There are many things that I can share with you about this year’s summer as a team member with iRock ministries, but for the benefit of the reader I will “briefly” summarize. To start off I will begin by stating that before diving headfirst into the vigorous, previously planned schedule, I was spiritually, physically and mentally prepared to give all I had to whatever God had in store. Being a recent graduate from Regent University majoring in Biblical and Theological studies, I was able to reflect what I was taught by my professors to all the kids, counselors and adults that I encountered. By all means I was still nervous to stand before kids teaching and preaching the gospel, but I felt in my soul that this year was going to be different than the previous year. The first reason is that instead of two students in the house, there were now four. Not only did this mean less food to enjoy and more testosterone, this meant that each person was responsible for their own weight and for helping to lessen the weight if another person was slacking or just was not able due to illness and work. In my case there was a lot of work to take on, including occasional trips to the Ernst farm stacking hay and straw to earn gas money. Then there was Cedar Ridge Adventures which gave me the opportunity to reach more kids by facilitating and encouraging them to conquer their fears and to truly value themselves and other people. The second reason is that on our agenda 5 camps were planned and the last reason is that God was going to stretch me in areas that I prayed I could grow.

This growth included a lot of trust and faith, not in me, in God. The trust that God was going to put me in a place and surround me with people that could allow that to happen. He did just that and more. God gave me confidence to help lead a worship team, to teach kids and answer their thought provoking questions such as, “Can God stop time and where in the Bible does God’s word say so?” or “What happens if someone dies, like your Dad and you do not know if your Dad is in heaven or hell?” He gave me the strength when I was weak and the knowledge to answer the questions. This summer God moved in my life to tell me that the future is not worth worrying about. I am 24 years old, single, still wondering where I can use the gifts that God has given. But if I worry too much about the future I would miss that God is and has been using me and my gifts all along in the present. God may be giving you a chance to reach someone now but you could be too worried about God’s future plan for your life to realize where He is calling you in the present. You do not need a stage to do what God has called you to do. All you need is an open heart and a willingness to do God’s work. You may not think that your church or ministry is big enough to reach many, but it is not about the size of your ministry or the number of people you reach. If God can use four students to reach kids in the small places such as Hagerstown and Clear Spring, MD, God can use you to reach someone in need of the love of Christ.

By Caleb Joshua Lambert (Golden Child)