In the Presence

A guest post by Tim Teague

It is such a privilege serving on the program team for a month in the summer at a Young Life camp.  It is one of my greatest joys being able to join a team of folks and hopefully offer laughter, games fun, music and skits, all for the sake of the Gospel.  Each assignment has its unique and special memories, but I can’t remember one being so unique and special as the week at Carolina Point serving Capernaum kids.

Before the buses arrived Katie Harden, Ryan Eaton and I wondered how our friends with disabilities would respond to our goofy characters and attempts to be funny.  As we stepped on the first bus and saw the faces of our friends filled with joy and anticipation our concerns were quickly put to rest.  We introduced ourselves and  looked out and saw Jimmy, Haley and a busload of others laughing  as if we were the funniest characters they had ever seen.  Stepping off of the bus I was so overwhelmed with the realization that we had just been on a bus where the presence of Jesus was so evident, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to step onto the next bus without weeping from being overwhelmed by His love. 

We watched our friends race their way through an obstacle course designed with them in mind, dodge water bombs, dance in the “rain” of a fire hose, ride Carolina Point’s extreme canopy course, perform in a talent show and hike to the pinnacle of the mountain.   There was laughter, tears, cabin times and letters to God.   I wish I could describe it to you.  It was one of the best weeks of our lives.

I remember Bob Mitchell, former president of YL, telling a story of standing outside the dinning hall after he had delivered the message of the love of Christ exemplified through the cross, and a friend with special needs came and stood quietly with him for a few minutes.  No words were exchanged, just standing with each other. And then, the young man walked away from Mitch who said, “I felt as if I had been in the presence with the One I had spoken of a few minutes earlier.”  Oh what a joy, privilege and honor it was to share a week with friends who constantly reminded me of the presence of the One who made us and sacrificially loves us!

Tim, Katie and Ryan at Carolina Point

Tim Teague has been on YL staff for thirty years.  He's known in the south as the Grandfather of Program, having taught many of our best program directors what it means to do program in YL.  He's married to his lovely wife, Ginger.  Together they have a son and daughter, both of whom are married, and they have three grandchildren.