Camp David 2022: The weekend my life changed

Camp David read to me like a story unfolding.

Ah, where do I start? As a new David's Army member, I was that teenager who had never been to camp. However, I had heard so much about Camp David from my peers that I was bubbling with excitement. I wanted so badly to be at camp. I wanted to be part of “The Camp David experience”; I wanted to share testimonies. I wanted to make new friends. I wanted to grow spiritually. I wanted to attend the epic praise party. I wanted to eat the highly anticipated camp food. The list goes on and on and on.

The weeks leading up to Camp were quite paradoxical for me. On the one hand, I was privileged to be a part of the forward team, which meant I was actively participating in the planning and preparation for camp. On the other hand, I was trying to convince my parents to let me go to camp. Let's just say that God did his thing because they finally said yes on the day of camp (insert SCREAM!!!)

Fast forward to Camp David. As soon as my feet touched the soil, the word "home" echoed in my spirit. It was at this point I knew with a conviction that God had something huge for me at camp. And what a glorious revelation it was.

Before Camp David, I had a lot of questions about my faith. I was afraid of stepping out, I was carrying a lot of trauma and I was scared to open up. I was a lot of things, but to sum it up, pre-Camp David Christine was bound with chains in a dark room.

Then came Camp David.

I found peace with God. We had conversations and He settled things in my heart. At Camp David, I found healing and restoration. Thanks to the sessions, I was able to tackle my identity issues. I was also healed of insomnia and seasonal depression. Through counselling, I was able to lay down burdens I had no business carrying. I learned how to trust God for everything. I began to rest carelessly in God's care. God brought words and promises back to my faithful remembrance. At Camp David, I was able to overcome my shyness and God pushed me calmly but surely into the light of leadership. At Camp David, the voices in my head were quieted as God took me to a place of dancing with my Spirit in unforced rhythms of grace. He showed up big time for me, He showed me how to take a real rest. (Matthew 11: 28-30 was our word for the year, and oh what a word!)

For me, the best part about Camp David is that it isn't tied to a place. Camp David is an experience that you carry within you through the year(s). It's unforgettable and life-changing. I experienced God in new dimensions at camp. It was an exhilarating experience; seeing hundreds of teenagers gathered to worship God. God is raising a generation on fire for Him, and I'm a part of it. There are a lot of highlights from camp, but I think my biggest highlight was after the Jarz ministration (if you know, you know) when General Tolu hugged me and said “I see why the devil didn’t want you on camp this year”.

My being at camp last year was a miracle, and if you're reading this, I hope you also get to experience the miracle of God's love. Can't wait to see you at Camp David 2023! It's a home away from home.