Why a 58 Year-Old Man Goes to Youth Camp

Imagine that you have never been to EYC and someone says to you, “Come go with us to youth camp.” What would your expectation be? A bunch of energetic teenagers with a few young folks in their twenties and thirties sprinkled in to maintain some sense of order and give a little guidance to the kids? Days filled with organized activities and a little free time to go swimming, play volleyball, or just hanging out with friends? A short little chapel service in the evening with a couple of songs and a cool speaker with an impressive multi-media presentation?

You might be surprised or in shock at what you would actually witness at EYC (Experience Youth Camp). One thing that might look unusual would be the wide range in age of the EYC staff. Our oldest staff member, Joanne Godfrey, is 85 years old. Our youngest staff member this year was 20. We have staff members in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, and eighties, all of whom pay their own fee, take a week out of their busy lives, some even using vacation time that they have built up at their places of employment.

I am 58 years old. I have been a part of this camp since 2000. In that time span I have missed only three. I am addicted. There are many things I love about EYC – the relationships we’ve built through the years, the new ones formed each year, family, worship that is indescribable, but the most beautiful thing is watching teenagers encounter the living God. Youth from all kinds of neighborhoods, from dysfunctional families, and even good church kids who might otherwise never get to be in a setting like this where 400 people are going hard after God in worship.

This year was different. Every year is different and unique, but this year’s camp was a major turning point. Many teenagers were saved. Over 70 received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time. There were so many physical healings, I lost count. This healing didn’t happen by kids getting in a prayer line and having hands laid on them. They did it! They were activated by putting into practice what they had been taught through the week by our camp speaker, Jessika Tate. Kids asking Holy Spirit how He wanted to heal and then obeying, no matter how strange the method may have seemed. After all, Jesus did some out-of-the-ordinary things too (The last time I checked, we were supposed to be following Him, right?).

On the Sunday morning after camp, there were several kids who testified of deep emotional healing too. Two in particular stood out. A young teenage boy, whose mother had birthed a stillborn child recently, shared how his heart had been healed by forgiving God (even though God was not responsible for it). He had blamed God. A girl, whose mother had died from cancer four years ago, told how she had never been able to mourn or cry over the loss of her mother. God touched her heart and she was able to cry for the first time.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt. 5:4

I wept as I listened to them. These two, along with hundreds others, will never be the same.

We have a team of intercessors who come to our camp every year. While the rest of us adult staff members have various assignments, these ladies have one – prayer. On Wednesday night during the evening service, they were asked to come on stage. They each prayed over the campers and the Joanne Godfrey, our oldest intercessor, released a mantle of intercession to them. Many of the students took it. From that night on, these ladies were rock stars. Some campers were even asking them to sign their t-shirts. Amazing! Incredible! I’ve run out of words.

So now you know why this 58 year-old man still goes to youth camp.

With love for this generation,

Kevin