Mark Camp 2019 (from the other side)

Every Spring Break for the past five years I've spent 5 days (7.5 hours each day) with college students studying scripture. When I tell people of this practice, their eyes get wide and they something like "That's intense!" And, I quickly rush to explain that it's not that intense and students enjoy the experience. While that's true-- it's not complete. There is an intensity to the experience of that much scripture because that much time in scripture changes us.

I wish I had words to explain what it is like to lead students through that process of transformation. It's not formulaic. It's deeply personal and yet, as the years go by, I've noticed some of the signs that transformation. Students start to ask big questions that connect scripture and their lives. They start to tell stories about their lives and ask if Jesus might have something else for them. Some even begin to acknowledge their needs for healing or forgiveness. One or two students might even decide to follow Jesus for the first time as adults.

Spring Break 2019 I spent time with students in the book of Esther. We decided to offer a manuscript study for students who had finished the book of Mark, something that would deepen their understanding of God at work in the world. In Esther, the name of God isn't mentioned prompting the question, "Where is God?" When the people of God are threatened with genocide, where is God? Why doesn't God just appear in power and set all things right? And yet, the text is about people figuring out how to be faithful. People fasting and praying, seeking answers. People asking for change but being sure if it will come. We wondered as a group, how different is this scenario from the world today? We consistently need to ask where is God, to fast, pray and act. One group summarized that central message of the book as "God uses evil people and broken systems for good."

My prayer is that this study of Esther prepares students for living in the world as agents of transformation for the kingdom of God. May they not be discouraged when God doesn't work on their timetables in the midst of their strategies. May they seek God in all things and be looking for the ways God may have placed them in their communities, churches, and workplaces for 'such a time as this.'

I'm grateful that I get to witness this transformation. I'm grateful for your support of this transformation.

I've attached a couple of the summary photos-- when we looked for the central point (middle of the chiasm) in the book of Esther. These 'armchair theologians' are coming soon to churches near you :)