e-camp!

Bathroom humor and righteousness; what's the connection????

2011-06-23T20:52:00.003-05:00

The Lord can use ANYTHING! and everything-- to make His Name known. Even a dirty, stinky DIAPER!! on a 16 year old boy (that we all know and love!!!) --Yes, even this can help us know Him better. Lloyd did such a beautiful job tying together the stinky diaper scenario with our covering of Jesus' righteousness. My sin keeps me from God. Only when I take on the redeeming blood am I washed clean. He (the Father) looked on Him (the Son) and pardoned me.... I can't wait to see the sketch again tomorrow night at FWN!!! What fun that will be!

2011-06-23T16:39:00.000-05:00

2011-06-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

g-Camp...the PLACE to be

2011-06-22T20:10:00.000-05:00

g-Camp has been THE PLACE TO BE this week!!

With 9 kids ranging from a little over 2 to 5-going-on-6, we have had a few challenges--and LOTS of fun!! My worker bees, Nicol Sponberg and Nancy Petak, along with our youth helpers Maddy, Millie, and Tori have greased all the squeaky wheels and helped our camp run smoothly--and joyfully.

Our focus this year is that we are God's kids, princes and princesses, being trained by the King of Kings for His service.

Monday we talked about what it means to be a servant--and how Jesus left heaven and its glory to come to earth-- still King, but Servant King.

Tuesday we looked at two examples of Jesus' servanthood. First, we looked at His feeding the multitude from the standpoint of His serving the people by meeting their need for lunch. Second, we looked at Jesus' example of serving His disciples by washing their feet. These campers listened intently to the story then quietly followed the instruction to move onto the tile floor, taking off shoes and socks, and wondering what was going on. The Lord had impressed on my heart to follow Jesus' example so I washed their precious little feet. Their was no giggling or questions or talk (which I fully expected!), just quiet watching. For me, it was a glimpse of glory, this side of heaven, and something I will not forget! I was clearly reminded that God is at work teaching the teacher!!

Today we talked about one bad king and two good, talking about Saul, David, and Solomon. God's Word reminded us that man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart.

Before, after, and in the in-betweens we have colored, glued, played on swings and slides, sprayed each other with the hose, prayed together, made new friends, ridden wheeled toys lickety-split in the hall, chased each other in rousing games of Duck, Duck, Goose and Cat and Mice, laughed, snacked on popcorn, goldfish, frozen pops, and lemonade, eaten lunch with the 'big kids' and at least 100 other things!

Thank you for lending me your wondrous, amazing, funny, tender, wrestling, curious children. They have been a treat these first three days and I fully expect more of the same for the last two days. Our God, the King of Glory, is incredible! ~ Gege

2011-06-22T19:44:00.001-05:00

Our Caring Shepherd

2011-06-22T06:35:00.003-05:00

I love storms. Love hearing them, love watching them roll in, love squealing from my car to where ever I need to go and love getting drenched by rain...and watching others do the same. Minutes before our campers were sceheduled to be moved to the east parking lot for our big yearly ecamp photo, the black storm clouds finally made good on their threat. This wasn't a soft, seeping-into-the-parched-ground Oregon kind of rain, this was a good ole fashioned Cumberland Valley of Middle Tennessee downpour! There was nothing Southern-polite-like about this kind of storm. It is merciless and drowns every thing in its path, displaying the wildness and unpredictability of our massive Storm Maker. But minutes later, it ceased. Just long enough for us to herd all 140+ precious little sheep outside for a group picture. The skies over Brentwood were perfectly overcast, which meant no shadows! (Every good wanna-be-photographer knows this and smiles when this happens.) It's so kind of the Father to care about even these things. He makes His Name known as Jehovah Raah- our Shepherd, who cares. Later, it started pouring down again and stopped again throughout the day. No wonder there are so many different Names for God- He cannot and will not be contained. He is WILD and unpredictable - just like stormy weather.

Grasp It!

2011-06-21T19:10:00.002-05:00

Have you seen the red hands? They are everywhere. Do you know what they mean? If your e-camper came home with a red hand I hope they have shared the reason! Our hands are attached to us at all times. We never will be without them! Our hands help us play games, eat, work, write, clap, pray, praise God and also TELL the story of what Jesus has done in our lives. E-Campers are walking away from Grasp It with a tool to share the salvation story with friends and family. The Thumb: God loves me. He gives me the free gift of Grace, if I choose to accept it. The Index finger: I am a sinner. When we point out the sin of others, we have to remember that there are 3 other fingers pointing back at me. Everyone is a sinner. The Middle finger: It is the tallest and greatest! Jesus Christ is the greatest in all of the universe. He died on the cross, because I am a sinner and gives me the free gift of Grace. The Ring finger: I need to Believe that Jesus came to earth to die for my sins. The Pinky finger: If I believe, then one day I will spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

At the end of each session, e-campers are invited to place their hand on a piece of cloth as a remembrance of what Christ did for them. He bled (hence the red ink) and died on the cross for our sins! That's MY God! And my prayer is that MY God is, or becomes, THEIR God. As they are making their hand prints, several wonderful ladies are praying God's blessing on each individual camper. It is a blessing to see their face light up when we lift up their name to Jehovah Raah, our shepherd.

