Surge at Southwind: The Place for Big Steps of Faith

I don’t want to knock Disney here—mainly because I know there are huge Disney fanatics in this city, and perhaps the biggest fan of them all is on our Teaching Team—but I think Southwind Camp is the most magical place in the world. When I was in college, it was at Southwind that I took my first real steps of faith and encountered Jesus in a genuine way. Southwind is the setting of my testimony, so it’s really no wonder that it’s very near and dear to my heart. So to say I was excited when I—as a brand-new Surge leader—found out that I would get to return to Southwind as a leader at Summit's middle school camp last year is quite an understatement. I was so pumped to see how God would reveal Himself to me this time around and what big step of faith He was going to call me toward in my time there.

What I didn’t anticipate was that I’d already taken that step. That by becoming involved with Summit Students’ middle school ministry and pouring into the lives of those sweet girls week in and week out, I had already made a pivotal move toward what God was calling me into. Going to Southwind for the weekend with my girls was just part of the gig. And what a great part it was.

Southwind is the place for big steps of faith, and this time around I got to see the girls I mentor take those steps. I had a girl ask me to pray over her and a long-standing sin she’d just confessed for the first time. I had the privilege of reading the Bible with one of my girls for an hour or so before deciding on a day we’d meet back home for a regular Bible study. I had important, complex, illuminating conversations with these girls, who were just starting to truly own their faith and seek their own relationship with Jesus.

God allowed me to play a role in my girls taking huge leaps of faith that weekend. What He was calling me to do was to be on the sidelines cheering them on in their obedience toward Him. I fully believe that He is going to do great things in and through each of them. I’m just really grateful He’s giving me the gift of going along every step of the way.

Hey, parents of middle school students! Don’t miss the opportunity to sign up your student for Surge at Southwind, Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd. It will be an unforgettable three days that will make a lasting impact on your child. Read more about Surge at Southwind, register, and download the consent forms here.