Nate and Noah to Romania

As I begin writing this post in the early goings of September and the beginning phases of transition into the fall season, I find myself absolutely blown away by all the Lord has done this summer. The summer, as expected, was incredibly full, and in each place and each event, God so faithfully and wonderfully presented Himself and caused every moment to burst forth with His life and flourish. The month of August centered itself around two primary events: the orphan’s camp in Ukraine and our own Oxygen Youth camp. Both events were monumental undertakings and presented their own unique challenges, but those challenges were entirely overcome by the wonder and joy of the Lord’s working in both of these camps. Both of these experiences, marvelous and beautiful in their own right, will stand as enduring memories of the summer as well as absolute testaments to the magnificent handiwork and perfect plans of God. Below are some of the moments and stories that capture the essence of these events and highlight some of the significant moments we were privileged enough to share with these two wonderful groups of people.

Unite4Children’s Camp: Ukraine

Over the past two years, Noah and I have had the incredible opportunity to make periodic trips to Ukraine to work with orphans in two orphanages primarily. In doing so, we’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Oxana and Andrei, who are the founders and leaders of Unite4Children. They work tirelessly to serve orphans in Ukraine, providing resources, practical teachings, and gospel presentations to orphanages throughout the nation. At the beginning of this year, we began discussing with them the possibility of joining them for their summer camp. They were incredibly gracious and inviting, especially given the fact that we do not speak Ukrainian and are not a part of their core team. In the first week of August, after months of discussion and preparation, we embarked on an eight-day trip to Ukraine to serve at this year’s U4C Summer Camp, which brought together 60 children from two different orphanages for a week of fun and connection with the Lord and with each other.

In our experience working with these kids, we know that in every occasion we have with them, we will always walk away with a new perspective of joy, community, grace, and perseverance. Being an orphan in the midst of a war-torn country is an experience that is difficult, and perhaps impossible, to quantify without having to live it. Yet despite experiencing such loss, pain, and difficulty, the kids always show themselves to be kind, determined, and brilliant, and it is a deeply moving illustration of the fact that God works in the midst of even the greatest hardship to produce beautiful things. We did a great deal of work to be sure, setting up the camp and its activities, preparing daily morning devotionals for the camp team, and applying our “talents” (I use that word very loosely) in the kitchen. Even so, we could never go long without having a smiling face run up to us for a hug or to grab our hand, and the most wonderful moments were spent in the presence of dozens of precious young souls as we played games, made crafts, ate meals, and enjoyed camp services. Though communication came nonverbally or through one of the small handful of gracious leaders who could translate, the kids opened their hearts and their stories to us with a trust and a sweetness that felt nearly overwhelming at times. One particularly poignant moment came in the final night of the camp when the team built a campfire for all of the kids. At the fire, I had the honor to share a brief gospel message with the group, and the kids responded with beautiful devotion and desire to come near to Jesus. Following the message and prayer, the kids had the opportunity to share their experience at the camp and what had impacted them. Their overflowing gratefulness, joy, and appreciation for their time at the camp was so touching, and any lingering fatigue faded in the profound sense that all the effort had been well worthwhile and that the Lord had moved significantly in our week together. There was a lot to emotionally process on the drive home, but the prevailing feeling was one of thankfulness for the chance to be a part of such a special week with such a special group of kids. We hope very much to see them all again soon, and we are praying that the Lord opens the door for more opportunities to return to Ukraine!

Oxygen Youth Camp: Running the Race

We had a brief one-week turnaround from Ukraine into our own youth camp, which served as a fitting end to a summer packed with so many incredible events and Spirit-filled moments. To me, this camp, even before it began, was the pinnacle of the summer: a chance to take our own students out to Laz for a week and seek the presence and will of the Lord as we proceeded into a new school year and a new phase for our youth. The feeling was different from last year in the sense that in our first camp together, everything was quite new, and we as a group had been together for less than a year. We went into last year with little experience, but great expectation that the Lord would move in a mighty way, proving Himself real to our students and showing them that He desired to play an active role in their lives. This year, camp was undertaken with a much greater level of experience. We had experience in hosting a camp, experience in doing life together as a group, and experience with the Lord as He manifested His presence and grew each individual student over the course of this second year of Oxygen Youth’s existence. The theme of this year’s camp was “Running the Race”, taking inspiration from Hebrews 12:1-3, which urges believers to run the race of this life with faith, freedom, and endurance as we set our eyes on Jesus. Together, we as a youth body took on the challenge of believing for a new level of faith and thinking, asking the Holy Spirit to mature and equip us for a new capacity and phase of our walk with Jesus. This challenge was one that our students took on in stride!

