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Dear Shiloh Family,

The Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains have probably saved my life more times than I actually know. The spectacular views, breathtaking panoramic scenes, and breezes cleansed and filtered by forests, hills, rocks and rills, have a calming effect like no other entity on earth - except maybe a beach sunrise over the Gulf. Merely writing about them drops my blood pressure a few points.

Isaiah 40:26: Lift your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Now, couple all that with the sights and sounds of various activities of teens enjoying the masterpiece of the Great Creator, mix in a fresh dose of the sweet Holy Spirit as he meanders throughout camp, add the prayers of leaders and saints back home, and you have a formula for spiritual peace in the midst of Satan's storms.

What's more, during our second night of worship, we were led to a mountaintop of corporate worship by our incredible praise team, and we were fed the manna of God's word from our guest speaker. The evening culminated with an altar full of praying teenagers and the salvation of at least two precious souls.

I am so proud of our adults and college leaders, down to the volunteer babysitters. It behooves me why folks would leave a perfectly good bed, shower, and normally peaceful environment to spend a week with our children; but they do. They endure armpits, ants, attitudes, and other atrocities. They weather sunburns, storms, near strokes, sleep deprivation, and general stupidity. They give up a week of their lives in hopes that God will give new life to your child. They serve because Jesus served. They go there because Jesus came here.

What a church! What a God!

It is calming and encouraging to this Pastor to encounter such unselfish servitude in a world of pride and selfishness. Events like this keep us going.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Like Jesus, true followers place compassion and service over self and satisfaction.

God bless you all,
Pastor Derrell