Nathanja Klauser and her fellow Easter Camp directors have participated in the Germany District’s annual children and youth camps since they were kids. Now, as the new leaders of the week-long spiritual event, they hoped they weren’t too young — all are in their 20s — or inexperienced to manage this important shaping and influencing time for the district’s youth.
Things went better than expected. Over 90 children and more than 80 youth attended. Despite forecasts for much rain, there was exactly the amount of sunshine needed to get the kids outside for several hours each day. There were no major accidents or injuries.
Most importantly, the Holy Spirit was present at both camps and many of the young people made positive decisions for their faith, Klauser said.
When the youth camp’s featured speaker, Dennis Mohn, shared his personal testimony on Thursday evening, many of the youth seemed to identify with his experiences. Mohn himself accepted Christ at the Easter Camp for youth when he was 20 years old, after dabbling in alcohol, partying and other destructive activities that left him feeling empty and unsatisfied.
“There were a lot of people that were just crying afterward, because they were really touched,” Klauser said.
On Saturday evening, Mohn talked about how Jesus’ disciples were afraid to get back into a boat with Him after they experienced a terrifying storm while in a boat with Jesus. Mohn told the youth that as they returned home, they had a choice of whether to get back in the boat with Jesus or go home alone.
“There were a lot of youngsters up in front, a quarter to a third of all of them,” Klauser said. “I think this evening was really, really special. You could sense the spiritual importance it had. You could kind of see the spiritual fight going on.”
Some youth accepted Christ for the first time, as they realized just being raised in a Christian family wasn’t enough, she added.
Meanwhile, at the Easter camp for children, many of the children from around the district had brought unchurched friends. The camp focused on the life of the Apostle Paul, and the children memorized verses and heard stories of Paul’s salvation and missionary journeys.
“The last day of the week we have a call so children who want to give their lives to Jesus have the opportunity to do so,” said Gisa Schwarzfischer, one of the children’s camp leaders. “Two older children and five of the younger children gave their lives to Jesus.”
The annual Easter camp has been a formative event for many Nazarenes in Germany. Schwarzfischer began attending when she was 13 years old, and gave her life to Christ at a camp.
“I think the Easter camps really have a great impact on our children and our youth in the Church in Germany,” Klauser said. One youth at the Frankfurt Church of the Nazaren talks about the Easter camp all year, said the pastor, Wolfgang Schwarzfischer.
“If you ask him whether there is something to pray for, you can ask him in June or November, or whenever, and his prayer request all the time: Let’s pray that Easter camp will come soon,” Pastor Wolfgang said.