Thank you so much for sharing your child with us this week! This is one of many hearts that have been greatly blessed! And it's only day 2!

2011-06-21T15:30:00.001-05:00

holy halls

2011-06-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

Please excuse my lack of techno-savvy. I cannot figure out how to rotate this video, therefore, will you please rotate your head to watch?

Today 140 children walked through the tunnel of love to e-camp. Our student leaders made the tunnel by standing shoulder to shoulder and raising their hands high. Little people passed through it to the other side amidst cheers and whoo hoo’s.

I can’t help but see the figurative illustration represented here by the literal. These student leaders are giving their lives away. A phrase we throw around a lot at Fellowship Bible Church. Do we actually do it? Well, I am seeing it first hand in action by a loving group of student leaders this week. All day long I saw the leaders encouraging, bending down and looking littler people in the eyes and giving them words or hugs.

And as a mom, I know, these littler people thrive on the attention from teenagers. One Create it! (that’s e-speak for art) participant bloomed right before my eyes when Erin Ogilvie pointed out a facet of her design that was beautiful.

My own children have regaled me with stories since we arrived home. In fact, one just called me away from this post to ask me something “very important.” He is supposed to be going to bed. One more story had to be told. He asked me if I had seen Fernando today. I told him I had not seen him but had been looking. Fernando is a friend we made two years ago at e-camp. He is from Honduras originally and now attends El Shaddai church. (We are blessed to have a group from there participating.) And so my son, Joshua, was telling me how Fernando had made him laugh today. We lived for four years in Honduras and share a special love of that country.

And so back at my computer, thinking of Fernando, I watched the video I had taken this morning and who should appear coming through the tunnel? Fernando. Catch him in the Honduras soccer jersey. Hey, Fernando, Viva Honduras!

Worship. Community. Growth. Service. Generosity.

I’m not sure these halls at Fellowship have ever been holier.

My name is Gigi McMurray. I am being lead by ten 6 year olds and thirteen other young people during the Create it! afternoon focus group. In addition, each child will create something in the morning in our art break-out session. We will display these expressions of worship on Family Worship Night. Yes, these children are leading me. And they will lead us in worship Friday night.

Look forward to seeing you there!

2011-06-20T15:28:00.000-05:00

2011-04-20T20:20:00.007-05:00

BIG NEWS....

e-Camp is back!

e-Camp dates are....

(drum roll, please...)

June 20th-24th, 2011

Please visit fellowshipnashville.org to register online!
Registration is open NOW!!

Come, let us worship our KING!

Overheards - 2010

2010-06-20T17:39:00.001-05:00

Day 4: Exalt GOD

"You have sheep hair, Gege! Yeah, you have sheep hair, but you have people skin!" g-Campers, ages 3 and 5

"Just twist it and pull it out" - e-Camper, age 6, trying to pull out her first tooth!

(playing with a train like a plane) "I'll fly you to Jesus!" - g-Camper, age 5

Camper: "This isn't my real hair color."
Leader response: "Oh, really?"
Camper: "Yes, I use a LOT of shampoo!"
- e-Camper, brown hair, 6 yrs old, Voice It!

"My mommy and daddy sing really good. My daddy teaches classes and goes to works. Why does he teach classes? Why am I here?" - g-Camper, age 2

Camper: "I'm so excited to go on vacation to Lake Tahoe!"
Leader response: "How cool...What's in Lake Tahoe?"
Camper: "A Lake."
- Voice It!

Leader: "What was your favorite part of the day?"
Camper: "Losing my tooth!"

Day 3: Trust GOD

Of art created in class, "This represents what God wants to give me and it is too big to hold." - Create It!

"I play the guitar. That is the gift that God gave me to give back to Him." ...of the painting done of a guitar, Create It!

After asking the youth guys to move the staging (heavy lifting at the end of a long, hot day...) the wholehearted response... "I would LOVE to!!" - Aaron Martinez, student leader

"I was just here for the kids, but this is changing me. This is very rewarding!" - Emily Batiste, student leader

"I feel so thankful when I am singing worship songs." - Rachel Wilburn, student leader, Voice It!

"When I sing to the Lord, I feel like He is really in me." - Voice It!

"When I sing worship songs, I am singing more for God's pleasure. When I am singing other songs, I'm singing more for myself." - Voice It!

"We are like professionals at this dance!" - Move It!

"What are some sins? - Ding-Dong Ditching, Egging someone or t.p.'ing a house" - Grasp It!

"Read your bible and use it as a weapon to fight your giants." - Stacia, Grasp It!

"Why does God do bad things and then tell us how to take them away?" - g-Camp, 5 yr old

"Why do we do bad things and belong to God?" - g-Camp, 5 yr old

Camper - "Life is like a rubix cube."
Leader response - "I can solve a rubix cube if I take all the stickers off." - Write It!

"A merry heart makes us joyful and the bad spirit dries up your joyful." - g-Camp, 5 yr old

"You have sheep's hair!" - spoken to Gege, g-Camp, 3 yr-old

Day 2: Honor GOD

"Song writing was AMAZING! We wrote a song...a whole song!" - Write It!

"I think it's time for you to stop talking and start painting." - Create It!

(About God)"You are like a great oak giving us support and shade from lies." - Write It!

