Here in Mendoza, Argentina. I worked with YWAM ‘Youth with a Mission’ ministries (JUCUM in espanol). One of the weeks, we had a chance to help in a 4 day camp retreat where all is welcome. Some of these youths were Christian and others were not. I got to witness the powerful impact of the Holy Spirit changing the hearts of these youths!
Here is a promo video I’ve made to show what the camp was like:
During the day, the youth participated in the extreme sports. And after each extreme sport, there was a time of reflection on how they felt and how it applies to life and God. In the evenings, we had devotional time where one of the staff members would share a small sermon and then have time for worship. I was asked to lead worship, something that really frustrated me and was a little bit angry at God! I’ll speak into this in another blog.
But during these evenings, I saw how even without music, without any ‘amplifying or setting the ambiance of the environment’, these young boys were crying and asking for prayer! Its wild that I remember when I was young, going to a Christian event having the same feeling and impact of the holy spirit, and now being on the other side seeing kids, thousands of miles away from home in another country being impacted by the same God that impacted me. It was another reminder that we are all his children, and we are all made with the same hearts.
When I lead a little devotional with one of the young boys group, I asked if anyone didn’t believe in the bible. One boy raised his hand. I was happy for his sincerity and willingness to question what’s true. The next day, I was able to spend some time speaking to him for hours about how we can trust in the bible without blind faith, but with reason and logic. He asked many good questions about who wrote the new testament, how do we know that Jesus is not just an angel or prophet, who Apostle Paul was, how can rely on the literature of the gospels written 2000 years ago, and many other questions.
What was wild was, the questions started to become more about how this actually affected his life. He started sharing his life story with me. He said that when he was younger, he struggled with life, and wanted to commit suicide. But as he tried to commit suicide, there was this heat in his chest he couldn’t explain and never felt before. And he couldn’t do it. He said that the same heat he felt in his chest happened again when he asked for prayer the night of devotions at this camp. He said he couldn’t stop crying. I told him, dude! That’s the Holy Spirit! That’s God knocking on your heart seeking you! He wants your life and he wants you to live an abundant joyful purposeful life with him! I asked him you have a choice if you want to follow Jesus or not.
He told me he does! But he just can’t. He said every time he tries to read the bible, he feels a strong grip of nails digging into his forearms, and his hands start to burn. He said his sister has a demon that keeps harassing her, one that he can see. A short ugly thing, and now that ugly demon has moved onto him. At this moment, my friend Vanessa who was there help translating, exchanged glances, and we knew we had to pray for him. I knew that this was not like my story of how I seek God through historical evidence, but that he is severely under spiritual warfare. So we asked one of the staff members who is more experienced in spiritual warfare to pray over him and his family.
What a powerful time at the camp! When we fight for the lives of kids for them to know God, for them to be on God’s side, the demons will fight just as hard to make sure they can’t know God. But God will prevail, for we have his power! This verse speaks more truly than ever!
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”
2 Corinthians 10: 3 – 5
Please continue to pray for the young boy who struggles with demons attacking him. I’ve not disclosed his name for privacy reasons. But God will know who you are praying and supplicating for. Thank you for your wonderful support friends!!!
