Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Prayer based on Camp Luz’s “Statement of Faith”

We believe that…
·         God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and is revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ.
     Creator and Sustainer, you breathed life into creation; each part intricately designed by you from nothing. You continue to breathe life as you sustain creation, flawed as it is by sin. However old the earth is, this particular plot of land known as Camp Luz was seen by you at creation; known by you as a place where thousands would come to know Jesus Christ! Fifty-six years is just a blip on the heavenly timeline.
            Thank you for sustaining this ministry and thank you for allowing us to partner with you.
                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, the Savior and Lord of all.  He bore our sins on the cross, was resurrected from the dead and sent His Spirit so that we might have new life in Him.
     In the beginning grand design you set apart small sacred spaces where people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord. This is one of those sacred spaces. If we only knew the global reach of this place; the people who heard and committed their lives to Jesus and then committed to carry the Good News out to the world! Only you can see the far-reaching fingers across continents and generations! This place is a sacred blip on the heavenly landscape!
            Thank you for allowing us to partner with you!
                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         The Holy Spirit of God empowers and directs Christ’s followers and His Church.
     Your Spirit hovered over the chaos before you created. You breathed life; Creating Breather, Divine Respirator. You knew that the only way we humans could live was for you to continue to breathe. This ministry is a divine expiration of your supernatural power. Only your Spirit empowers and directs your children whom you allow to work alongside you. You continue to breathe on, in, and through this ministry and through your children!
                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         Salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ who reconciles us to God.
     Celebrate! This place is a place of celebration! For here people have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ! Dance, sing, shout, run, and worship for salvation is near, salvation is here! Come and drink, breathe, and receive eternal life! Go and invite others to the party!
                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         The Bible is the inspired word of God and is central to understanding God’s will.        
     You gave us words, you gave us the Word. We proclaim it, we stand on it! The Bible is the sacred text for this sacred space; it is what we point to, read, preach, pray, and give away. Come and hear the Word; the Way, the Truth and the Life!
                        Please, have mercy on us!
·         A person must voluntarily choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ by surrendering to and accepting His Lordship; by becoming a part of a community of believers for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and mutual accountability; and by seeking to grow into His likeness, reaching out to others and living out the Kingdom of God.
     We believe this! We exist to offer the invitation to choose to follow Jesus! You knew that each generation would need to hear the invitation—here we are, existing to proclaim, existing to invite, existing by your power. We worship, pray, teach, fellowship, and strive to grow in Christ’s likeness. You continue to invite us to this work!
                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         As disciples of Jesus Christ, we seek to live the life of love that He taught us, working for peace and reconciliation with God, with one another, and with the world.
Creator, Sustainer, Breather, Savior, we are your children. As disciples, we seek to continue your work! What would Jesus do in this camp? Love, laugh, worship, teach, invite, and experience the power of the Spirit! And we get to join right in!
                        Please, have mercy on us!

Amen.