"Can we like draw a picture of God so we can show how much we love Him?" - Create It!

God created..."The world! Mars! Yeah and He breathes hot breath from His mouth!" - g-Campers ages 4 and 5

God has provided..."The grass for a soft landing" - g-Camp, Jonathan Petak, age 5

"I like crazy!" - Worship time

"God already told me what to draw." - Create It!

Day 1: Seek GOD

"I know a bad, bad, bad sin...ignoring your parents!" - Grasp It!

"We all live on this big blue ball, and there's sin everywhere. We just have to make the best of it!" - Write It!

(Prayer Request) "I want to die when my mommy dies so that I can go to heaven when she does and we can be together. I don't want to be apart from her." - 5 yr old, g-Camp

"My grandfather composed the music we are listening to" - Create It!

"How do you spell 'createable'?"

Exalting God Dramatically

2010-06-10T20:29:00.005-05:00

Today was another dramatic day at E-Camp! Of course, when you kick off the morning with a drama sketch by our student leaders that includes Super Mario and an ostrich named Chives, the rest of the day cannot help but follow suit. When the therapist tried to help the handful of wacky characters to stop exalting things besides God, the kids laughed so hard they almost fell off their choir risers- and they got the point.

Later in our morning drama breakout session, the kids experimented with playing characters who did exalt God. One chose to be a missionary and share the gospel with another student, telling her "God is holy." Another chose to read her Bible- demonstrated by holding her hands like a book. When I asked what she was reading, she said, “I’m reading Luke.” Another prayed with his hands folded and his eyes closed, another sang a song in Spanish about how God can "move the mountains," two danced, and one picked up an imaginary baby lamb to show that she was taking care of God's creation. Little hands, faces, and imaginations were not just acting in those moments, they truly were exalting God.

After the students had returned to their places on the carpet, a little girl came up to me. She said, "I know of another song that exalts God." I needed to start the next activity, but her eyes were pleading. I asked "What is it?" She said, "Joy to the World." I asked, "Would you like to sing it for me?" She nodded. So, amidst the furor of energetic noise around us, I bent my head down to listen. She sang the whole song. And it was precious.

Now that I think about it, it wasn’t just another dramatic day at E-Camp. Through wacky characters, heartfelt acting, and a joyful Christmas carol, it was a dramatic day in which God was exalted!

Daily Notes - Exalt GOD

2010-06-10T15:30:00.001-05:00

Daily  Notes
Exalt  GOD

Verse of the Day! For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; You are EXALTED far above all gods.

Psalm 97:9

DON’T FORGET!

FWN will begin at 6:30 pm Friday night. Please look for our FWN Daily Notes for details about times and places of drop off, etc.
We hope everyone is planning to stay after FWN tomorrow for our Ice Cream Social!! Bring your favorite box of popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, or push pops to share along with your appetite for frozen treats and fun!
Sign up for childcare with the names and ages of your children so you can attend the Parent Breakout on Spiritual Leadership in the Home in room LC219 of the Learning Center while your campers are at FWN warm-up. Childcare will be provided in room LC149.
Campers will be wearing denim shorts and their camp t-shirt for FWN, tomorrow night . Thank you!

Family Worship Night (FWN)! We are SO excited about being led in worship by your children! And don’t forget to stick around afterward and join us for the Ice Cream Social in the back barn with a photo slideshow of our week and a fun time of fellowship to close out our week.

Daily Notes: Family Worship Night

2010-06-10T15:29:00.000-05:00

Family
Worship Night

Schedule
3:00pm - Camp Ends
5:00 pm - We need your children back to prepare for Worship!!
                  Please bring your children to the Student Center
                  with your box of frozen treats.
                  We will have coolers to put the treats in!
5:15 pm - Parent Breakout on Spiritual Leadership in the Home
                 in  room LC219.
                 Childcare is located in room LC149.
6:00 pm - Parent breakout session ends
6:30 pm - Family Worship Night begins!!
Immediately following FWN - Ice Cream Social!!

A different perspective...

2010-06-09T22:51:00.002-05:00

g-Camp.

I know a lot of you have probably seen "g-Camp" written in the sidebar and thought that it was a typo. It isn't. g-Camp is the camp for our littles...aka the small children of our e-Camp staffers that is held at my home. In it's second year, just like e-Camp, we have grown this year...just like e-Camp.

Last year, I was a full-timer at e-Camp, being the camp "administrator", and my son attended g-Camp. Let me just say that g-Camp was the HIGHLIGHT of his summer! Now I know why!!

About a month ago, we added a little girl to our family, I made the shift for this year to staying at my home and helping with g-Camp. We have had an absolute BLAST! As you can see from some of our "over-heards", our little people can be every bit as funny and profound as our big people and while I miss being at e-Camp and really miss the campers I bonded with last year, g-Camp has been so fun and the kiddos are learning so much!

This year, our theme is "Great is Thy Name!" (the "g" in g-Camp) and the kids, so far, have learned that Jehova-Raah is their Shepherd, Jehova-jireh is their Provider, and Jehova-nissi is their banner. They have heard the stories when God first called Himself by these names and have asked questions and learned verses, hiding His Word in their hearts.

Thank you so much to all the e-Camp volunteers, but from all of us over here at g-Camp straight to the mommas of our kiddos, thank you for serving AND for lending us your kids. We love them to pieces, each and every one!

