This past 6 months, a group of us have been on a thrilling journey as God has paved the way for the development of a new ministry...a Bible boot camp you could say, a ministry that we have decided to call: "ARME BIBLE CAMP." In other words, "Arm or Equip me - with the WORD of GOD!"
In II Tim 2:15 it says:
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
However, before this verse comes the solemn admonition:
"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Tim 2:1-4
Our war is against SELF...and against the things that entangle us to the world. But we can only be victorious through the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus. Thus as we press forward as soldiers, our one goal and aim is clear - To please God, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light...and to entangle ourselves with the things of Heaven!
Enjoy a few of my favorite pictures from our first ever ARME BIBLE CAMP. (We thank Lawrence Rupsas for his awesome photography skills.) After the pics, I will have a few brief testimonies to tell.
From start to finish, this Bible camp/conference was a complete miracle. We got the dates, the speakers we wanted, (which in it self was a miracle - as they were Stephen Bohr, Emanuel Baek, Taj Pacleb, Ivor Myers, & Doug Batchelor), and we got the perfect facilities that we needed. We decided we would take a max attendance of 300, so we could keep it small enough to be personable. Well, 1 month before we only had 45 registered even though we had advertised extensively. Some of our team questioned whether we were pushing too much and if we could really get a group together sooo quickly that was passionate about studying the word of God...but we continued to pray and plan. 2 weeks before we had almost 200 registered. Progress was being made...but still, to cover expenses and meet our goal, we needed more. While we were tempted to prepare for less, we decided to "pray for rain and prepare for rain!" We would plan for 300!!
By the time the conference started, we had almost 260 in attendance, and over 300 registered. And sure enough...they came. In fact, by the weekend, our numbers swelled to 350-360 and we wondered if we had enough room. But God provided. Our attendee's came from all over the West coast, and as far away as from South Carolina, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ontario Canada, Fiji and Indonesia. (That's right, several people flew all the way from Fiji and Indonesia to be part of this event!!)
Sabbath evening I had the delights of planning an "Agape Banquet" - and we told everyone that whether they had purchased meal tickets or not, they were invited to come. After all, God wants ALL to be a part of His great feast. And so, as special ending on the Sabbath, everyone lined up to enter the banquet hall. We had scrambled and had seats for 370, but as I saw the line, I wondered... "Can we all really fit?? Oh God, help us all to fit!!!" As the room filled up, I prayed and prayed...and amazingly, we all fit. We had 5 seats left over, and no one was turned away. I cried with relief and gratitude for God's provision...
The most impacting part of the whole conference though...I think everyone would agree...was the times of Prayer and deep Bible study. And this is, after all, why we hosted this conference. To get people deep into the WORD of GOD. But you can't go deep without the Holy Spirit, so each morning at 6:15 we'd start with a group prayer time. Some people wept, others cried out their praises, as we all opened our hearts to God in prayer. It was such a powerful unifying experience, and you could feel the Holy Spirit's presence. Oh for more time of such powerful group prayer...
In answer to our prayers, the lectures were powerful, and many people responded (50 at one call) to surrender their lives to God. The speakers shared some of their own secrets of how they dive into the WORD of GOD, and then hosted small break-out sessions for people to practice what they'd been taught. It was powerful to watch the lives being changed, and made me humbled to realize how hesitant at times our team had been to trust the provisions of God to fill the great need.
As our last morning together drew to a close...Taj shared his amazing testimony, and practically everyone came forward in the closing prayer and appeal. It was sooo incredible to see the way God worked, and the hunger and thirst people had for what was being shared. Afterwards, we had many people talk to us about hosting Bible camps all around the country...and it was obvious that our work had just begun...
Thank the Lord, despite our slow faith and our many weakness...His strength was made perfect. Again I am reminded... "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose hearts are perfect toward him." II Chron 16:9
As a end note I must not leave out: We gave away many scholarships for this conference and we're determined that we didn't want anything to come in the way of someone attending, if they desired. However, to make up for the extra costs and expenses, we took up an offering. Initially our director said, "Let's pray for $10,000." Then he felt convicted of the Holy Spirit and said, "No...let's pray for the offering that God would have us to receive to move forward. Whatever He wills is best..."
Well the offering was taken...and we had received over $34,000. We were all in awe!! And it was obvious to all of us on the team that ARME BIBLE CAMP is to move forward...forward, as we like to say, ON OUR KNEES!!
Survey results from those who attended our first ARME Bible Camp:
- My experience here was BEYOND WORDS. God is getting His soldiers in line with Heavenly agencies to finish the work!
- This was an eye-opening start to my journey of Bible study and devotion to the time spent alone with my Lord.
- God has incredibly blessed and renewed my love for His Word through this conference. I love Him so much.
- Through Pastor Myers (and the others) my heart and mind has been transformed and equipped to see Christ in ALL of the Scriptures. Praise the Lord.
- An awesome experience packed to overflowing of vital spiritual food that I will have to digest for many months. The emphasis of the morning prayers were so powerful!
- It has opened my eyes to all I have been missing in not truly having a close relationship with Jesus, and has given me tools to grow this relationship to be strong. Also made me want to share this with others.
- This was an amazing, life-changing, and eye-opening event that has changed my life and the way I do "business."
- Loved Stephen Bohr's presentations, Pastor Myers, Emanuel Baek, Doug Batchelor, & Taj Pacaleb as well. Everything was so convicting, and yet practical. The morning prayer sessions with Melissa Miranda and Martin Kim were powerful, and I loved all the testimonies. The vegan food was excellent.
- The personal atmosphere, love of everyone towards each other, the agape banquet, and the deep Biblical messages shared. My eyes have been opened. Thank you!
- I am so excited to take this back home to share with my church. I learned so much about personal Bible study. It's exciting!
- I cannot express the blessing received here.
- This conference has been an answer to YEARS of PRAYERS!!!!
- Was impacted so much by the deep quality of the speaker's messages, the atmosphere of reverence and the prayer times. I am going to cross the Jordan and stop sending spies!!!
- It has rejuvenated me tremendously. I've never experienced anything so impacting in my walk with God!
- Powerful presentations from each speaker with no competition between ministries, great break-out sessions, powerful prayer time. My mind and life has been revolutionized. Keep doing this PLEASE!!! The godly unity of the staff and speakers was inspiring.
- You need to take this camp to every Union and globally!! We need this everywhere.
- For 20 years I have believed that God would raise up an ARMY of YOUTH rightly trained...I see it happening, praise God!
*I have in my possession almost 300 surveys, all with these kinds of comments and testimonies. It's amazing...we are amazed, and we just PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Pray that He will continue to guide us, our direction, our future, and where to host the next ARME BIBLE CAMP!!!
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