Camp Ministry
Friday, June 24, 2011 at 8:59PM 
After a summer off, I was again blessed to minister to kids and adult sponsors at Journey Camp. Journey is a camp for kids grades 3-6 sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Convention at its two camp/conference centers, Carson Springs and Linden Valley. During the summers of 2007, 2008, 2009, and again this summer I was privileged to serve as Camp Pastor for hundreds of kids and adult sponsors from churches across Tennessee.
For many, a summer camp experience is a life-changing event. Kids are removed from video games, computers, I-pods, cell phones, and even their own home environments and brought to a beautiful campus where nature is the classroom, fun is guaranteed, and Jesus is central. Loving and talented camp staff from across the state spend a week investing in kids, teaching and demonstrating to them the love of God. The different surroundings, new challenges, and caring people combine to be formidable tools that God uses in many lives year after year.
Camp continues to rank at the top of the most memorable and cherished ministry experiences of my life. Year after year, I witness God at work in the lives of many, and I feel humbled and incredibly blessed to have a part in that. Thank you Journey Camp Director Linda Chinery, TBC Conference Centers Manager Tim Bearden, and thank you Tennessee Baptists for the privilege of serving you again this year at Journey Camp!
BSFL Sunday School commentary for the week of April 25, 2010
The Right Support 2 Corinthians 8,9
In your lifetime, how many Sunday School lessons or sermons do you think you have heard on tithing and stewardship? More importantly, how solid is your commitment to Christian financial stewardship?
Christian ministry costs money. We desire to see everyone have a bible in their own language, we desire to send missionaries to every people group, we desire to have a minister at our church who can devote his full efforts to ministering the Word and caring for people. We demand the best quality material and ministry for our children. We want to send our youth to the best camps. And yet, many expect the church to miraculously grow the financial resources needed to pay for these things.
When our children want to play ball, join a dance school, play in the band, or something else, we have no objections to paying for instruments, uniforms, and the best of equipment. Why, then, do we scoff at the biblical concept of tithing and giving an offering to the church? Many say they "can't afford to tithe" but they can afford new homes, cars, pleasure craft, vacations, designer clothing, the latest electronics, and anything else their worldly heart desires. None of the above things are sinful in themselves; it is when we choose them over funding Kingdom work that they become idols to us.
The Old Testament concept of the tithe began with Abraham and Melchizedek, and predates the Law of Moses. Abraham willingly gave a tenth from the spoils of battle to God, in acknowledgement that God had given him victory over his enemies (Genesis 14:20). Later, the tithe was included in the Law of Moses as a means of funding the sanctuary (Leviticus 27:30) and was later expanded to become a regular act of worship by the Israelites. It was required by God as His due from His people, and was used to care for the sanctuary as well as to provide for the fatherless, widows, and others in need.
In the Old Testament the offering was synonymous with "sacrifice" and was what a worshipper brought before God to express praise, devotion, or when forgiveness was needed. After Christ's sacrifice on the cross, there was no longer any need to bring an animal sacrifice. In the New Testament offerings were brought to meet needs and provide for the work of the church in spreading the Gospel. Paul never commanded the church to tithe, but he did teach sacrificial giving and stressed the benefits of giving to the work of the church.
Today we stress the New Testament principle of giving in proportion to God's blessings to us. In view of that, we should never argue over a measly 10%! A tithe (one tenth) of our income is only a beginning. a regular percentage giving of our income shows dedication to the cause of Christ and our local church's portion of Kingdom ministry. Our giving an offering to special projects and ministries shows further commitment to the spread of the Gospel and gratitude of God's manifold blessings to us. Stewardship is a little-practiced discipline in Christianity today. All that we have has been given by God, to be used for His glory. We can best glorify Him with our finances when we invest them wisely in Kingdom efforts.
Generous Christian stewardship demonstrates the sincerity of our devotion to Christ, it enables the Church to meet a greater number of needs to promote the love of Christ, and it results in great reward to us from our benevolent Heavenly Father, who Himself is the greatest Giver! It has been wisely said, "You cannot out-give God". This is true. God has so much more that He can give, besides mere financial reward, that His generosity truly is limitless. There is nothing that restricts in any way God's ability to give to those who please Him.