People Sharing Jesus

In thirty-seven years of working with churches, I have rarely missed a day because of sickness.  In fact  if I had accumulated sick leave from year to year, I could easily retire.   God has blessed me with unusually good health over the years, and I thank Him.  I am not sure who actually reads this blog.  There are quite a number who tell me that they do.  At any rate, it is good therapy for me to write it.  Many times over the years I have made attempts at journaling.  Journaling is a very helpful way of observing over time what God has been doing in and around your life.  I strongly recommend that you consider keeping some kind of record of what is going on in your life.  Be careful to note those things that are of great importance spiritually.  In reality our life is far more spiritual than it is physical.  The physical part of life is mostly reflex.  It is in the realm of the will, the emotions, the thoughts, the dreams, the commitments, and various beliefs that life really happens.  I have years and years of daily planners through which I can trace ministry events and activities.  I have huge files of correspondence and programs that serve as a history of personal interaction.  I also have vast quantities of recorded sermons and written outlines of messages that I have shared over the years.  There are quite a number of journal entries mixed into all of this.  God has given me an unusual capacity to remember things so that even a brief note brings forward a complete picture of an event in the past.

My purpose in conveying all of this information is to challenge you to find a way to develop a personal history.  Part of the richness of this activity is that you can readily observe the hand of God at work in your life.  To be sure there are sorrows to be recalled as well as failures, but that only makes God’s kindness more apparent.

This blog is becoming for me yet another way of journaling.  It provides an opportunity to clarify my thoughts and share with others the things the Lord allows me to see.   Already this additional way of touching lives has produced fruit.  It is good to be at home sick and still serve my Savior.

Dan Wooldridge

This truly was a historic year for Camp Crestview.  We worked with more children than ever before.  We had more volunteers.  We saw more decisions made.  We had a state evangelism leader named Scott Willingham to visit the camp.  Another church sent a team to examine the camp and intends to try to do a program like this one.  It has never been so hot in June for Camp Crestview as this year.  The number of problems have been amazingly few.  Surely we have been faithfully prayed over by hundreds of prayer warriors.  More children in our oldest group expressed a sense of God calling them to special service than at any program of any kind in the history of Crestview. 

This morning the kinder-choir did five songs.  Their leaders were two of our older children, Ashley and Brittany Macy.  They led the kinder-choir for both weeks this year and did a great job.  In fact, the young people of Crestview are always so faithful and devoted to help.  It is a wonder to behold.  I have watched so many of them grow in Christ through service over the years.  This camp is an important opportunity for spiritual growth.  Once again this afternoon, we will see our platform overflowing with hundreds of children singing the Lord’s praise.   How blessed we are to share in the ministry of this church.  Jesus has a hold on us and He won’t let go.

To God be the glory!

Dan Wooldridge

Sixty-three children indicated that they had asked Jesus into their hearts.  Five other decisions were made.  Many children asked me personally about baptism.  Some of them indicated great difficulty in getting their parents to take them to church.  If you are reading this blog, please pray that we can see the Spirit of God impress upon parents that it is a very serious matter to provide for the Spiritual well being of children.  In years gone by, I have even seen parents who were not Christians themselves who wanted their children to follow Jesus.  They at least understood that the Lord could make their task as a parent easier.  We are now living in a time where parents who profess to be Christians refuse to make the spiritual well being of their children a priority.  All we really need in order to have an amazing revival in Texas is for this trend to be reversed.  If even the professing Christian families would show some semblance of faithfulness to bible study and worship we would have a spiritual awakening.  Oh, how my heart is burdended!  God grant a revival for the children’s sake!  God grant a revival for your kingdom’s sake!  Let events like Camp Crestview be used to kindle the flame!

Dan Wooldridge

The Preschool group stayed on campus.  Their workers are so faithful and do such a wonderful job of laying a foundation in the lives of little ones.  Thank God for these faithful servants. 

Groups one through four went to Reunion Ranch and had a special day of outdoor events.  A much needed midweek break for teachers and those who prepare food and snacks. (They still have plenty to do, but it certainly makes the day a little easier.)  The leaders who go to Reunion Ranch have a very long hot day unless they are willing to get wet which makes the day go much better.

The fifth and sixth grade had the biggest response to a challenge to follow Jesus that we have ever had in a single week of Camp Crestview.  Eighty-six important decisions were made.  Twenty-five were first time professions of faith in Christ.  The remaining decisions were renewals of a previous commitment or a sense of being called to special service to Christ.  Twenty-nine indicated the latter decision.  This means that in the two weeks of Camp Crestview forty-six students expressed a call to Christian service.  This does not mean that they will all go into the ministry.  What it means is that they feel a calling to some kind of Christian leadership.  Many of them may in fact become vocational ministers. 

What an amazing day!

