HEAR the Word Wednesday – June 25, 2008
Hello from camp on this beautiful June morning! Mount Rainier is in full view, the sun is shining, and the excited sounds of campers always seem to be echoing in the air. We are blessed to be here.
I guess I should introduce myself! My name is Kelsey Holloway and this summer it is my privilege to serve as the Camp Pastor, focusing my time and attention on the spiritual care, support, and growth of the approximately 75 young adults serving on summer staff. I’ve been here for just over three weeks now, and have loved every minute of the opportunity to serve in this capacity. In “real life” I’m 1/3 of my way through my studies at North Park Theological Seminary, and for as much as I have enjoyed studying God’s word in Chicago, there is something so special about serving alongside the amazing men and women here at Cascades. God is up to something exciting here, and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
As a part of my duties this summer, I have been asked to share a quick word with all of you faithful blog readers on Wednesdays. For this entry, I share the passage that is our focus as a staff this summer, Romans 15:5-6. It reads as such—
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What an amazing word of exhortation to us as the church! Rooted in God first and foremost as the source of all endurance and encouragement, we are to live in unity as a body, glorifying God with every aspect of our lives. These three callings on our life (to faith, to community, and to the mission of God) are the things we’ve chosen to define ourselves as a Cascades summer staff over the next few months, but I believe the weight of these words carries far beyond the work and ministry at camp. So often we complicate what it means to live as Christians, but what if we were to boil everything down to these three simple things? My prayer for all of you this morning is that you would know and love God deeply, pour into the community around you, and glorify God in all that you say and do in this week. May we be defined by these simple exhortations, and thus serve as ambassadors for the Kingdom of God!
Be blessed this day!
Kelsey aka Beasley
