In just over 2 months time, LLYFC will be taking a group of young people down to the Staffordshire Showgrounds in Stafford for Soul Survivor; an annual Christian Summer Camp for Young People.

It’s a great time, and lots of fun.

Every single one of the young people we’ve taken down to Soul Survivor have come away from the week more enthused about God, and wanting to return the following year.

This despite the weather being so inclement last year that we started rewording the chorus of Michael W Smith’s ‘Let it Rain‘, singing instead ‘stop the rain, stop the rain, please send it away down to Devon.’

Sleeping in tents that at times leaked!

But we pitched our tents in that field in the middle of England because we wanted to meet with God and with other believers.  We wanted fellowship with our Creator and each other more than the minor discomfort brought about by the foibles of camping.

We were willing to put behind us the permanence and familiarity of our homes and all that we were used to, in order to meet with God.

Not that we cannot or could not meet with God right where we are, but that it showed an attitude of heart that says ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to meet with Jesus’.

Like the Israelites in the desert we pitch our tents where God’s presence is;  following the cloudy pillar by day and the fiery pillar by night.

“³⁶ In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; ³⁷ but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. ³⁸ So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.” Exodus 40:36-38

Thinking about it though, in the same way that we pitched our tents in Soul Survivor, and the Israelites did in the desert, the apostle John at the start of his Gospel says: “¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

The word translated ‘made his dwelling’ in the original Greek is σκηνόω (skēnoō), which means ‘to pitch tent, to tabernacle, to dwell‘.

Jesus came and pitched his tent (his body), on earth because He wanted to be with us. He (our Creator) was looking for fellowship with His creation. It brings to mind the Bible passage: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” James 4:8 (1).

There’s a desire in God’s heart to be with His people, and equally, His people want to be with Him.

So roll on Soul Survivor 2016!

But in the meantime, and indeed at all times let’s pitch our tents where God is leading us.

Could You Sponsor A Tent?

On a practical note. As I mentioned earlier, some of our tents were decidedly leaky, and in-between Soul Survivor 2015 and now, our largest tent has been broken, so we are looking at purchasing some new tents for this coming summer. Ideally a handful, up to 6, smaller 3 man tents would be perfect for Soul Survivor. We want these to be decent quality, so that they will last for many wet and wonderful years to come!

If anyone out there reading this post would love to sponsor a tent or more for our next trip to Soul Survivor, that would be amazing. Please do contact us and let us know.

Thank you.