- by: Mandy Reutter

Lead It!

2010-06-09T15:58:00.007-05:00

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

What a beautiful gift God has given to us in the form of kids - they are like brightly wrapped packages to open, full of smiling faces, curious questions, and contagious laughter. The energy at e-camp this week is over-the-top, thanks, in part, to another beautiful gift God has blessed us with -- our student volunteers from The Foundry (Fellowship's highschool youth group.) They greet our campers at the door every morning with a smile and a "Hey, I'm so glad you're here!" They play, they give piggyback rides, they lead the kids to their activities and take them to the bathroom(over and over again!). They let the younger kids go through the lunch line first, they reign in the stragglers, they answer lots and LOTS of questions -- all without whining, complaining or wishing they were somewhere else. What an incredible example of the body of Christ; to walk alongside another in love, showing by example and sharing one's experience. May we all come into the presence of Jesus as our kids do...and don't forget to HAVE FUN!

by: Katie Hogue, full time e-camp volunteer

Daily Notes - Trust GOD

2010-06-09T15:44:00.000-05:00

Daily 

Notes

Trust  GOD

Verse of the Day!
TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5,6

DON’T FORGET!

Sign up for childcare with the names and ages of your children so you can attend the Parent Breakout on Family Worship in the Home in room LC219 of the Learning Center while your campers are at FWN warm-up.
Please remember that you MUST sign your child IN AND OUT of camp each day. For their safety, and the security of camp we must ask you to escort your child in each day to check them in to camp.
Your camper received a CD Monday of the music we will sing at FWN on Friday. Please be listening to these OFTEN!
Campers will be wearing denim shorts and their camp t-shirt for FWN. Thank you!

Family Worship Night (FWN)!

We will be celebrating our fabulous week with a fun night of singing, dancing, drama, drumming, and psalm reading all to the glory of our King Jesus! And what’s a celebration without ICE CREAM! Please join us for an Ice Cream Social in the back barn immediately following Family Worship Night. Bring your favorite box of popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, or push pops to share along with your appetite for frozen treats and fun!

CREATE IT

2010-06-08T21:41:00.000-05:00

Imagine a long hallway with sunlight streaming in through floor to ceiling windows. A violin softly invites you to sit and meditate. A tranquil fountain gushes water atop a peaceful, still pond. Thirty children sit at tables meditating on God’s Scripture and painting their hearts in colorful offerings of worship. You have just stepped into “Create it!” You are at e-camp, yes.

We listen to Scripture read in a “lectio divina” style. Lectio divina (pronounced lex-ee-o dih-vee-nah) means a holy or sacred reading of Scripture. It begins with cultivating the ability to listen deeply to hear with the ear of our hearts. As we quiet down, we listen to the Word of God for the day. Today we heard 1 Chronicles 29:10-12

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

We listen for a word or phrase that God is speaking to us. Maybe He gives us a picture. We pray for Him to speak to us individually through His Holy Word. We begin to paint as an act of worship to offer to God our gifts and our adoration. We are Levitical priests tending to our souls – temples of the Living God!

What a privilege it is for me to get a front row seat in the holy of holies in the hearts of these precious children! I cannot imagine a more beautiful scene than children worshipping their Creator. Can you?

Do you find it hard to believe that your child can be quiet for 50 minutes and listen? Do you wonder how it is that a group of 30 children go from 100 miles per hour to zero in less than 3 minutes? Do you want to know a secret? They can do it! Know what else? It is beautiful!

Daily Notes - Honor GOD

2010-06-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

Daily 

Notes

Honor  GOD

Verse of the Day!
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth, wisdom and strength, HONOR and glory and praise.”

Revelation 5:12

DON’T FORGET!

Sign up for childcare with the names and ages of your children so you can attend the Parent Breakout on Family Worship in the Home in room LC219 of the Learning Center while your campers are at FWN warm-up.
If your child is still hungry after they have finished their purchased lunch, please feel free to send additional food to go with it.
Campers will be wearing denim shorts and their camp t-shirt for FWN. Thank you!
Your camper received a CD yesterday of the music we will sing at FWN on Friday. Please be listening to these OFTEN!

Family Worship Night (FWN)!
We will be celebrating our fabulous week with a fun night of singing, dancing, drama, drumming, and psalm reading all to the glory of our King Jesus! And what’s a celebration without ICE CREAM! Please join us for an Ice Cream Social in the back barn immediately following Family Worship Night. Bring your favorite box of popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, or push pops to share along with your appetite for frozen treats and fun!

Grasp It!

2010-06-07T19:22:00.000-05:00

What do you get when you put 120 kids, 30 plus adults, silly songs, drum sticks, pizza, bananas, games, chocolate milk, stones, pretzels, water bottles, popsicles, and BACON together? Day 1 of E-Camp!
What an amazing day of SEEKing after the one true God who created us to worship! I have the privilege of speaking to all campers during one of the morning break out sessions: Grasp It. David and Goliath are the subjects. Do you know how tall Goliath was? By the end of the week, your camper should be able to tell you.
We all have giants in our lives; the sins that so easily entangle us. Daily SEEKing God with our voices, eyes, minds, and hearts will protect us from those giants. The 5 smooth stones serve as a reminder that God has given us 31,103 verses in his word to use as our weapons. Memorize them and hide them in your heart to bring out in times of struggle. What an awesome tool God has given us to fight off our giants! The white stone is a reminder of the stone we will receive with a new name written on it that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Rev 2:17) I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get my new name!
The lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10.

by: Stacia Hudspith,
e-Camp Leader
Grasp It!

