They Said,"Yes."

Another moment from youth camp:

It is Saturday evening. A group of adults gather in the middle of the empty Tabernacle. Without the rows of chairs, which are now stacked against the walls, it is a cavernous space.

Josh, the youth director, guides the adults in a prayer inviting God to come and fill the room with His presence. Soon the air echoes with the voices of men and women calling on God to come and change the lives of the youth who will soon enter this place.

At the same time, from behind a curtain near the stage, the worship team gathers. Pastor Ryan leads the group in a prayer for God to move in a mighty way. His voice is joined by the other members of the group as they simultaneously raise their voices in prayer.

From both sides of the curtain voices mingle in a heartfelt cry for God to reign down on us. There is an air of expectation. We know God will show up and we are ready.

Young people begin to enter the room and are hugged by the adults who stand waiting. The hugs break down invisible defenses. The youth talk and laugh as they wait for the rest of the students to take their seats. They are a relaxed and happy bunch.

Most of the worship band has taken their place on stage. Surrendered to the Father's will; they watch, they pray, and they wait. Mark, the worship leader is still back stage behind the curtain.

Mark is stretched out on the floor, deep in prayer. The very air around him vibrates as he communes with the Holy Spirit. I pray for his strength and obedience knowing he is being prepared for the word he will speak tonight.

Finally, Mark takes the stage and straps on his guitar. He begins singing the opening lines to a worship song. Even though I am behind the curtain, I can sense that the youth are unfocused and not ready to worship. The air is thick with the presence of the Holy Spirit and yet they have not recognized His presence.

I am grieved. I am frustrated. I am impatient. A part of me wants to step up on the stage, grab the microphone and demand that they be still. In my mind, I cry out to each of them,

"Do you not know what is coming? Indeed, Who is already come?"

In an instant, I am filled with remorse. I seek the hard concrete and lie down, face first in repentance.

I am sorry, Father. Forgive me for my judgmental thoughts. Remove them now for I am of no use to You in this state of mind.

I will trust Your timing, Lord. And I do trust Your plan for the lives of each person in this room. I am here in agreement with You. Do what must be done in me, Lord. Do what You must in each of us, Lord. We need You. Call us to Yourself.

I stay on the floor. I can't get up. My role for this evening is submissive prayer. Numb from the cold concrete, eyes closed and with no sense of time...the rest of the evening's events run together.

Mark stops singing and begins talking. Restless teenagers settle down. Mark shares a story of how God recently made Himself evident through his young daughter, Lauren. The story is simple yet powerful. It brushes against that hungry place inside each of us that longs for the loving touch of Abba, Father.

More words from Mark give way to worship with song. Music gives way to Pastor Ryan's voice. God's Word is opened. Scripture is proclaimed.

Ryan shares the story of a pivotal moment in his life. He paints a vivid picture with words. When he is done, the pleading eyes and the determined voice of a little orphan boy from Africa sear my soul.

"Papa, allez." Father, let's go.

I know that little boy. I am that little boy. Ryan has given words to the inexpressible longing that is always with me...a child who longs for the Father...who knows that a life apart from Him is no life at all. I find myself weeping and praying,

Yes, Papa. Allez. Let's go. Take me with You.

I sense God acknowledging my tear stained face and I am comforted by His presence. But even as He wipes my tears away, He multiplies them. I understand. I am no longer crying for myself but for the very ones I condemned just a short time earlier.

Papa, allez. Take us with you.

At some point in all of this, invitations are issued:

"If you would take Jesus as your Lord and Savior..."

"If you have already accepted Jesus Christ and are ready to follow him...to live a life that matters..."

Hearts are opened and searched. Egos are poured out and emptiness revealed. The Spirit is invited to fill in the void.

In an overwhelming response, they say, "yes." Youth and adults, alike, say, "yes," to the Father, "yes," to the Son, and, "yes," to the Holy Spirit.

"Yes," to a life that matters.

"Yes,"to a life of sacrifice and meaning.

"Yes"to becoming a part of the Movement of God.

And because of their response, the ground shifts in the room.

I may not have seen a thing but stretched out on the floor, behind the curtain, I feel the earth move. I hold on tight as the entire room tilts with the redistributed weight of youth and adults who move closer to the cross.

They said, "Yes."

And we will never be the same.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." -- Matthew 16:24-25