Dear Church Family,

This has been another week of amazing joy. I am continually being exhorted with truth, and its incredible!  It is such a joy to be here, and God has shown He is more powerful than any circumstance or shortcoming over and over again. He alleviates any pressure for me to "change people" and promises that if I spend my summer loving and enjoying Him, becoming more like His Son, and sharing truth, He will take care of the changing. He doesn't need us, but is the highest honor that, as Christians, we can be involved in His work.

I again had seniors and graduated seniors in my cabin, and it was a blast! All were saved and sure they were saved; most of them were even consistent in devotions, so I was able to dig deep and help them with issues that had to do more with growth. God used even this to help me combat my fear of man in helping them to see a blind spot where they may be struggling. They were such a blessing to me, and it was a very joyful, laughter-filled week for us.

There was an incredibly tough situation one of my campers had been through, when someone else's sin radically changed her life. She brought this to me at the beginning of the week, and my heart just broke for her. However, God is good 100% of the time, and does good 100% of the time (Psalm 119:68). I wasn't sure that she was really understanding her need to forgive, allow God to judge, and grow, but on Friday, she gave a testimony that God had helped her to change her thinking. Because she had been forgiven of much, she could forgive of much. She left going home with a joyful heart, having a plan and ready to follow in obedience. Praise God that He can make beauty out of ashes! It's amazing that even situations in our own lives that were the result of our sin or another's sin, when given over to God, have produced an even greater understanding of God's character through seeing His mercy, unconditional love, and sufficiency. Praise God that He can even give ministry opportunities to us through those circumstances — He truly is greater than our sin!

I'm looking forward to another week of camp. There is so much joy in being surrounded with truth, but I can't wait to get back to our mission field in Indianapolis. Please pray that God will continue to make me broken over my sin. It's such a temptation to "get used" to hearing the preaching everyday, but I MUST listen and examine my own heart for God to use me and change me. It is an incredible privilege to be in a place where I am surrounded by truth, but that also makes me responsible for growth. This week, God has shown me even more that He can change lives, and I desire for him to change mine. 

Thank you for praying for me. Having a church family like ours is truly a blessing and I can't wait to be back in August!

Brittany Sherrill

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for your prayers. This week I had two CIT (leadership program) campers, so I had girls ranging from 11th grade to graduated seniors. I was quite surprised and intimidated, knowing I am only one year older than some of them.On Monday they asked me if this was my first year counseling, so they knew right off the bat that I was a young'un. However, them knowing I am only one or two steps ahead of them in life allowed me to relate to them in a different way, which was very helpful at time. God used even this "shortcoming" of mine to show me that He is strong.

All of my campers coming in were saved—praise God! I was able to talk to a couple of girls about assurance, and they understood very quickly and were able to get that right. Many of them were also very consistent in devotions, so at first it was difficult to know how to help them. Nevertheless, God gave wisdom in knowing what things to hit on and how to talk to each girl. We talked a lot this week about going deep in time with God rather than just reading a couple of chapters and praying quickly to check it off a list. God enabled me to show them how to search for the character of our God in every verse—it's there! We just have to find it. This provided a great foundation to grow together as a cabin in truly desiring God. I was so encouraged by them, it was such a blessing!

I also had my first "evaluation" this week, which is just a scary word for getting together with my lead counselor and allowing her to show me some areas where I can grow. I am so thankful to have Emily McAllister as my lead counselor—she is so sweet and kind, and approaches us with a very humble spirit. It came out in our talk that I have a problem with fear of man. I hate confronting my campers because I feel like I can point out ten things in my life for every one I see in theirs and am afraid they will like me less. Emily talked to me about this and showed me that this is just another form of pride and selfishness. Focusing on my shortcomings and being worried about what my campers think of me is worshipping the idol of self just as much as stereotypical form of pride. I am so thankful Emily helped me to see this in a clearer way, and she challenged me not to be afraid to confront my campers, especially those in CIT. I was able to make direct application of this lesson the rest of the week, and God is so good to have used it!

One of my campers told me during one-on-one time that she was struggling with guilt from her past rebellion even though she had gotten right with God and man. Because of my own rebellious past, I was able to show her how God enabled me to get past my own guilt and go on to find true joy in Christ. He says in Psalm 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."  As far as the east is from the west! Our sin and past will control us as long as we allow guilt and shame to consume our thoughts; and really, that is just another form of worshipping self-being so focused on our sin and past that we aren't thankful for or enjoying God's mercy and grace. God's mercy and grace to us are too wonderful for us to miss out on! Its been awesome to see how God has given divine appointments with my campers and has allowed me to use even my own testimony to encourage them. We have a good and great God!  It is an honor to serve Him. In Christ is a life more fulfilling and satisfying than any plans I could have dreamed up.

Thank you again for your prayers and supporting me to be here,

Brittany Sherrill