The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)
There is a time and season for everything…
OneLife sends out teams around the world every year. Typically we will participate in various camps and retreats encouraging people of all ages to serve the Lord and share Jesus. Usually the majority of the events we speak at and serve in are directed to younger people and 2025 has been no exception.
This year has been a great year so far and I want to share a couple of highlights about our most recent mission trip. Before I get in to it I want to mention a couple of points.
Over the years I have organized and hosted 30-40 of these type of retreat and camp events and I have been so blessed to have participated in dozens more. The Lord is gracious and we often experience a great time of ministry where the Lord touches lives and impacts people. I have witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit on many occasions over my lifetime. I can say that not all events have the same impact or powerful presence of the Lord as do some others.
In 2024 we experienced two such events that stood out in my and our team’s observations.
Mexico April 2024- Youth Missions Conference
Spain September 2024- Youth Camp
Both of these events had collective event-wide movements of local outpourings of the Holy Spirit that were clearly special. I felt the Lord say that these were the “entradas” or appetizers, meaning that there is more to come, the main course is on its way.
El Salvador August 2025
Many of our speaking engagements are centered on young adult Christians who are already feeling called into ministry and missions. However, for this 3 day event we had been informed that there would be a wide ranging mix of young people including lukewarm believers, complete unbelievers, derailed Christians and mature Christians looking for ways to serve the Lord.
Our OneLife team arrived prepared to build our message points one on the other as each session progressed over the 3 days. Beginning with the basics of the gospel of Christ and leading to the role of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life and witness. Our hope and prayers were for the unbelievers to be saved, that the lukewarm get fired up, the offtrack to repent and the called to receive direction, and all of us to be empowered from on high for our witness of the gospel of Christ Jesus.
On the first night, I felt the Lord speak some things to me about this generation that applied especially to those who should be leading the way for the next generation. It simply is not enough for us to sit in our worship services and soak it all up for ourselves. What we receive we need to share. That night about 25 came forward to repent.
The next day we continued laying the word out to break down the strongholds of unbelief and sin, as well as build up the faith and courage of the Believers.
On the second night, the singing and music were especially energetic and anointed. It was very powerful. I love to jump and dance with all my might like David whenever I feel that zeal for the Lord. It may look crazy, but I pour myself into it. I always think that if I am ever to be a martyr, that I would like to sing and dance that way before I go to be with the Lord. It was a great service to be a part of. After an hour of popping youthful worship, I ministered the word and then felt the Lord wanted me to step away from the pulpit and kneel down to pray in the back corner. We often think that God needs us up front leading so that we maintain order and direction but that is not necessarily always the case. Some of the people began to move toward the altar, and that is when the presence of the Lord moved in so gently and lovingly but also very firmly and reverently. It was solid like serious business. A hush came over the crowd and remained so for an extended period of time. For youth this is unusual. Several more youth moved forward to the altar, while others began to bow down in front of their chairs. Many of these youth had no previous exposure to anything like this. And no one except myself had ever been in a large meeting similar to this where the whole of those assembled were all spontaneously unified in profound reverence for such an extended period. One after another, people around the room would melt. Tears flowing silently down their cheeks. People began to pray for one another quietly, hugging and crying all very quietly. No one asked them to be silent. It was the quiet voice of God, the calm hushed tones of His loving whispers. Everyone responded in kind. A few songs were sung softly a cappella. Throughout everything, the room kept returning to the hushed tones of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in that still small voice. It was like being in a big, warm, safe and secure hug. It was wonderful, and full of love and tenderness. We all knew the Lord was with us
These youth got a living example of what personal time with the Lord can be like. It can be wonderful to rest in the Lord and listen for His love and contemplate His power. Psalm 37:7, Zechariah 2:13, Habakuk 2:20
Throughout the retreat up to that point, the youth had been typical energetic young people but that night all of them were profoundly touched, and many of them stepped into a relational dynamic with the Lord that they did not know existed. God’s love and healing power to mend relationships and unify His people was like a warm oil washing over their souls and minds in gentle waves. Psalm 133
Praise Report:
-10 participants came to the camp from Peru. That’s another great testimony.
-Our Jiquilisco church site participated for the first time, sending 8 students and 4 leaders. Most of these kids were born into the M.A.M.I. Program as infants. They have also been a part of the Saturday and Sunday classes and the feeding program.
-Sunday morning, the last day of camp, 22 youth were baptized and 5 were from Jiquilisco.
God showed up to camp in a special way in 2025, and as great and exciting as it was, it is still just a foretaste of what is to come.
Thank you for your continued participation. The Lord bless you immensely!
