Come and See!

An Invitation!

Come and see. This was our theme for camp this summer, and this past weekend we were able to gather and share with friends and donors what God has faithfully accomplished in our camp community —our Cross at the Oaks Amphitheater!

It was appropriate that our summer focus was “Come and See.”

During camp, we filled our imaginations with the scene of Jesus calling his followers in John 1:35-51. In these verses, when John the Baptist sees Jesus, he exclaims, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” With that, John’s followers ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” Jesus answers, “Come and see.” A bit later in the scene, Jesus gives Simon a new name—Peter. When you continue to read in the passage, you’ll see Jesus’ invitation to Phillip, “Follow me.”  As the passage continues, Phillip extends the invitation to Nathanael, who asks “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” 

Phillip’s reply — “Come and see.” Full circle!

Jesus invites us to himself: “Come and see.”  

Jesus gives us a new name: a new identity.

Jesus’ invitation becomes a call to discipleship: “Follow me.”

Finally, when we find ourselves in Jesus, we are always called to share His goodness and extend the “Come and see.”

Our invitation this past weekend was, “Come to the Cross.” Our gathering Saturday evening was a time where our board, staff, campers (present and many years past), donors, and people just curious came together to give praise to God for His faithfulness and to dedicate this new space for His glory.

Our mission at King’s Camp is to provide space and time for people to encounter the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that as people slow down in a beautiful setting where prayers and praise have been lifted for 50 years, people will hear the invitation to “Come and see.” To see Jesus! To receive a new identity! To follow! To extend the invitation!  This Saturday, we who have heard that invitation to Jesus and the call to follow, prayed for God’s presence and blessing upon this beautiful new amphitheater, inviting the Holy Spirit to “Come.”

One of the significant points of this evening for me was how God’s Spirit works. Our board, our camp staff, and indeed everyone who came to the event contributed to the dedication of this holy new space on these grounds. Each contribution was a beautiful offering, each element unique. And if one had been missing, our time together would have felt incomplete. When Jesus calls us, he calls us each by name, individually, but also to a community of people. Each of us has a unique and necessary offering to bring together for His praise and glory.

In the weeks to come, we’ll be sharing with you some of the highlights of the evening. I hope you hear the invitation to “come and see.” We’d love for you to come to the Cross at the Oaks, hear Jesus call your name individually, and then join our community in extending the invitation to follow Jesus in Northeast Louisiana and beyond. 

Maybe you’re wondering like Nathanael, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth, or a tiny camp ministry in the middle of nowhere?” — “Come and see!”