EQUIPped to Serve: Part 2

July 9th, 2025

In this blog, we continue with sharing the testimony of another of the adult leaders from our EQUIP Montana camp. God is working mightily in the hearts of young people across our nation, but this narrative will also reveal the spiritual growth and encouragement the adults who work with these youth experience. When we invest in others, we grow, too

Renee's Perspective

I’ve been trying to find the words to describe my week at the teen retreat with EQUIP/Reasons for Hope. I went as a leader for the second time, and it was amazing. But it was also incredibly hard. Harder than last year in different ways.

The best way I can describe it?

Like jumping off "The Big Swing"—one of the camp’s most terrifying (and most teachable) moments.

The first time I did it, I was 13. I cried for 45 minutes before finally jumping. That’s not an exaggeration—full-on ugly tears. (Shoutout to poor Bubba Gurley.) But once I did it, I realized I had feared for nothing. It was hard. It was scary. But I did it... and I didn’t die.

So I did it again.

Now, years later, I can do the Big Swing without ugly crying. Yes, my knees still shake. I still have to close my eyes and take a deep breath before stepping off.

But I know now: the jump is worth it. I won’t die. And it’s still scary, but it’s also exhilarating ... It’s a good leap of faith.

Even though I know the truth in my head and heart, my faith still gets tested. I still have to talk myself through it and remind myself:

"God’s got this.”
“Don’t look down—look UP.”
“It’s okay to cry while doing a hard thing.”
“You stepped off the platform. You can’t go back—only forward.”

EQUIP this year felt a lot like that.

Last year was incredible, so I went in hopeful—expectant. I told myself, “Every camp is different. Don’t assume. But you KNOW God will move.” I even reminded myself, “There will be some spiritual warfare.” Ha. HA.

“Some spiritual warfare,” I said … “It’ll be great,” I said.

Yeah. I had no idea.

I have this unfortunate flair for the dramatics and tend to say things like:

“If that happened, I’d probably die.”
“I could never handle that.”
“That would be the thing that finally makes me quit.”

And I imagine God gently looking at me and saying: “Oh, Renee. That’s the point. You can’t do this. But I can. So check your pride. Check your heart. You’ve already jumped. You can’t quit now. Buckle up—because SURPRISE! You’re doing the hard thing you said you couldn’t do! Yay…”

So yeah. EQUIP was hard. It was a battleground the moment our feet hit the ground. All I could do was hold on. Hold on to God’s promises. Hold on to faith. Hold on to my thin thread of sanity. At one point, I was begging God to just “skip to the good part.”

And then—YES—breakthrough came. YES—God moved in a big way.

Hearts were softened. Some of these teens fully put their faith and trust in Jesus for the first time ever. It was beautiful. It was powerful.

But it wasn’t on my timeline. And that's okay, because God's way IS better.

Sometimes the breakthrough is long time coming. Sometimes days feel like years. But just give it time. Because the hard stuff just has to be broken up first.

Healing comes after pain.
Joy comes after suffering.
Morning breaks through the night.

And the struggle? It’s the work of digging down to the roots—into good soil. And honestly?
I’d do it all again.

To everyone who prayed for us—thank you. I felt your prayers. Our group felt them—the teens, the leaders—everyone.

Knowing there’s an army of prayer warriors going to battle with you? That’s powerful. And when you’re too tired to lift your own arms, having people who will lift them for you … that’s a gift.

Some Final Thoughts

In the last blog, I (Holly) reminded and challenged parents to be spiritual heroes for their children, and that should definitely be every Christian parent's goal and focus.

But what if this thought terrifies you (much like jumping off the platform on "The Big Swing")? What if you feel you've really failed in this area and think you've ruined your "spiritual cred" with your kids? What if you feel inadequate for this calling? Hmmm ... there's Scripture for that:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

None of us are adequate, but God is.

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

We love you and are praying for you, parents. Your children need you to navigate the journey with them—and they want this, but it will take sacrifice on the part of all involved. Renee reminded us of this, and also showed us that such sacrifice is oh, so worth it.

Sometimes the breakthrough is long time coming. Sometimes days feel like years. But just give it time. Because the hard stuff just has to be broken up first.

P.S. Parents, we have a very relevant tool I believe will encourage you―our documentary, Within Our Reach! Join Carl Kerby and me as we share vitally important information to help parents reach their children. You can watch it here, free of charge:

Why not begin by downloading our FREE APP?

To encourage you and your children in your walk with Christ, download our free app, where you will find hundreds of digital resources to train and equip you in staying bold in your faith. One of those resources that will help you get started with spiritual discussions in your home is our short devotionals tab. Simply click HERE, and look for the blue asterisk on the black background to download the app, then scroll through the thumbnails until you come to "Devotionals."