PING: GrantDawg, revrew, Strider, Anyrr, FBPro and anybody else who follows Christ

[Ben E Lou]

I'm heading off to our week of summer outreach camp this Friday, leading a trip of 80+ folks. Apart from my responsibilities for leading the overall trip, I have 6 freshman and sophomore guys who I will be cabin leader for. None of them have a strong relationship with Christ (if they have any relationship at all). I'm trying to enlist some folks to pray every day for one of these guys by name. My goal is to have at least four people praying for each guy in my cabin every day. I was wondering if any of you would be interested in being a part of my "prayer team." If so, give me your e-mail address, and I'll send you a guy's name, and a letter with info on how to pray daily.

--Ben

[GrantDawg]

Sure. Send 'em.

[scooper]

I replied via e-mail. If you don't get it, let me know.

[cincyreds]

Same here! Just emailed you SkyDog.

[Ben E Lou]

Got the e-mails. I'm right now writing a day-by-day prayer guide for y'all. (probably should have done that BEFORE I posted, huh???) I should be done with it in the next 10-15 minutes. Thanks a ton. This should be really neat.

[NoMyths]

Isn't it possible that all of that attention and energy focused on the lads will cause at least one (1) of them to spontaneously combust?

[oykib]

I can't be counted on to keep a regular schedule. But I'll be praying for your success in this endeavor.

[Subby]

Originally posted by NoMyths
Isn't it possible that all of that attention and energy focused on the lads will cause at least one (1) of them to spontaneously combust? Someone needs to pray for your hedonistic ass...

[MizzouRah]

sent via pm




Todd

[NoMyths]

Originally posted by Subby
Someone needs to pray for your hedonistic ass...
Amen.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally posted by Subby
Someone needs to pray for your hedonistic ass...

What, praytell, is wrong with hedonism?

[Ben E Lou]

OK. I ended up going into Chief-Rum-style-small-novel-mode with the letter I wrote. If you wrote me and I haven't responded, please let me know. I THINK I've responded to everyone with the name of a kid at this point, but I'm not 100% sure. At any rate, I thought I'd share the info about the trip in this thread as well:

FRIDAY (5/30)
Departure--6pm
Whirlyball--7pm-9pm
Bus--Overnight

Pray that Whirlyball, and the time on the bus, will be a great time to break down walls and enhance kids' relationships with their leaders. There are a handful of kids going on the trip who aren't known very well by any of the leaders. Pray that Whirlyball and the bus ride would especially "jump-start" those relationships.
Pray for safety on the bus ride.

SATURDAY (5/31)
Sears Tower--10am
Buckingham Fountain/Lake Michigan/Lunch--12:30pm
Cubs vs. Astros--3:00pm
Bus--5:30pm-around midnight
Hotel (in Minneapolis area)--overnight

Pray for a GREAT day and many memories in Chicago. Pray for good weather.

DAY ONE (Sunday--6/1)
Leave for Camp--11am
Arrive--around 4pm
Message--Kids will hear tonight that God desires a relationship with them so much that He became a person and lived among us.

Pray that kids would be see clearly that they are valuable and loved by their Creator. Pray for Mike Zegarski from Naperville, IL, who will be the camp speaker for the week.

DAY TWO (Monday--6/2)
Message--Person of Christ: Kids will hear today about how Jesus interacted with people--how He was the most magnetic person to have ever lived, and how people responded to Him.

Pray that kids would see be able to see past their preconceived notions of who Jesus was, and see who He really was. Col. 1:15

DAY THREE (Tuesday--6/3)
Message--Person of Christ/Problem of Pain: Kids will hear today more about how Jesus interacted with people, and particularly those in emotional pain. We'll begin to discuss "if God is good, then why do bad things happen..."

Pray that kids would be honest and vulnerable about their own pain on this day.

DAY FOUR (Wednesday--6/4)
Message--Sin/Separation: Kids today will hear that it is the fact that sin has entered the world, and that is what causes us to have to deal with the stuff discussed last night in our cabins. They'll also hear the consequences of their own sin: eternal separation from God.

