See that picture? That, right
there, is the scene of a spiritual battleground. While nearly 60 teenagers were
having the holiday of their lives (including the six from Wellfield), huge
forces were at work behind the scenes. I don’t know the details. I don’t
know the precise outcomes of it all. But I can tell you what we experienced.
The ‘venture’ is always a
highlight of the year. Lots of work goes into it. There are always some
setbacks along the way, too. But this year was exceptional.
During the last year, several of
our most experienced leaders felt it was time to move on to other things. That
happens, and is healthy; but it left us a little short. For various reasons,
too, numbers of ‘members’ (teenagers) and ‘taskforce’ (the practical helpers’
team) were slightly lower than last year. But our first real sign of something
sinister came when the theme was announced.
It’s just a bit of fun, to bring humour
to the particular venture. But that’s when two more experienced leaders
announced they would no longer come. (Turns out, that was just the presenting
issue for them.)
Then other leaders started pulling
out for reasons of health and the like. We were left with an absolute minimum.
The venture started in good
spirits. But then a handful of leaders felt sick. We introduced a super-hygiene
regime. Yet the sick-bug spread. In the end, of a total of 43 leaders and
cooks, 21 were quarantined for 48 hours.
The seven cooks work hardest of
all at Sparkford. Yet they were stretched beyond capacity with two or three out
sick. Then one had to leave for home, following a family crisis. And then the
head cook cut her hand so seriously she needed plastic surgery.
A spiritual battleground? Or just
bad luck? All I can say is that while ‘surviving’ leaders stepped up to take
responsibilities with competence and courage, the members were able to carry on
having a great time, virtually oblivious to the fact that anything was wrong.
(Just the occasional comment like, ‘Where are my leaders? Why are you looking
after us today?’!)
I can tell you that whilst the
sick bug seemed to spread like plague, not a single member became infected.
And I should mention that when the
cooks were about to hit total crisis, they were informed that an experienced
cook was just coming back from holiday and would pass the front gate in about
half an hour… and would they like her to stop for a couple of days?
The good news of Jesus was
preached at Sparkford; the teenagers received it with joy. Could we conclude
that where enemy fire comes hardest, that is where the most critical ground is
being taken? Could it be that a great battle was waged for the souls of some of
this years’ teenagers? Could it be because of those from council estate
backgrounds, whom Satan does not want to lose from that particular stronghold?
I don’t know. But I certainly feel privileged to have been in such a battle as
that.
Jesus said the gates of hell will
not prevail against his kingdom - try as they might.