Daily Notes - Seek GOD

2010-06-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

Daily  Notes

Seek  GOD

Verse of the Day! The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who SEEK the Lord lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:10

DON’T FORGET! We will be taking a large group picture tomorrow with our camp t-shirts! Please send your child in denim shorts so we can have a uniform look for the photo. We will put their camp shirt on over the shirt they wear to camp. Campers will be wearing denim shorts and their camp t-shirt for Family Worship Night . Thank you! Family Worship Night (FWN)! While your children are warming up for Family Worship Night, please join us in room LC219 in the Learning Center for a Parent Break Out on Family Worship in the Home. There will be childcare provided for those who sign up! Then, we will be celebrating our fabulous week with a fun night of singing, dancing, drama, drumming, and psalm reading all to the glory of our King Jesus! And what’s a celebration without ICE CREAM! Please join us for an Ice Cream Social in the back barn immediately following Family Worship Night. Bring your favorite box of popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, or push pops to share along with your appetite for frozen treats and fun!

2010-05-30T07:44:00.000-05:00

Good Morning e-campers! We are 8 days from the official start of e-camp and the anticipation is mounting!! We are SUPER excited to see what God has in store for each of you in this jam packed week of worship and praise! A few items for you and your parents to be aware of....

We need your Registration Forms filled out and in our possession before the first day of camp. You can drop them by the church office this week, Tuesday-Friday.

Our campers are being prayed for by name!

e-camp has a group on facebook. Look us up and join. There are pictures posted from last year and we will post pictures and give updates their during e-camp 2010 as well!

Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.... (or if you need us to send you the Registration Forms via email) ecamp@fbctn.org

Your statutes are the songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Psalm 119:54

SUMMER 2010

2010-02-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

BIG NEWS.... BIG NEWS.... e-camp is back! e-camp dates are.... (drum roll, please...) June 7th-11th, 2010 Info and registration forms are coming ASAP. Come, let us worship our KING!

Re-entry

2009-10-02T08:22:00.001-05:00

I need Jesus

Your the only One who can help me

I need Jesus

I need You to help me with my life

by:Hannah Morlan

My sweet 9 year old wrote this song while we were in Peru. She really had a hard time with worry and anxiety while we were away. She was encouraged to lay her fears at the feet of Jesus, and this song came out of that exercise. In the picture above, she is singing it for us the day we returned using her homemade microphone.

The words to her song have been the cry of my heart since our entry into the United States. The simplicity of her lyrics have met me in the deep dark places of re-entry...

I will continue to update the blog with the rest of our week in Peru. We were bombarded with exhaustion and sickness at the end of our week last week, so updates stopped and survival began. Now that we have been home several days and the fog is somewhat lifting, the desire to document what God did in Peru is rising up in me again!

Great and marvelous are Your works,

Oh Lord God, the Almighty;

Righteous and true are Your ways, King of nations!

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?

For You alone are holy;

For all the nations will come and worship before You,

For Your righteous acts have been revealed!

Revelations 15:3-4

FEEDING THE CHILDREN IN CHILLON!

2009-09-22T10:56:00.000-05:00

This morning we awoke and left our home at 5:30am. We had a specific purpose. We joined several Pastors from Iglesia and their daughter churches to feed the children of Chillon. In this first picture, the gentleman with the bullhorn is loudly calling the children to come and eat. He was walking up and down the road calling to them. He then turned on his siren that echoed through the mountain. Children started to make their way out of their homes, walking down the mountain holding hands with siblings and hungry bellies. Pastor Julio walked that huge red trash can down as well. It was filled with cups for the oatmeal.

Every child gets 2 rolls.

This is their "oatmeal." It is really like a milky drink with some oats added in. It also had peruvian cinnamon in it for taste.

They also each get one of these cups filled half way with the oatmeal.

Actually giving these babies food was a truly humbling experience.

They were so thankful with bright eyes and smiling faces!

We had around 75 kids for breakfast. Once they were handed their breakfast, they then took a seat on benches. Pastor Julio takes advantage of this time and plants seeds of Truth in their hungry hearts.

Pastor Julio then took several of the men up the mountain to another area where they were feeding more children. This photo was taken by Philip while up above us on the mountain looking down on us.

Mandy and Yeliska became fast friends. Yeliska (3years old) and her baby sister, Annalea (18 mos ) walked together to breakfast. We never saw their momma. They bobbed down the mountain together.... happy as larks! They were the last to leave.

SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERT & THE FIRST DAY OF CAMP!!!

2009-09-22T08:53:00.000-05:00

On Sunday night, we were given a special treat! They had a special band come and play for us during the service. It was a 10 piece band with several guitars, flutes and pan flutes, some native stringed instruments, and a giant cow jaw that the percussion player played!

Along with the band were fabulous dancers that danced several times....each time with a different native costumes.

