plane. A memorial service was held for her today in Townsend, Montana and I was able to attend with Jim and Andrea along with one other worker from here at camp. Our hearts were heavy as we felt the sting of death that still remains here on earth in being parted, though briefly, from those whom we love. We do not sorrow, however, as the world sorrows.

While we mourn Shirley's loss we also rejoice with her that she is in heaven before the throne of grace singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!"

This week it has been my privilege to lead worship with your children. We have been having a blast. (When your kids come home, don't let them fool you: they know how to worship like crazy!) Tonight as I was coming back to the camp from the memorial service I was struck by the fact that Shirley was worshipping before the throne of God.

Before worship I asked our students if they had met anyone famous. Students raised their hands and when asked told of rock stars and athletes and so on. One student in particular said that his dad had met Ted Nugent.

Perfect--third-party knowing.

I told them all that it was neat that they had met these people but that I had a friend named Shirley who had just met Jesus face to face recently.

While Jesus came and walked among us, sometimes it's easy to forget that we have a friend in heaven who is always before the throne interceding for us. The testimony of Shirley's life and the knowledge that she was standing before the throne of God in worship brought our evening's worship into such stark perspective. We sang a song called "Beautiful," by Phil Wickham. Two of the verses were so powerful as we sang them:

"I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful"

"When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful"

Tonight was our most powerful night of worship of the week as the worship of heaven was brought to earth in the very presence of God. It was one of the most intimate times of worship that I have been a part of in my entire life.

Later on in the evening Landon shared the gospel with all of our students and used the testimony of Shirley's life as an example. He also used the fact that we, her friends and also her family, knew great peace and joy even amidst sorrow because of her relationship with Jesus Christ. After sharing the gospel, many of the students came forward and gave their lives to Christ!

Camp is fun, yes, but there are also serious aspects, parts that sometimes are heavy and hard to bear up under. The greatest part of camp, the most important aspect, is that of investing in eternity and today God brought in a great dividend.

Today we were able by the power of God's Spirit to further populate the streets of heaven. There will be more souls to stand beside Shirley Van Zee and sing the praises of our God and King forever as a result of this evening's ministry!

Praise God!

The camp's motto is, "Directing people to Jesus Christ and developing them to reflect his character." Please pray for our staff and for the student counselors as we finish the week out by challenging our students to follow hard after God in their new commitments and to renew old commitments with a fiery passion. Shirley Van Zee lived a life that counted and is now leaving behind a legacy that continues to draw people to the Lord. Her life was not lost, nor was it spent, but was, rather, invested in God's kingdom and is bringing forth fruit even beyond the grave.

It is our desire to minister to your children so that at the end of their lives their testimony will be the same. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your children's journey towards the heart of God.