Category Archives: Mission Poland

It’s Sunday night around 11pm here in South Carolina and we just got in from our Youth Pool Party and Bible Study.  Most of our Polish friends are probably sleeping right now, but when you wake up on Monday here is the devotional thought for our second week after Ignite Camp (it’s session 7 in your books). 

Though it’s only been about ten days since summer camp in Poland ended, it seems like longer.  So many of our students wish they could go back and keep living life at camp with their Polish friends.  It truly was an amazing experience.  But, real day-to-day life sets in and life goes on here in Spartanburg, SC.  Life goes on in your Polish towns too.  However, what kind of life will that be? 

Some of the flame that was burning so bright in your heart at the Ignite Camp in Warsaw may be flickering by now.  Lesson 7 is all about Satan’s attempts to speak lies into our lives and the Holy Spirit’s attempt to speak the Truth.  John 10:10 says,  ”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Satan would love nothing more than for you to put Ignite Camp in the back of your mind and file it away as just a good week, but nothing more.  The Truth is it was life-changing for you and you need to let the commitments you made make a difference in your daily life from now on.  Don’t let yourself slip back into the old ways of living.  Get plugged into your church, find someone to help you stay accountable, pray, worship the Lord with out ceasing and stay connected to one another through this website, facebook or anyway you can. 

God has amazing plans for you, but ”the evil one” would love to lie to you and tell you you’re worthless – don’t believe it!  Believe the Voice of Truth!  Allow God to be the “guide for your life” and the only one you follow.

Our mission team is home today.  I just woke up from a great twelve hours of much needed sleep and I can already tell that the trip made a lasting impact by looking on Facebook and seeing all the new Polish friends I have, the hundreds of photos that have been uploaded and all the buzz online from the team and Polish students.  I’m heading out of town today for a few days of vacation, but just as promised, here is a devotional thought on session six from our Bible Study at the Ignite Youth Camp in Poland.

Session six is about, “Making Eternal Investments.”  The Ignite summer camp is unfortunately over, but now is where the real camp begins.  It’s not just about the one week “spiritual high.”  It’s about what you do with the rest of your year.  In this Bible study, one of the key verses is Romans 1:16 which says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes…”  Don’t be ashamed of what you believe or that God is truly your number one priority in life.  Even if everyone else at your school or in your home doesn’t believe, know that you are not alone.  Be bold and share the story of what God has done in your life.

Polish students, if you’ve never done it – take time this week to write out your testimony.  It’s the story of what God has done in your life.  Here are three things to consider when writing our your testimony: 1. What was lie like before you met Christ; 2. How did you meet Christ and begin a relationship with Him; 3. What’s like been like since that time?

American and Polish students, what’s it going to be like from now on?  Are you going to be just like you were before camp, or will you allow the power of God to transform you life from now on and live boldly for him from this day forward.  My prayer is that your heart has been “Ignited” with his love and that it would make all the difference in you life!

Ignite Summer Camp Group Photo

We’re finishing our final night in Poland this evening. We just returned from touring around Krakow (Auschwitz and the Salt Mines). Now we will go out for dinner and shopping and then get a little sleep before a long day of flying home. It’s been a wonderful trip. Thank you Morningside for making this possible. Thank you Gustaw and the Polish Baptist Union for allowing us to come and serve your teenagers. May God bless you all and may He receive all the glory for this week.

See you tomorrow night!