Pray that kids would understand the difference between "sins"--the symptoms of the problem and "sin"--the condition of our hearts.

DAY FIVE (Thursday--6/5)
Message--Cross/20 Minutes: Today kids will hear that God provided a solution for the sin problem at the Cross. After the message, they'll have 20 minutes of quiet to consider God's love for them.

Jesus said if I am lifted up, I will draw all men to Myself. Pray tonight that kids would see Him lifted up on the Cross, and be drawn to Him.

DAY SIX (Friday--6/6)
Message--Response to Cross/Marriage Relationship: Today kids will hear what it means to follow Christ. Mike will use the analogy of a marriage relationship. He's also planning to talk about how we try to "compartmentalize" our lives, but that Christ wants to permeate every part of our lives.

Pray that kids would understand what it means to be in a relationship with Him.

DAY SEVEN (Saturday--6/7)
Message--Going Home/Say So: Mike will remind the kids that Jesus doesn't just live at Castaway, but that He lives inside of them if they invited Him in. He'll also set up what we call a "Say So" after the message. Kids who have began a relationship with Christ during the week will have the opportunity to stand up and say just that in a brief sentence (ie "My name is Ben Lewis. I'm from Tucker, Georgia, and this week I asked Christ into my heart.")

Pray that kids who came to know Him this week would have the boldness to stand up and say so. Pray that those who didn't will continue seeking.

We'll leave camp around 10:00pm Saturday night.

SUNDAY--June 8th
Bus ride home. Just stopping for meals. Return home around 10pm Sunday night.

Pray for good conversations between kids and leaders about what they experienced this week.

Also, here are some "general" things to pray for, from a letter I sent out to some believers here:


1. Safe travel.

2. Pray that the Holy Spirit go before the leaders to change our hearts to be sensitive to His leading and open to His amazing love, mercy, and grace in the lives of the students.

3. Pray that we all have a great time! (I've left out most of the details about the "fun" side of camp. It should be an absolute BLAST!)

4. Pray that God will give the leaders unity and bodies that don't tire.

5. Pray that the kids going will have hearts open to receive God's amazing love for them.

6. Pray for life-long relationships to be established between leaders and kids.

7. Pray for healthy follow-up with kids after camp.


Thanks again for partnering with me in this VERY significant way. Press on!

--Ben

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I pray for all their salvation and for the safety of the people on the trip .

[Ben E Lou]

Bump. Leaving this evening.

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by SkyDog
OK. I ended up going into Chief-Rum-style-small-novel-mode with the letter I wrote. If you wrote me and I haven't responded, please let me know. I THINK I've responded to everyone with the name of a kid at this point, but I'm not 100% sure. At any rate, I thought I'd share the info about the trip in this thread as well:

SATURDAY (5/31)
Sears Tower--10am
Buckingham Fountain/Lake Michigan/Lunch--12:30pm
Cubs vs. Astros--3:00pm
Bus--5:30pm-around midnight


I'm praying that you make it to Minneapolis before sunrise, since you only have 2.5 hours penciled in for the Cubs game! Is Prior starting that game or something? ;)

Seriously, good luck with the trip.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
I'm praying that you make it to Minneapolis before sunrise, since you only have 2.5 hours penciled in for the Cubs game! Is Prior starting that game or something? ;)

Seriously, good luck with the trip. Heh. Good catch. Because we need to get a good night sleep, we're telling kids to leave their seats at 5:10pm no matter what is going on with the game. I usually try to do a baseball game stop on our summer trips, and it is always a welcome break from the bus, but at the same time most of the kids don't care who wins the game (unless we happen to get to see the Braves....there's a great story about 100+ rather obnoxious and rowdy high school kids from Atlanta at a Braves' game in Dodger Stadium in '91....a police escort was required for the kids' safety by the time that fiasco was over...) At any rate, that's the story.

