DIVINE INTERSECTIONS: The importance of faith-based camps
(by Rev. Karen Yee, Alameda, First Baptist Church)

Only the gospel of Luke tells a story about an intersection between Jesus and the funeral procession for a widow's only son (Luke 7:11-17). Picture these two very different processions approaching the gate.

The first pro­cession is filled with sadness, despair, helplessness, mourning, loss, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as they follow a lifeless body. The other procession is filled with laughter, excitement, expectations, and a renewed sense of hope and life. This second procession is following Jesus and reminds us that who we follow makes all the difference. The widow had lost everything. She like some of us found herself at the end of the line with no other option in sight - until her life intersected with the unexpected presence and compassion of Jesus, the Lord of life and the source of hope.

Life and death intersected at the gate and resurrection happened. When God intersects with our lives there is transformation. Death no longer has power. There is nothing on earth that Christ's power cannot overcome. Jesus is greater than the power of death and the power of hopelessness.

What is amazing about this event is that the widow never asked for a miracle. She never expected the miracle. Unlike others before her, she did not beg Jesus to give her back her son. There was no intercession by others, no demonstra­tion of faith. The widow didn't come to see Jesus. In fact, we don't even know if she knew who he was! However, because of Christ's compassion, grace, and power, when her life intersected with Jesus - everything changed.

Christian camps are holy places, places where divine intersections occur all the time. Those who attend camps go for many different reasons. Some are looking for fun and relaxation; some go because they want to meet new friends, to get away from home, work, or their stressful routine. There are probably some who are there because they have to be, because someone made them go. Like the widow, they weren't looking for anything special, but when their lives intersect with Jesus, transforma­tion happens. God is waiting to meet us all at the gate - to give us all a hope and a future. God has the power and authority to make all things new - from death to resurrection.

Redwood Glen is a place where God has intersected in my life. I have been coming to Redwood Glen since 1976. I remember standing on the deck outside Smith Hall, looking out at the cross; stars filled the night sky. I don't remember exactly what the program had been about that day, but in the stillness of the night, I knew without a doubt that Jesus was real, his love was awesome, and I just couldn't get enough of him. A divine intersec­tion occurred, and my life would never be the same again.

Over the years, Redwood Glen was the place where I could test out and discover the gifts and talents God has given me to serve others. It was out in the Chapel in the Woods where God once again surprised me and placed a call in my life to give up teaching and go into full-time ministry. And it was here around the campfire circle, that I knew that God had called me to leave my home church to go and serve at the First Baptist Church in Alameda.

Without a doubt, God has used Redwood Glen to touch my life and so many other lives as well. Like so many other Christian camps, one can sense that it is holy ground. It is a place that has been sanctified to fulfill the glory of God. Even now, whenever I come, even if it's just for a Board meeting, I get a feeling of peace - knowing that in this special place, I have and will encounter Jesus-and when we do, we can't help but be transformed.

Everything changed when the two processions met at the gate. "Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country." (Luke 7:16-17) The son was given life, the widow's hope was restored, and the two crowds became one. Tears turned to laughter, lament into shouts of praise, mourn­ing into dancing, and all of them were filled with fear and awe at the glory of God. "God has looked favorably on his people" - a divine intersection occurred and it is occurring now - each time a person takes the time to visit a place like Redwood Glen.