This week I am teaching around 75 fourth graders in groups of fifteen.  It is a delight to be able to bring God’s word directly to them.  Children sometimes get lost in crowds and assume that the speaker is talking to the adults.  In a setting like this, a pastor can know for certain when he is being heard and when he is being understood.  I am watching the lights come on in the faces of children this week.  God’s Word is so powerful!   I am praying that His Word will sink deeply into young hearts.  I am praying that the Holy Spirit will bring to their remembrance the things they hear in all of the various parts of Camp Crestview.  I hope you will take a moment and pray with me.  Let us agree together to be sure that the good news of Jesus is passed to a new generation.  Pray also that they will become fascinated with God’s Word and begin studying for themselves as well as in programs and services at church.

Dan Wooldridge

A fresh group of five hundred or more children came this morning.  Many new workers came and some brave souls launched out into a second straight week of work.  You really would have to see it to believe it.  Each worker will have the satisfaction of making a deep impression on these children.  Jesus talked about sharing Him as being like scattering seed.  Good seed in good soil can’t miss.  We know the seed is good because it is centered in Jesus Christ.  Pray for good soil.  Pray also for the health and energy of our staff and workers.  It is going to be a very hot week.  I am hoping we will have the breezes again this week that were so helpful last week.  Better yet, maybe God will surprise us with a rain.  Come what may, Camp Crestview will go on.

Dan Wooldridge

Friday is always the day that I notice two things.  The workers are looking really tired, and the kids are wishing for another week of camp.  God has blessed Crestview Baptist Church with some of the hardest working servants of the Lord that I have ever seen.  I got on my knees in my study today and prayed for them that they would receive a great blessing in their own walk with Christ for having so unselfishly given of themselves.  The first through fourth group filled the platform to overflowing.  Around three hundred children singing God’s praise is a wonderful sight to behold.  Those of you who live in Georgetown need to check this out next Friday at 5:30 PM.

Glory to God!

Dan Wooldridge

Yesterday our fifth and sixth grade group were given an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ.  Dozens of them made commitments to renew their walk with Jesus.  At least ten indicated a calling to special ministry.  Fourteen made first time commitments to Christ. 

As of today one hundred and eleven children have indicated they were making a decision to follow Jesus.  Most of them said it was a first time decision.  We realize that for some this will be a process of understanding what it really means to follow Jesus.  At the very least we wanted to give them the understanding that each person must choose to follow Jesus.  This is not something that our parents can do for us.  God has no grandchildren.  He only has children.  We become a child of God when the Holy Spirit leads us to put our trust in Jesus Christ as the one who died for us and rose again.  We invite Him into our life and as John wrote, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)  For many of these children it will be the first time that they understood that becoming a Christian involves having Jesus Christ to come and live in your life.  The Holy Spirit can help children to grasp this wonderful truth.  I know this from experience, because I too came when only a child to faith in Jesus Christ.  I remember vividly when I received Him by faith at the age of eight.  I am still being blessed by that happy choice.

Dan Wooldridge

All over Texas you hear churches lament that they can no longer attract fifth and sixth graders to bible school.  Camp Crestview has captured the atmosphere of a youth camp combined with the emphasis of a bible school.  I often call it an all day on campus camp.  Through carefully planned transportation we are also able to take the students on day trips as a part of their experience.  We will have nearly three hundred fifth and sixth graders participate by the time our two weeks are completed.  These fifth and sixth graders go bowling one day, swimming one day, and to an amusement park one day.  No other camp can match the low cost for these activities.  The church joyfully bears much of the expense for the privilege of ministry to children and families.  Today hundreds of first through fourth graders will go to a place called “Reunion Ranch” which has swimming, paddle boats, playscapes, recreation fields, and a host of things to do for a special day.  While they are away our gymn will become a playground for fifth and sixth graders.  Outstanding inflatables will be brought in and enjoyed.  Our preschoolers will have extra outdoor activities today.  The love of Christ will be shown in countless ways as God’s Word is shared and relationships with dedicated Christian leaders are formed.  All this and its only Wednesday.

Dan Wooldridge

  I doubt very much if I will have time for daily notes on Camp Crestview for this two week period.  However, I would like to make the observation that it is thrilling to see a church function as the Body of Christ.  There is something about this all day experience of ministry to children that brings out an extra measure of the grace of our Lord to reveal the different spiritual gifts as they function to meet a need.  None of us are gifted in every way.  Some of us are organizers.  Some are worker ants.  Some are encouragers.  Some can build excitement.  Some can bring the Word.  Some have the gift of an evangelist.  Some can provide hospitality.  Some can show mercy.  Some can perceive needs.  Some can meet those needs.  Together we see Jesus walking among us.  Those who cannot serve in this amazing event can pray.  Their prayers are desired and needed.

Dan Wooldridge