“We Can Try”
“We can try” has become a familiar refrain for me this summer– the unofficial motto at Orton Park’s inaugural youth camp. From nearly the first day of this internship, I’ve heard it from my supervising Outreach Worker, Mila, when bringing up every kind of idea to implement as we built our youth programs for the coming weeks. Just about every idea, from inductive Bible studies to filming a reality TV show at camp, has been met with the same optimistic yet cautious response, “we can try”. Little did I know it would bear a much deeper meaning.
And try we have, implementing all sorts of activities new to both the youth and us, over the past few weeks. We’ve started each day with live worship, had the youth search through a Strong’s Concordance, played new games, and concluded each day singing the “Doxology”. Some ideas have stuck, others haven’t. But on a much deeper level, “we can try” has been an apt description of a lesson that God has been teaching me. I feel an intense burden and responsibility to share the message of the gospel and demonstrate the restoration it brings to our lives with the youth of this community. I can enthusiastically prepare Bible lessons, plan riveting object lessons, and practice worship until it rivals Hillsong; however, when it comes to bringing the youth to Christ, all I can really do is try. Only God can change their hearts.
I’m reminded of one of our summer memory verses, Proverbs 16:9: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” “We can try” all sorts of teaching methods, discussion questions, and gospel presentation methods, but all my plans and efforts fall short in comparison to God’s sovereign hand.
Even as the summer comes to a close and I feel that there’s so much unfinished business with the youth, I’ve been taking comfort in Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” “We can try” to do it on our own, but ultimately, it is He who will carry on the good work from this summer. It’s not an easy lesson to stomach; I wish there were more I could do to ensure the youth come to know Christ, but that’s a responsibility I need to surrender to Him.