Camp 2011 Testimonies

Our full time evangelistic ministry come to a close with a bang! Great camps and phenomenal movements of God! Here are a few in the words of the students themselves.

Name: Matt

Pastor Tony, you inspired me to become a pastor just like you. The week at camp was awesome before i came to camp i waz on drugs i waz always drinking but u helped me find jesus christ and i knew that he paid the price if it wasent for my god we would not have been here.
You said that what did God call us to be well god called me to be a pastor i told one of the leaders that i wanted to preach and he said that god told him that i waz on the right path to becoming what i want to be. And i never had a favorite book in the bible thanks to you 1st samuel chapter 30. my mom and dad waz on drugs thanks to you god gave me the words to speak to my parents so at least they believe in God just a little bit.
but to me that aint enough so im going to keep trying. you also taught me that i can forgive but i cant forget. that basket ball game was awesome u got some speed but god helped me out with the threes i guess god was watching. God Bless you Pastor Tony

Name: Cydnee

Hello, I loved your teaching it really touched me a lot!!!! This week the devil really kept dragging me down and tried to ruin the week... but I didn't let him... I know God and Love him very much!!!.... This week I gave it all to him and lately I have had some trouble with gossiping and I really gave it all to God... Yesterday my friend and I were really called from God to go pray with a few people and she was called to pray for this one guy but we were far away from him and after she was done God really told me to pray for this one guy and I just didn't know who he wanted me to pray for and I looked up and there was a guy that was just crying and praying hard, my friend and I looked at each other and didn't even say a word and went to go pray for him and she was called to pray for him as well.. We went to go pray for him and I just prayed for whatever was going on in his life and I found out was going on this morning it is very sad. I was just sharing with you what happened at camp and if you will just keep him in your prayers please... - Cydnee

Name: Holly
This week at youth camp God helped me forgive my mother. About seven years ago my mother cheated on my father and it really tore my family apart. I had never really forgiven her.. but when you talked about bitterness I realized I was really only hurting myself. Also, I've started praying that my mother will come back to God. Thank you so much (:

Name: Jessie

I was there the last week of camp and i can not even begin to explain what God did in my life. I have always heard about miracles and healings but no longer than five minutes after praying he answered my prayer. I was having a hard time dealing with some things that i had done in my life and worshiping God and asking for forgivness still... i just wanted to thank you because that was the best weeek of my life and i plan and am trying to llive my life like i lived that week.

Name: We'll call her "J"

Thank you, Pastor Tony, for the amazing job you did at Camp. Every night you brought something to the table I desperately needed to hear. For a long time I've been considering ditching my Jesus Java Juice to sip on some soup. I had really forgotten how good God is, how much he loves us, and how much better my birthright is. However, this is only a small portion of my testimony. The second night you spoke of wounds. Simply put, my family is a dysfunctional, broken mess. My mother is an alcoholic and has been since before I was born. I have been so angry and bitter towards my mother for even allowing my sister and me to have been born if she couldn't be a mother. I was angry that she didn't just abort me when she had the chance. I was angry at God for the family he has given me. Angry that every time I looked into the mirror I saw my mom. But I laid that down this week. I forgave her. God spoke into my life that I am not my mother or anyone else in my family. When I look into the mirror now, I see myself as a new creation in Christ, a new beginning to my family tree. Friday you mentioned that no one is too far gone. I've been believing that God could not possibly reach my mother. There's no way He could mend my family's broken mess. I've begun praying for her and believing that all things are possible with God. Thank you, Pastor Tony, for your amazing ministry! May God bless you pressed down, shaken together, and running over!

Name: Kathy

I am not sure if you will know exactly who I am but you prayed for me and explained the baptism in the Holy Spirit to me. Maybe that would ring a bell..lol. Oh and you had me pray over the camp. Well anyway I really just wanted to email you on all that God did in my life this week at camp. Its something that I will never forget because it was just a beautiful experience of how amazing God really is.

Name: Meghan
hi, pastor tony. i was at camp jackson this recent week, and i think i really truly need to tell you how you changed my ENTIRE life. i was saved monday night. all because of the soup of the day sermon. i know that i have been sitting at the table and i need to change that. and i will:) im so thankful that i came to camp jackson because it truly has changed my life. and i thank you and God so much for helping me. :) it means so much!
-meghan!

Name: melissa

Hi Pastor Tony Cruz. Thank You for taking time off to make it out here for us:) I wanted to tell you that you helped me a lot when you preached the word to the youth camp. You were just awesome. I wanted to tell you that my life is so much different now. Also, you helped me realize that I shouldn't care what others think or say about me. Because their opinions don't matter. Only God matters. And I got to recommit my life to Christ and it was such a great feeling. I can say that you helped me get through a lot of struggles that I was going through. Well I mean God also helped me through everything, but if it wasn't for you preaching the word at camp, I wouldn't be how I am now. I just wanted to Thank You and God for everything that you have done. You are a great pastor:) I hope to hear back from you Pastor Tony Cruz! Take Care and God Bless:)

Name: nefttali

Brother Tony Last Week In Youth Camp I Felt Very Sick The First 2 Days I Knew I Had To Go Home But Then I Said Why Am I Going To Let The Devil Bet Me And Take Away What He Has For Me So I Stayed And I Just Pray To God To BIHS And On The Thursday Night I Stared To Speak In Other Languages And He Told Me To Never Give Up And I Want To Thank U For The Word At Camp Thank U And God Bless U And Ur Family :) <3

Name: Stephen

Hello, I was at the youth camp this past week where you were preaching and I wanted to let you know you touched my heart and you helped me further in my journey with Christ. I was so moved by God I fell on the ground crying and ever since I feel like a new person. I was also wondering if you could pray that I stay strong in my faith.

