Campers’ Responses
Two Campers’ Responses
Brother Wan and sister Yin is a young couple who joined the camp because Yin was prepared to take full time seminary study while Wan hoped to accompany his wife and seek God’s will together. As a result, what did they experience in this two-day camp?
| Wan: | In the camp, I spent more time thinking about serving God and if one day God calls me, I believe I will make a genuine response. But at this moment I clearly know my role to be “the supporting half” backing up my wife who will take the road of full time ministry. |
|---|---|
| Yin: | A while ago I talked to one of the professors and her analysis was right and her suggestion was in line with my need. What impressed me most was the chapel message. We joined one more chapel than other campers because we made the mistake of joining the chapel on the first day. Both chapels were good and the two teachers’ sermons gave us important advice. |
| Wan: | The group meeting last night was rather in great haste but the one we had this afternoon was different. We had sufficient time for the individual sharing. We were all strangers to one another at first but because of our Christian faith, we began to have an open, honest sharing and mutual supplication within the time allowed. For this I was grateful to God! |
| Yin: | Before joining the camp, my husband and I were worried that he would have to live in the male students’ quarter and I, in the female students’ quarter. As it turned out, we were assigned to stay in the married students’ quarter, this was beyond our expectations! Being together in the same room, we had the opportunity to stay up late to pray last night. I felt that my husband had made a big sacrifice: In order that I could study in a local seminary, he had given up a secured livelihood in England and returned to Hong Kong with me. We know that we have been going in this direction but when we prayed together, we found that God had not only called me but my whole family. That moment, God gave both of us an open heart so that we could better understand our respective love and prompting in the Lord. |
| Wan: | Last night we first listened to Rev. Lam’s sermon message and then we shared and prayed in our group. After that, both of us prayed together. We were amazed at the perfect timing when we prayed, it was like putting the isolated pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. As a result, I now have a bigger, clearer picture! |
Different Lives Have Different Promptings
Every life created by God is distinct. In these two days, although campers were always together, what each of them saw, thought and felt touched in the heart would not be entirely the same. The following are excerpts of some of the responses of the campers who wrote them down before leaving the camp.
- God has changed me in the camp as I began to let go of my tenacious thought patterns by not bargaining with God. At this moment I came to realize that when I walk on God’s road, I have to take the road first and then God will pave it and lead my way one step at a time. A moment ago when I quietly read the Bible, God gave me a piece of advice: One man cannot serve two masters. If I keep asking God to help me solve this and that problem, then I would ask myself whether I want to minister to the world or minister to my own self.
- The two student leaders who shared with us in our group that despite their being inadequate in many ways, God still uses them. This kind of sharing helps me wipe out my own worries and boost the confidence as I am always too conscious of my deficiencies.
- Some of the participants were troubled by problems like economic pressure, academic qualification and family, but I have none of such obstacles except one of HKBTS’s entrance requirements, “be committed to the call of God to full time Christian ministry,” which makes me have a second thought. I yearn for more spiritual knowledge and theological knowledge, but what I saw and heard in the camp suggests that I need to hear God’s calling first. The professors reminded us not to limit God to our mode of thinking but rather pay attention to how God speaks to us. I have peace in my heart for I believe God will give me a suitable ministry post no matter whether I will be a full time minister or not.
- I am happy because at first I could only have one day’s holiday and as a result, I could join the whole two-day camp and I learned a lot. Through the sermon messages, God led me to clarify his calling for me, and I got strengthened and encouraged by campers’ sharing. In the past, I have evaded the thought of full time ministry, but now I hope to take the first step forward in that direction.
- In the past I often said I need to seek God’s calling but now I find that if God really calls me, do I truly want to consecrate my life to God? Am I willing to respond? I should ask God to lead and change me as he shows me the way.
- In the camp, I have found many people like myself with similar worries and struggles. Now I have become much relieved, knowing that in the future if I study in a seminary, there will be many co-walkers. In just two short days it is amazing that we could so openly and frankly share and support one another. I felt moved. Whether or not we apply to study in a seminary, I hope each of us will try hard to advance in our faith.