(Note to self: when you have E-mail notification for your threads on and have a busy day, FOFC can STILL manage to be a distraction)

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I figured most people - especially kids - don't really watch baseball like I do. 99% of the fun for them should be just being there, and that will likely wear off around the 2nd inning.

Now, if someone famous is singing the 7th inning stretch, maybe they'll want to stick around?

[Ben E Lou]

Dola--

Of course, it is easy to get distracted when what you happened to be doing was the unenviable task of assigning hotel rooms for high school kids. The guys are easy to do, because they typically don't care, but it would just RUIN some of these girls' trips if they weren't with the "right" people tomorrow night. Even though they'll get there exhausted from having spent the first night of the trip on the bus and having run around Chicago that day and be ready to go straight to bed, and will just get up, get ready and get back on the bus in the morning, they'll STILL be just CRUSHED if they're stuck with so-and-so, or separated from so-and-so.

Sorry for the rant, but there ARE some annoying parts of my job. Having the final responsibility for dealing with the emotions of 40 teenaged girls is NOT why I signed up to do this job. ;)

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Yeah, I figured most people - especially kids - don't really watch baseball like I do. 99% of the fun for them should be just being there, and that will likely wear off around the 2nd inning.

Now, if someone famous is singing the 7th inning stretch, maybe they'll want to stick around? Ugh. I hope not. If Sosa will hit one out early, that would definitely seal the deal and make everyone ready to leave (we DO have a few guys going who are pretty serious baseball fans, and they're pumped about seeing Sosa in Wrigley). We caught a game in St. Louis one year when McGwire hit TWO into our section in the left field stands. That was big

[scooper]

Enjoy the trip.

[FBPro]

PM sent

[SplitPersonality1]

Enjoy your trip. My wife also sends her prayers along as well. She was quite impressed with the schedule and plans you have for the week. 80 high schoolers.....Yikes.

I can't believe your not going to stop in Milwaukee and take in a game at Miller Park. It's not like it's hard to get a good seat. :D

[Abe Sargent]

I sincerely wish that your experience will be a moving and loving one, with all of the wonder and fulfillment that a group of people meeting in God's name can create.


-Anxiety

[ACStrider]

Just read your post (been in Dallas the past four days), and yeah, let me know how I can be praying for you and the group. Sounds like a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a lot of good things for everyone involved. Be safe and get some good rest.

[Ben E Lou]

Yo yo. Checkin' in from the hotel Business Center in Minneapolis. That was one COLD day at Wrigley Field. Thanks to those who sent recent PM's wanting to pray. I'll just throw out a few more names of some guys on the trip. Just pick one and pray:

Michael
Blake
Sean
Shep
Jimmy

I won't have 'net access again until a week from today. I'll check in then, or the next morn.

--Ben

[Poli]

Just got access again today. I'm in UAE, again (third time in a month!). I'll be praying.

[Ben E Lou]

Thanks to all who prayed. It was a PHENOMENAL week. More info later.

[cincyreds]

It was an honot to be a prayer warrior SkyDog!!

Please let me know how Will did? Thanks.

[Ben E Lou]

Ironically, I ended up switching cabins with another leader, so I ended up with the Juniors and Seniors rather than the Freshmen and Sophomores. (Long story as to why, but it worked out very well.....)

At any rate, here's a pic from the 2nd day of camp. We do an all-camp volleyball tourney, and each cabin has to come up with a team outfit. Here we are:

http://www.benelou.com/bencabin.jpg

[scooper]

Originally posted by cincyreds
It was an honot to be a prayer warrior SkyDog!!



Ditto. I hope all went well for all the kids.

[stkelly52]

Glad to hear that it all went well for you.

[scooper]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Ironically, I ended up switching cabins with another leader, so I ended up with the Juniors and Seniors rather than the Freshmen and Sophomores. (Long story as to why, but it worked out very well.....)

