Part of a Tree

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Last August, I had the honor of speaking to our Beyond Capernaum friends at Young Life’s Oakbridge Camp just outside of San Diego. Jessica Thompson, who is a staff associate in San Jose, is a greatly gifted artist. We teamed up for 4 talks about being a part of a tree. Talk one was about being good soil so that the Word can be planted in our hearts and begin to grow. Talk two was about how Jesus Christ can be planted in our hearts as a tree. Talk three was about all of us being His branches. Talk four was about bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit and that together we are His orchard.

As I spoke, Jessica masterfully painted that section of the club talk on a canvas. Our friends engaged in these talks in a profound way! With me, with Jessica, with the painting and with the spoken word.

Using the trees around camp, we encouraged areas to have cabin times around the base of a tree. The response was powerful to learning with such strong visuals! During the last talk the painting was completed; many people came around and took pictures of the painting to bring home with them. Everyone was given a shirt with a tree image on the front to remind them of what we had learned together. It was beautiful and by far, the most enjoyable series of talks I’ve done.

I believe that we have to constantly increase our efforts to proclaim the Gospel in creative, imaginative and visual ways. I love how ministering with our friends with possibilities has forced us to go well beyond an intellectual proclamation. After all, words are only 8% of communication. We need to share with each other our creative experiences! Jim Rayburn said, “The best Young Life work has yet to be done.” I believe the best proclamation to our friends has yet to be done.

For our friends and for you, 
Nick

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