They graciously posed with us afterwards. Ellen and Philip both got to dance with them. Ellen learned some of the dances and Philip just blushed and did his best!

He was a great sport.... and then got to model their headgear!

Yesterday was our first day of camp! The kids were so excited! The language barrier was difficult at times, but we all understand the language of love. They are very generous with hugs and kisses! We had a little over 100 kids!

Ellen (otherwise known as Tigger) started us out with games! They LOVE to play! Energy is something they are not short on!

Our campers! Don't they just warm your heart?

I'll end with this picture.... one of the games they played was a ballon contest! How quickly can you blow your ballon up from YOUR NOSTRIL!!!! Hilarious! This is David... he won the contest!

WE ARE IN PERU!!!

2009-09-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

We landed last night around 10:00pm in Lima, Peru. We spent a bunch of time (8 hours) in the Miami, FL airport yesterday.... a very bonding experience!

This picture was taken outside of the Peru International Airport sometime around midnight! We then all loaded up on a school bus and drove 45 minuted to the Guzman's home where we are staying.

This morning we were taken to the church, ate a delicious breakfast, and then took a drive up the mountain to the cross overlooking the city. We walked the last little bit up to the cross.

We spent time talking with several children and then Pastor Enrique led us in a prayer for our time in the city asking the Lord to move and work in all of our hearts. He talked about the many examples in God's Word where people "went up the mountain" to hear from God or to be close to Him. It was a bitter sweet time. Pastor Enrique shared with us that a beloved brother in Christ and marriage mentor was killed last night in a robbery/shoot out right around the time we were landing in Peru. He received the news of his friends death as we were unloading at the Guzman's. He had spent the night at the hospital and was so transparent about our deperate need of Jesus and His continued faithfulness to us in times of grief and in celebration.

Sweet peruvian babies!

Our team picture up on the mountain standing in front of the cross and overlooking Comas. Gigi and David were not present. They had gone into Comas to shop for supplies for camp. Speaking of Gigi.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING FRIEND!

The boys are jumping... some are attempting toe touches!

On our walk up the mountain we met several friends who followed us up to the cross!

At lunch they had a party for us. All the pastors and their families ate with us, and then they had a very special presentation for us. The Santo Crew did a "break-dance," and it was incredible.

It was at this point that the dance breakout began. We danced the Cotton-Eyed Joe a few times and a peruvian (fanny shaking) dance as well. We laughed and danced and laughed some more! In a little bit we are going to have a full band rehearsal. Four of our band members are peruvian....a combined worship experience!

PERU- ready or not...here we come!

2009-09-17T15:17:00.000-05:00

In a few short hours we will be boarding a plane to Peru! This is our incredible team!! From top left to right.... Philip Morlan, Vince Wallace, Rob Howard, Scott Moore, Bengy Del Villar, Stephen Rush, Ellen Staggs, Barb Taylor (bottom row) Jessica Morlan, Mandy Reutter, David Mills, Gigi McMurray, and Erin Tumlin. (not pictured) Juan Vasquez, and Matt Eldredge We will be meeting at the airport at 4:15am tomorrow morning.... there are benefits to meeting this early I'm sure! We will be posting updates, pictures, and prayer requests on this blog. For now you could be praying specifically for.... 1. health of our team 2. safe travels 3. that the Lord would provide all the support needed to reach our finacial goals for funding this trip 4. for comfort and protection of our loved ones that we are leaving behind in the states 5. for the hearts of the Peruvian children.... that they might be transformed as they worship the One True God! 6. that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts will be acceptable in His sight, our ROCK, and our REDEEMER!

To God be the Glory!

2009-07-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to HIM be GLORY in the church and in CHRIST JESUS throughout all generations, forever and ever. AMEN. Ephesians 3:20

Too Much Fun

2009-07-23T16:51:00.000-05:00

What could be more fun than seeing these children learn to give all their hearts to their Lord in worship? He is so pleased as we delight in Him. All this fun can be exhausting! Click for more photos!

Worship

2009-07-22T22:01:00.000-05:00

Oh come, let us WORSHIP and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Psalm 95:6-7 In art, 25 second graders created collages. One child debated the use of humor in worship - whether humor had a place in worship. I think he answered his own question. I am certainly humored. I am thankful that our Lord has a sense of humor. Click below for more photos... http://gallery.me.com/mattmcmurray#100254

155,000 Words on Worship

2009-07-22T07:01:00.000-05:00

Want to know what your child is learning about worshiping the Lord this week? Take a look at about 155,000 words. Yeah, I think the old proverb is true. A picture, a thousand words. At least. Photos of Tuesday

...the beat of a different drummer!

2009-07-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

Buckets, trash cans, traffic cones...... who'd a thought you could worship God with these things!!

Leland and Ryan lead your children in a rhythmic down beats using sticks and smiles! You could hear them for miles..... strong and sure, much like a heartbeat.

Of course the trash cans and buckets were the main attraction.... while the egg shakers and wood blocks weren't as hot of a ticket; however, that lead to great conversations about a true heart of worship. When we worship, we need to give God our very best - regardless of how big or small we think our gift of worship is. We need to offer Him all of us.... our "whole heart." The motivation of our hearts is what He sees and is all He cares about. He is interested in the heartbeat of the individual.... not their abilities, and definitely not in how big or small their drum is!!

