20 Years of Encounter Camps, Growing into Communities
Guest Blogger: Jim Harper leads Hope Church Worcester and heads up Encounter.
My own childhood at the time felt normal because it was my normal. The truth was that violence was far too familiar and a broken home life left its scars.
At the age of 17 to everyone’s surprise, including my own, I said yes to an invite to a Christian youth event. This was the start of my own faith journey. My own battles and wounds have been the foundation that God has built on as He began to call me to serve those that are broken or wounded by life.
Skip forward a good few years to 20 years ago to when I was at a church weekend away. During a worship time I felt God speak and say:
“Gather people and I’ll show you what I can do”.
I knew straight away that He meant “the poor” or people with life controlling issues.
I started speaking to a number of friends about it. The first was my good friend Dave, who as I started to tell him what God had said, felt the spirit come and say “Jim whatever it is, I’m in”.
I then spoke to some people who ran projects like the Kings Arms Project. Everyone I spoke to got hold of it, one of these was Simon Allen who then ran the Jericho Road project out of Kings Church Catford, London.
So 20 years ago we pitched up in a field in Worcestershire. There was about 50 of us in total. We nervously planned a programme that maximised opportunity for God to “show us what He can do”.
Right from day one, it was electric.
People who had struggled in so many ways found a place for them. Worship was fuelled by the love that only comes from those who have been forgiven much.
After that first year I had conversations with a project leader who told me stories of ongoing lives transformed. Over these 20 years we have sought to continue how we started, to plan a programme where God can show us what He can do.
We’ve seen God, in His kindness, heal many physical issues. Roughly 15-20 people have given their lives to Jesus each year, many more baptised in Holy Spirit. But still for me the most precious moments are when we see hard hearts melt with the love of God.
As we consider planning this years 20th year of Encounter Camp we will enjoy celebrating all God has done, we also continue to look to God to ‘show us what He can do’
Beyond this year we feel God has spoken again. Where we have gathered annually at a camp He is calling us to gather communities all over the UK that carry the same DNA as in the camp. To this end we are working with a number of churches and groups to plant Encounter congregations.
The vision beyond the camp is called Encounter2gether. As well as our thriving Encounter congregation in Worcester we have the beginnings of other Encounter communities sprouting up in other locations.
We’ve captured the DNA of the Encounter2gether communities in five key foundations.
1. Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon us”
This is simply that we want all that we are and do to be fuelled by the Spirit. We want to step into situations that are impossible without the Spirit. This is something I strongly felt leading up to the first camp. It’s also why Jesus told His disciples to wait until the Spirit comes
2. Isaiah 61: “to preach the good news…”
As well as helping people practically with food, shelter etc which is vitally important we believe that the good news message must be central and clearly spoken.
3. Isaiah 61: “to the poor”.
Encounter communities are called particularly to those in poverty. By this I mean materially poor as well as spiritually poor. Not only is this our call but it seems to be central to the New Testament mandate.
4. Thessalonians 5v14: “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
We want Encounter communities to be places where:
- straight talk happens. There are times when we all need someone to, in love, put it to us straight.
- timid people are encouraged for many of us we simply need people to put their hand on our shoulder and say “you can do it”.
- the weak are helped – not every life we touch will be transformed. We need communities to love and serve those that remain in need of help.
5. 1 Corinthians 12v23: ‘the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.
At our Encounter camp as well as the Encounter congregations anyone who feels or considers themselves less honourable, we treat with the most honour. The back row gang gets the front row seats or the seat of honour.
If you’d like to know more about the Encounter camp visit www.encountercamp.co.uk or the wider Encounter2gether work visit www.encounter2gether.co.uk.
*Opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the author, and do not represent any official position held by Jubilee+.*