You would think that in the times in which we are living, with economic struggles and unemployment on the rise, a help wanted sign would be a welcome sight and would be accompanied by a long line of willing applicants. However, if that sign also spelled out the fact that the job included long hours, low pay and no benefits, the line would probably become significantly shorter because you and I both know that most people don’t just want to help. They want to know what they will get for the help they provide. Like everyone else, I understand the need for a job that pays enough to provide for the needs of your family, and my intent is not to suggest otherwise.
 
It is interesting to note though, that it seems everywhere you turn today you hear of the need for help that organizations have, whether from the school, the church, the mission field or yes, even the camp. For whatever reason it seems like there are needs that are abounding everywhere, but yet there seems to be a tremendous dearth of willing individuals. We have all heard the statistics that in most churches 10% of the people do 90% of the work. Why is that? Where are the willing individuals who just want to serve? In the spring newsletter I highlighted the individuals who volunteer their time to the camp at various times of the year, but this time I would like to look at a different group of people. I would like to focus on the summer staff that just spent a grueling 10 weeks of camp with us.
 
I am thankful for the 15 young people that comprised our summer staff for this summer. Fifteen young people who did not receive much by way of financial gain and who did not have glamorous jobs. Fifteen young people who were willing to give up the opportunity to make more money and who were willing to give up the opportunity for more sleep in between their college semesters. Yet 15 young people who had hearts willing to serve!
 
During those ten weeks they worked hard, often long hours, many times in behind the scenes jobs for the mere desire of serving others, seeing hearts revived and making sure the campers had a good time. God used each of them in ways they may never know. There was not a task that was accomplished this summer that was accomplished in vain. Every job from washing the dishes, cleaning the facilities, cleaning the pool, enabling the rafting trips, and counseling the campers was of great importance in achieving our overall goal. Our goal this summer and for everything that is accomplished at the camp is to glorify God in all that we do so that campers can focus on the preaching of the Word of God so that hearts can be transformed. I am thankful for the willingness of each of these young people to selflessly give of themselves and dedicate themselves to the ministry of Tri-State for the summer.
 
As a result of their labor, it was a blessing to see seven campers trust Christ as Savior, three make assurance of salvation, and dozens surrender themselves to God’s will for their lives. I pray they will be the next wave of people who will infiltrate our churches, schools, mission fields and yes, camps and will be ready to be willing servants.
 
In a few weeks I will be making a two week trek through portions of the country to various Christian colleges to find the next group of willing servants who will make up our summer staff for 2010. Please pray for my family and I that we will find those willing servants that God will be able to use in a great way in just nine short months from now.