Dutch Team Outreach

August was a busy month for youth outreach.  Fresh on the heels of Cliff's return from the youth camp in Germany, where three Waterford county teens gave their lives to Jesus, Dungarvan Christian Fellowship also hosted a team of eight young adults from Holland.  The team from Athletes in Action stayed for a week and led a sports camp at Clonea Beach that included soccer and volleyball Hurling, as well as skits and stories that conveyed the love of Christ.  

Despite the constant deluge of rain that has marked this Irish summer and the resulting slow start, children and teens began to attend the sessions.  Every night the team would come home exhausted, covered in mud and sand.  They talked of their frustrations and how God met them in those struggles.  By the end of the week they reported that they felt as if they were the ones blessed, reminding all of us that the work is His and that it is for His glory.  He will meet all who seek Him.  All the youth who were slow to participate and slower to engage in conversation had by the end of week opened up to the team.  One boy had observed the way the team encouraged and hugged each other at the beginning of the week, commenting on the strangeness of it.  By the end of the week, the team reported he was always the quickest running to them for the same attention.  The week ended with a large barbeque for the youth and many tearful goodbyes.  As a fellowship, we were also blessed in being able to share the journey.

As many of the students were at Clonea for holidays, let us agree in prayer that they find more people in their hometowns who can continue to encourage the growth of seeds planted.  Let us pray that they do not forget the love they received as Christ's love and that they continue to seek Him.  Let us pray that God bless the team who came in obedience and love.  Let us pray that He continue to use them as a light in their homes as they were at Clonea.  Let us do this in the name of Jesus.

Holly Krebs

Chinese Youth Camp in Germany

It was quite scary to even consider bringing 3 troubled Irish teens to the largest Chinese youth camp that I have ever been a part of. With over 60 already attending, I was apprehensive to say the least. You would think that after doing camps before in various locations including the USA, Holland, and Ireland that this camp in Germany would be predictable and comfortable. Yet it is always a new experience when you gather youth of different ages, ideas, hopes and pains etc. together in one place. There seems to be no real way to prepare for something so organic, so powerful, and so divine! God is always faithful to come through at each camp, and they are so different and special in their own way. This camp was certainly no exception.

The journey with the three youth to the camp began with fists being thrown in the airport, but God had a plan! When we arrived everything began to change. The first meeting was so amazing, with no hesitation most all of the youth sang with their whole hearts and experienced the presence of God in such a real way that no unbeliever could resist for long. As the camp went on, it only increased in intensity and relationships were brought even nearer to God and each other. To make a long story short, all 3 of the teens that I brought were radically saved! One by one Jesus melted their hearts along with the rest of us. As a result, all three entered the waters of baptism along with 5 other Chinese youth! I said this year’s camp was by far the best, but I say that every time, and I am sure I will say it again after the next camp!
The changes have already affected our church here in Ireland as these youth are telling their parents and friends about Jesus and how He has truly changed their lives! The Sunday morning after we arrived back in Ireland I was still experiencing the ultimate “camp high” so at church I felt led to give an alter call for those that were touched by the DVD presentation of the testimonies and baptisms and other aspects of the camp. Immediately the mother of one of the teens came forward to accept Christ! Another teen that was a guest has also said that she is interested in learning more about Jesus as well after seeing the footage of what God can do!