Thank you,
~Stephen

PRIME THE PUMP

There was a man who got lost in the desert. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance.
He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note.

The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need".

Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveler.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note:

“Please prime the pump, believe me it works”!

When we have been given the chance to believe God and do it, the rewards are amazing. Sometimes we miss it and take the immediate gratification route. Wherever you are in life, we all have the same choice to make. Do we hold on to what we have because we don’t believe there are better things in store for us? Do we settle for immediate satisfaction? Or do we trust God and give up all that we have to get what God has promised us? Once we have experienced what God has to offer, the living water, we need to tell other people, “Go ahead prime the pump, believe me it works”!

Be a witness today in any way you can.

-Tony

Ten Things New Believers Should Know

Last night I was studying the scriptures about following the mission of God with my momentum core group for our church start up. One person basically asked the question "what can you tell someone that maybe has been a christian for a long time but doesn't know the first thing about discipleship? How can we do that?" So I decided to post something I found for you all that I think everyone can do. Use and utilize as you need to help a recent convert to follow Jesus better.

Top Ten things New Believers should know:


1. The one thing that the Bible emphasizes more than us loving God and people is that God loves us. He loves us first and most. God isn’t in heaven plucking a daisy saying, “I love you” when you obey and “I love you not” when you sin. He cannot not love you (Rom. 5:8 and 1 Jn. 4:16).

2. Your motivation for and the purpose of learning, serving, worshipping, giving, reaching, reading, praying, etc. is to grow relationally more in love with God and people (Mt. 22:36-40).

3. You not only are saved by grace, but you grow by it, too. A common trap for new and growing Christians is trying to clean up their lives without God’s help. This is a false equation: The less you sin = the less you need God’s grace. You can’t sin less and love more without the strength of God’s grace.

4. Don’t trample all over the Great Commandment (love God, love people) trying to obey the Great Commission (go and make disciples). New and enthusiastic Christians often do this. Instead, lead people to Jesus by loving people to Jesus (1 Cor. 13:1-3). If they ask you why live the way you do, humbly and simply share with them why you put your hope in Jesus.

5. Love your neighbors—your literal neighbors—the ones you have, not the ones you wish you had. Do this because you are a Christian, not just because you want them to be Christians.

6. Focus on Jesus, His cross, His resurrection, and His kingdom. When you confessed Jesus as the living Lord and Messiah, you never said—and will never say—anything more meaningful. Jesus is God with skin. No other “religious leader” (Moses, Buddha, Muhammad) is His equal. They were mere men; Jesus is God who became a man. He is the center and circumference—the hub and rim of all of life and creation. All of the world’s greatest gifts—love, life, truth, grace, etc.—have a name. Jesus.

7. God cares about your whole life, not just your “spiritual life.” It is a mistake to think that God is only concerned about a section of your life called “your soul” or “your spirit.” God cares about and is to be Lord of all of your life—personal, emotional, social, familial, financial, physical, vocational, sexual, intellectual, and so on.

8. Love other Christians who go to different churches (or no church at all) and who aren’t like you. Unfortunately, many Christians and churches view their “brand” of Christianity as the only true or most true type of Christianity. They may not think they are the only Christians, but they do think they are the best or most right ones. This is a prideful and sinful attitude that grieves Jesus and dismembers His body. Strive for unity in the body of Christ by praying humbly and thankfully for other Christians.

9. Pray with your Bible open. There are many different spiritual exercises (fasting, solitude, serving, etc.), but the two most important ones are communicating and communing with God through prayer and listening to and learning about God through the Scriptures. Prayerfully read about Jesus (in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Prayerfully read about the beginning of the church in a book called Acts. Prayerfully read some letters written by Christians for Christians—some good ones to start with are James, Philippians, and Ephesians.

10. Find a Christian mentor. You will need help and encouragement in this journey with Jesus. Ask an older Christian (of the same gender as you) to mentor you. Look for someone who displays the attitudes and actions that were described above. Be a blessing to them in return.

Christianity is not a list, but a life; it’s not a chart, but a charter.

But new Christians will learn new things. Some of those things will be true but not important. Some things will be off by degrees that can lead them astray. Other things will be just plain wrong. Help new Christians learn to follow Jesus by being their best at what matters most to Him.

Hope this helps you encourage someone else.

(Much of this blog was from an article by Brian Mavis by the same title)