As I listened, I was wishing I had some drum sticks, a bucket, and a traffic cone..... instead I marveled at the wonder of our Lord. He was inhabiting a hot barn filled with children who were unashamedly creating LOUD music in honor of their Creator!

I Scream, You Scream, We ALL Scream for Ice Cream!!

2009-07-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

Well, as many of you have already noticed, we are planning and preparing for a fun, fun, fun Ice Cream Social immediately following Family Worship Night on Friday. As such, we are asking every family who can to please bring a box of popcicles, a box of ice cream sandwiches, or a package of ice cream cups. As you can see we are trying to avoid cartons of ice cream so that we will not need bowls, spoons, servers, etc. Thanks in advance for your help with this. We think that we will all have a wonderful time together remembering the week, introducing new friends, eating yummy ice cream and just being together. - Your e-camp Staff

Camp reminders...and impressions from the day

2009-07-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Wow! The past two days have been amazing. God has shown up in so many ways and I stand amazed at the specific, detailed care of our Father. Each and every child that has come to camp this week has been prayed for and their Father has drawn worshipers to Himself in a beautiful way. Today, I watched transfixed as one of our campers, one of your children, worshiped her Heavenly Father with reckless abandon - arms raised, eyes closed, full voice, in love with the King. At our Family Worship Night on Friday I believe these children will lead us into the Throne Room and we can all bring our offerings of love, adoration, and praise to Him. Speaking of Family Worship Night, we are thrilled that Jason Houser of Seeds Family Worship will be teaching our Parent Workshop on Family Worship! Jason will be joining us in the morning tomorrow for our worship and devotional time, then on Friday while your e-campers are preparing for worship, you can come to E-Camp, too! Just drop off the campers at 5pm in the Student Center, then walk over to the Learning Center for a wonderful 45 minute session on Family Worship and what that can look like. As a reminder, if your family will need childcare for your younger children who are not campers, we will need your RSVP by no later than tomorrow morning at drop off. If you plan for your children to participate in childcare, please RSVP to pmorlan@fellowshipnashville.org by drop off tomorrow. Include the names and ages of your children. Thank you all so much for sharing your children with us this week. As we endeavor to teach them what true worship looks like, I believe the Father has been blessed by their precious seeking and desire to honor Him through all the avenues He has given us to worship Him.

A couple of dance reminders

2009-07-21T17:14:00.000-05:00

Hello Parents!! What a wonderful couple of days its been with your children. I have thoroughly enjoyed having your children in the Move It! class. They are doing a wonderful job learning all the choreography. One thing that will help them learn the dance faster is if they get practice at home. If you've noticed we're doing the song "Prepare Ye the Way" and it is not on the e-camp cd. I would ask that if you don't already own the song, that you would go to itunes (or any online music store) and purchase the song there. Again, the song is "Prepare Ye the Way" by Michael W. Smith. If you'd like to use iTunes, the link is iTuneslink. Thank you so much! See you tomorrow! In and thru Him, Raychel

Monday, Monday

2009-07-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

What do bubble gum, army crawling, sprinting, painting, singing and dancing have in common? e-camp!!! We learned about what it means to KNOW God. Today, I overheard a child share about a time when God spoke to her heart. She heard Him say, "It's gonna be alright." Friends were slow-coming this year and she was sad about it. God spoke into her shadows and lent her some peace. What a beautiful testimony to her fellow 4th graders. Another shared that he felt God's Presence when he looked up at the clouds. This afternoon I nearly wept looking into those clouds and knowing the heart of a 4th grader experienced the goodness of God in clouds. I'll say this: AINT NO ROCKS GONNA BE CRYIN' TONIGHT. Cause some children worshiped the Lord today with all that was in them. And we're going to do it all over again tomorrow. See ya there! PS Click the link below to get a glimpse of some photos of this awesome day. Paste that link into your browser to see the gallery. Sorry, new to blogger. http://gallery.me.com/mattmcmurray#100238

Camp reminders...

2009-07-19T15:04:00.000-05:00

Hello e-camp Moms and Dads: Some of the following information is repeat and some is NEW! Please read carefully because we do not want you to miss anything. We are so very excited about seeing each of your children tomorrow! Please also, visit our blog at e-camp-fellowship.blogspot.com. You will find daily updates, photos, stories, and more. There are already a few posts, so feel free to drop by even now, before camp starts tomorrow. COMMUNICATION: In case of emergency, please call the Fellowship Bible Church front desk at 777-8500. Tell the receptionist you are calling about e-camp and she will connect you with the appropriate extension. Any questions, or other communication (ie - in case of absence, sickness, etc) can be done via email at ecamp@fellowshipnashville.org. DRESS CODE: The weather forecast for the week of e-camp is HOT!! Please send your children in sunscreen and dressed appropriate for the weather. We ask for no inappropriate t-shirts, slogans or advertisements. We also ask for no tank-tops or dresses with spaghetti straps, and no “short shorts”. Please dress modestly. BLOGS AND DAILY UPDATES: We will be posting photographs, stories, and updates on our blog daily. The address is  e-camp-fellowship.blogspot.com. Be sure and check it out!

