"Something wonderful happened at our camp. It was an encounter with the living God. It came about through a people willing to step out in obedience to the voice of God. What happened was a group of people hungry for God, coming together and having communion for three days, face to face - heart to heart. There was no place for pretence, although I'm certain some found it disconcerting because of the depth of honesty expressed within a group who had not met before. I cannot call them strangers as these were dear brothers and sisters who were of one mind and one spirit. Clearly God's hand was upon us and the hearts of many were knit together in such a way that I'm sure many life-long friendships were started. All shared of the trials and afflictions that they had passed through and were still passing through. The Holy Spirit gave such reassurance that "The pain was for a purpose." The Church God is building is a church after His design, not one pattered after this world - and no sound from any tool will be heard while it is being built. (1 Kings 6:7) The pain the Church is experiencing is a result of God requiring man to put away their tools. i.e. Man's structures and programmes. God abhors it when His people put their trust in the ways of man and the strength of the flesh.

Too many of today's churches have unwittingly allowed themselves to become so structured that they have become very much like the Old Testament Tabernacle, the sacrifices no longer pleasing to God. The real danger with regulation and control is that people become like puppets, no longer worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, their lives orchestrated by another master. This master being very demanding and requiring a "Martha" like mentality. The fact that service is required is obvious, but at His bidding and in His time. Anything instituted by man tends to be detrimental to the welfare of His body. Whatever we do, needs to be done under the anointing or prompting of the Holy Spirit.

A very real life example of God's anointing or presence was evidenced at camp. People came together unto Him. There was no pretence or hidden agendas, just a people wishing to have communion with God and each other with an openness of heart. I found it very refreshing, and humbling, to fellowship where there was no competitiveness nor the accompanying rejection. People trusted one another and shared deep intimacies concerning God's dealings in their lives, their weaknesses and their pain - and I felt really privileged to be a part of it all.

Some who joined in part way through the camp could have been excused for thinking this was a group of people 'hurt' by the church. This was no group of malcontents wanting a forum to air their gripes and to have people comfort them. This was a group of people serious about God, only seeking reassurance that this was God's work and looking for the purpose in His dealings. There were no spotlight ministry teams, the only ministry I witnessed was "body ministry" that occurred spontaneously, naturally, outside the informal meetings. It was great!