At any rate, here's a pic from the 2nd day of camp. We do an all-camp volleyball tourney, and each cabin has to come up with a team outfit. Here we are:

http://www.benelou.com/bencabin.jpg

Whoa. I thought you were taking high schoolers from Georgia, not the Georgia football team.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by scooper
Whoa. I thought you were taking high schoolers from Georgia, not the Georgia football team. LOL. Well, of those 11 guys with me, six were members of the 2002 Tucker Tigers squad that went 12-1 . Donald Shepherd (the black kid in the middle) has signed with Maryville College in Tennessee, and Andrew Childers (that monster with the tattoo next to me--the same one who almost died this fall) signed a partial with Samford despite missing well over half of the season with his injury. The other four from the team are rising Seniors. Three of those four are almost certain to play in college as well.

[cincyreds]

I didn't realize the typo that I made.

It really was an honor though, I made it my first priority each morning, to pray.

It was great!

Glad you guys made it back ok.

[Ben E Lou]

Sorry I haven't posted more, or e-mailed those who prayed. Because of my XP issues, I've lost ALL received or sent e-mails from the last six months, so I have NO idea who was praying for whom. The bottom line is that everyone who went definitely heard the gospel proclaimed clearly, and had a GREAT time. Some significant stuff happened in some of their lives. Shoot me an e-mail if you want to know how "your" kid is doing.

--Ben

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Sorry I haven't posted more, or e-mailed those who prayed. Because of my XP issues, I've lost ALL received or sent e-mails from the last six months, so I have NO idea who was praying for whom. The bottom line is that everyone who went definitely heard the gospel proclaimed clearly, and had a GREAT time. Some significant stuff happened in some of their lives. Shoot me an e-mail if you want to know how "your" kid is doing.

--Ben bump....heard back from some of you....just making sure you all saw this...

[Ben E Lou]

LOL. Well, of those 11 guys with me, six were members of the 2002 Tucker Tigers squad that went 12-1 . Donald Shepherd (the black kid in the middle) has signed with Maryville College in Tennessee, and Andrew Childers (that monster with the tattoo next to me--the same one who almost died this fall) signed a partial with Samford despite missing well over half of the season with his injury. The other four from the team are rising Seniors. Three of those four are almost certain to play in college as well.And now, a year later...

The second from the left is Andrew McKain. He's heading to play a little linebacker at the Air Force Academy. Jimmy Coleman, kneeling on the bottom left, has signed with Tulane as an athlete. Blake Harr, kneeling next to Jimmy, has decided not to play college ball despite a scholly offer from a small school. He'll instead be shipping off with the United States Marine Corps in a couple of weeks.

[MizzouRah]

Blake Harr, kneeling next to Jimmy, has decided not to play college ball despite a scholly offer from a small school. He'll instead be shipping off with the United States Marine Corps in a couple of weeks.
Ooh Rah!


Todd

[Franklinnoble]

And now, a year later...

The second from the left is Andrew McKain. He's heading to play a little linebacker at the Air Force Academy. Jimmy Coleman, kneeling on the bottom left, has signed with Tulane as an athlete. Blake Harr, kneeling next to Jimmy, has decided not to play college ball despite a scholly offer from a small school. He'll instead be shipping off with the United States Marine Corps in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the update... now tell us which girls from the photos you posted last year are now over 18...

[JeeberD]

Thanks for the update... now tell us which girls from the photos you posted last year are now over 18...


Mmmmm...Cubs girl... ;)

[Ben E Lou]

Geez. If you remember that pic from a year ago, I think it is time to take that sucker off of the web. :mad:

[Franklinnoble]

Geez. If you remember that pic from a year ago, I think it is time to take that sucker off of the web. :mad:
Guess I'd better hurry up and get the kleenex...

;)

I think people remember it more for the discussion it spawned rather than the actual photo itself... at least, I'd like to think that...

[Ben E Lou]

Guess I'd better hurry up and get the kleenex...

;)

I think people remember it more for the discussion it spawned rather than the actual photo itself... at least, I'd like to think that...Too late. :D

You may or may not be right about the discussion.

[JeeberD]

Geez. If you remember that pic from a year ago, I think it is time to take that sucker off of the web. :mad:

:p

[Flasch186]

do Jewish prayers work? I can do those.