You can also look for emails regarding changes, should the need arise. LUNCH: We have partnered with Chic-fil-A in Cool Springs to provide lunch for $2 per lunch. This includes 6 pc. nuggets, chips and a drink. Please fill out the enclosed form if you are interested in this lunch option. Otherwise please send a lunch with your child and remember, Fellowship is a PEANUT FREE environment. CHECK-IN AND PICK-UP: Each day check-in and pick-up will be in the back barn. This is the building located next to the playground. An adult will need to sign each child in and out each day. We understand that car-pooling is convenient, so please make sure that your car-pool adults are all listed for drop-off and pick-up for each child in the group. FAMILY WORSHIP NIGHT: Our goal for this week is that each child would grow in their knowledge of the Father and discover their natural style of worship. Each day the children will be working in a chosen area toward our worship event on Friday night. It is important that they attend every day so as to be prepared for their part in the evening. Everyone will be relying on each other to know their own parts. REHEARSAL TIME: We will need the children to be back on campus by 5 pm to get ready for the evening. Please be sure that your children have eaten dinner before they come. PARENT WORKSHOP: We are offering a parent workshop between 5:15 and 6 pm Friday evening. We will be  talking about creating family worship times at home. During that time, we will also distribute evaluations for you to tell us about your child’s experience during the week.  Childcare will be provided for siblings not attending camp. Family Worship Night will begin at 6:30 in the Student Center where Sunday worship is held and will be immediately followed by an Ice Cream Social in the back barn for e-camp families. CHILDCARE: We will need your childcare RSVP no later than Wednesday at drop off. You may RSVP the number of children and their ages to ecamp@fellowshipnashville.org . If we have not heard from you by that time, we will assume that your child(ren) who are not e-campers will not need to be with our childcare workers during the Parent workshop. Please, know that we do not want anyone to feel as if they can not attend because of lack of childcare. If you need to, you may bring your children to the meeting. Again, we are looking forward to spending time this summer with your child. We pray that God will greatly impact all of our lives in the process. We would also love your prayers for safety and that God would uniquely touch each child involved, growing them in their knowledge of who He is. We look forward to seeing you at e-camp! In Christ, The e-camp Staff

Delight & Worship

2009-07-19T14:48:00.000-05:00

The core of our delight is our capacity to worship, to create and enter beauty as a reminder and anticipation of God's goodness. Dan Allender, Sabbath Recently, I experienced the thrill of sensing God's pleasure. Jerry's Arterama may seem the least likely place to encounter God, but I experienced DELIGHT right there. I believe God delights in us as we play and simultaneously we delight in him. At Jerry's, I roamed the aisles in search of the canvases, paints, brushes, and other surprises. I talked with Shannon, the manager, about our needs and desires. I calculated cost and budget. I dreamed about little fingers and medium fingers grabbing a brush and expressing a heart to worship God through art. AND... I felt the delight of my soul intersecting with God's delight. In short, I worshiped my Creator. Overwhelmed with God's abundant provision, I loaded up my van. These empty canvases and unstained brushes await the children, God-worshipers. All of this preparation, prayer, and purchasing will blossom tomorrow! Who would think that I could worship the Living God on an aisle in Jerry's Arterama and sense the converging of my design and His purpose for me! My prayer is that each child would tune their spirits to hear the voice of their Creator. Creating will breed listening which will breed more creating. Delight. I believe He delights in us as we play. I could not be more excited to get to play with paint, chalk, glue and other neat art supplies. Thanks to Jerry's for their generosity in donating and discounting enough art supplies to dazzle 100 children!

To Dance or Not to Dance? That is the Question.

2009-07-19T12:18:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogger World! Some of you may not know me, but I'm Raychel McKelvy and I will be teaching "Move It" of the dance part of e-camp. I am so excited to get to encourage kids in worship through the art of dance. As I searched the scriptures for references of dance I realized that God intended dance to be used as an outward expression of joy. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, "[there is] a time to mourn, and a time to dance." Psalm 30:11, " You have turned my mourning into dancing..." And it makes sense. There is plenty of dancing at weddings but I've never seen someone dance at a funeral. Dancing is just an automatic response to a happy heart. Even adults can't contain themselves when their happy. They have to do a little "jig" as my mom calls it. Two verses that really hit me were Psalm 149:3 and 2 Samuel 6:14. Psalm 149:3 says, "Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre." We are to praise God's name with dancing. Its not about the dancer, its about the Lord. In Exodus 15 Miriam and the women of Israel dance to give thanks to God for bringing them across the Red Sea. David dances like a crazy person because he was so excited about what the Lord had done. Speaking of David :D... The verse about him dancing is what hit me the hardest. 2 Samuel 6:14 says, " And David danced before the Lord with all his might." Not for others and not half-heartedly, but before the Lord and with all his might. That is how David danced. That is how I should dance, it is how we as believers should dance. And it is my prayer that it will be how the kids of e-camp will dance. Before the Lord, with all their might, bringing praise to His name. Continue to pray for camp.

In and thru Him, Raychel

True Worship...

2009-07-09T23:58:00.000-05:00

...a willingness to give your Savior his due... no matter your circumstance or location...

2009-07-06T11:37:00.000-05:00

two weeks from today..... YIPPEE!!!!!

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY..... YAHOO!!!

e-camp begins 2 weeks from today....Halleluia!!