Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1
This year’s camp themed “United” took for the first time place in the 6th state of Australia. Brethren from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and even Western Australia came to be part of this blessed event.
Now Tasmania is truly something different, if one has never been there, it is hard to imagine it, nevertheless I’ll try to picture it for you.
Imagine you are sitting in the airplane flying over the Tasman Sea with destination Hobart, and you look out the window, seeing this island approaching. The distant spot draws closer and you notice it’s beautiful hills rolling up and down. Between the earthen & green colours of the fields, forests & meadows, the blue of rivers, lakes and fjords blend in as if placed there by the brush of a painter. As soon as you exit the airplane, fresh air from either the mountains or sea, or both, greets you with its pleasantness.
Thursday, the 9th of April, before the official start of our camp (Fr 10th – Mo 13th) a couple of families and members find themselves busy, working together in preparation for the kitchen at our brother Lance Smith’s place in Claremont. What a lovely elderly couple! Not only did they open their house to numerous guests, who took over the kitchen, bathroom, living room and as good as every spot in the house, but they also blessed us with the stories of their amazing life-experiences and miraculous interventions of our LORD. Picture young and old chatting, laughing and working with their hands peeling cooked potatoes, onions, forming Arancini-balls and at times listening to our brother and guest speaker Pastor David Zic sharing experiences from his ministry. Truly I’d say for those gathered there the Camp had already started!
On Friday after settling in our venue, Br. David shared with us the first Message entitled “United in Faith” and presenting to us the importance of being perfectly forgiving as our Father in heaven is (Matt. 5:48) and conviction settled upon us, as upon the disciples that we need more faith: “5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)
Over the next couple of days, we studied about what it really takes to be united.
How the Holy Spirit works to our unity and moulds our spirit.
How unity in truth guides us to the law of God and converts us in return (Psalm 19:7).
Drawing closer to God, draws us closer to one another. Being united to Jesus involves unity in love & unity in service for the Master. If these are missing in our lives, then we shall question if after encountering Jesus, we have walked away as the young rich ruler did once upon a time. Our church needs no more members but needs disciples!
The truths we learned, the presentations we heard and the conversations we had passed so quickly, that I wish we would have not needed to part anymore. Not yet, one day in the Kingdom of our LORD Jesus there will be no parting anymore, no more Goodbyes, but until then we shall work and share the light of the Gospel to the world.
Being in these meetings has turned out as a great blessing, and I’ll cherish these memories imagining that they must have been close to what the church felt in the days of Apostle Paul, when hungering and thirsting after the word of God made us forget our physical needs and rather wish to not loose one moment of the uplifting presentations and conversations. Thankfully we had no Eutychus fall from the window (Acts 20:9).
On Sabbath afternoon & Sunday morning our visitors from Tasmania and mainland, probably about 2 families and a couple of individuals had the opportunity to ask important Questions in a Q&A Session. Br. David presented the answers to us always drawing rich treasures from the Scriptures and Pen of Inspiration, yet time was to short to present all that is of great importance. Great interest was aroused and our young people, members and visitors are strongly encouraged to take up the opportunity and get rightly trained, acquiring the needed foundation to become useful tools in the Hands of God.
This is possible by attending “Providence Leadership College”, our 4-month missionary training program, which takes place each year in Virginia, USA, or Austria, Europe. (For more information visit: https://providenceleadership.com )
The time is short; the kingdom is approaching and we must not stop now, but with new energy labour in unity for the hope that is before us! “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2. Peter 3:9)
Grace will soon be exhausted! Jesus will return!
You who have experienced the saving Grace of God,
- What will YOU do about it?
~ Michael Postolache
