The Lord instilled the same message in me from beginning to end of directing church camp—depend on me, Amy. I was reminded again at church camp when Pastor Greg Ginn preached that “maturity as a believer is not to become independent but to be more dependent on God.” This was the reoccurring theme I heard God telling me since the start of this new adventure.

I was asked to consider being the director of church camp and my first thought was, “Me? But I don’t have spiritual gifts like administration or leadership.” This is way out of my comfort zone! I’m the type that likes to serve in women’s group or hospitality. I kept saying excuses like I can’t handle this new ministry, and I don’t know how to delegate and ask people for help. The Lord knew my reluctance and needed to correct my stubborn “I can’t” statements.

Back in November 2013, I was sharing with Linda Chan that I was asked to serve and told her my hesitations and worries about serving in this ministry. She told me that if I rely on my own strength and skills then my efforts will be fruitless, but if I depend on God I would see and experience Him in ways I could never have imagined.

What does it mean to depend on God whom I can’t physically see or touch? There were two tangible ways He taught me to depend on Him. First, He showed me that depending on Him does not mean to do things on my own, but to depend on His Spirit and to work with the body of Christ. There were twelve members on the church camp planning team and each person had a critical role in organizing a specific aspect of church camp. Not only did God bring together a wonderfully gracious and skilled team to carry through each task, but also in the months and weeks before church camp, the church office staff and various individuals asked me if I needed help. Thank the Lord for these helpers who made the handbook and forms, designed the logo and banner, led worship and the workshops, shared their testimonies, emphasized ideas to invite non-believers, coordinated small groups, created table tents for the meals, volunteered in the children’s program, drove the speakers and the vans, set up the prayer room, organized the evening snacks, and other vital services too many to mention.

Second, God taught me to depend on Him by spending time with Him every day. Spending time with God brought an awareness of spiritual attacks and the need for putting on His full armor on a daily basis (Ephesians 6:10-18). The month before church camp, every aspect of my life—work, family, and ministry—became hectic and “perfect storm.” Out of desperation, I started each morning praying and reading the Bible passage from my devotional. As my daily battle cry, I told Satan that this is a day he could not claim. “Day 1” became “Day 2,” then “Day 3” and so on each morning. Countless times, God sent an army of pastors and other servants to encourage me with words and prayers. This inspired me to pray for the team, the speakers, and the church leadership, knowing that we all needed to depend on Him together.

Growing up in the U.S., society told me to become independent and work to fulfill my own self interests. But God taught me through his messengers not to believe in those lies but to depend on Him. Pastors Greg Ginn, Brian Lam, and Donald Lau as well as Linda Chan and each individual who participated in church camp reminded me that we are one body and that God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and perfect plan carries us through the storms.

Serving on the church camp planning team helped me to experience what it means to depend on God. I encourage you to get involved and see what God has planned for you–whether it’s going to next year’s church camp, joining the team, volunteering to help, inviting your family and friends who do not yet believe in Jesus, or praying for church camp. There are many ways to participate which encourages and builds up the body of Christ. Glory to God Alone.