Hebrews 12:1-3: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

The theme of the first night of camp was rallying with the “great cloud of witnesses” that is the Universal Church, believing that the Holy Spirit would grow each individual’s capacity of faith to believe in the work that He would do through them. True to form, God provided a very practical, tactile chance to test this new level of faith, even before the first night session! In the first group competitions of the camp, one of our students, Mihai, suffered an ankle injury. He could not apply any degree of weight or pressure to it, nor could he move it as it began to swell. The students rallied together in faith, believing that God would physically heal Mihai, just as He had healed students at last year’s camp. We prayed together over the course of about an hour, and gradually, Mihai found that his ankle hurt less and less and also was able to move more and more, until if finally came to the point that he was running and jumping around the camp as though it were never injured in the first place. It was such an incredible start to the camp, and such a profound display of God’s desire and readiness to both expand and move on the faith of His children. The first night session was incredible, with all of our students coming to the front to pray together for a new and expanded capacity of faith. Additionally, several students prayed for and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues! And just like that, camp began with a group of students hungry to be used by God and walk in a greater level of trust and intimacy with Him, and He certainly would not disappoint!

The following days of camp continued with the same spirit in which it began, but also offered a chance to delve into some of the practicalities of a life of faith. On Tuesday night, Pastor Ted came with a brilliant message that followed the theme of “laying aside every weight and sin that clings so closely”, and he encouraged students to be honest with themselves, with God, and with leaders. The students responded with bravery and maturity, and laying those weights and sins at the altar, and many of them are today walking in new levels of accountability and transparency that began that night. The following evening, Pastor Calin spoke an incredibly practical and applicable message with wisdom that would allow students to run the race with perseverance and continue in step with the Lord for their whole life. Students had a chance to take stock in the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of their lives, praying for the Holy Spirit to strengthen one another where they felt weak and depleted. Camp concluded with an amazing time of extended worship, and I had the pleasure of speaking and leaving students with the challenge of setting all of their hearts, minds, and strength on Jesus as they ran their race after Him. It was such a joy to watch students respond with such readiness, faith, and vision, both for their personal lives but also in the pursuit of the mission that Jesus gives us to go into all the world and make disciples, adding them to the Body of Christ to run in His race together. Part of that response included eight students committing to be water baptized, which is a step of incredible spiritual significance, but is also a great cultural responsibility in Romania. To see these students walk forward from camp with this level of passion and devotion filled my heart with such joy and pride, and I cannot believe how far each of them has come. Such wonderful, impactful, Spirit-filled, fruitful days are ahead for these students!

Of course, there were many other beautiful moments of fellowship and enjoyment in the games, meals, morning devotions, and other activities throughout the camp, but the summary of the experience is this: these students are taking the jump in their faith towards true, missional Kingdom thinking. The Lord has been so faithful to grow and mold them into the character and image of Jesus, and they have continued to say yes in faith and obedience. Going forward, it is clear that the Lord has a mission in mind for this group to make disciples in the city of Oradea that will shape this city and the nation of Romania for generations to come. I am so excited to share in that mission and that vision with this group, and I cannot wait to lead them through the coming weeks and months in pursuit of all that the Lord has in store for them! With that in mind, here are some things that you can be praying for going forward:

Continued, radical obedience and faith in the lives of Oxygen Youth students: Camp has served thus far as a “jumping off point” for this group, and headed into this school year, there is a new maturity and a new level of thinking. The Lord is beginning to change our focus, which has been on inward development and growth, to outward impact and discipleship. As this focus shifts into a new phase in the coming months, please pray that our students would continue to walk in a new level of faith, grace, and radical obedience to the Holy Spirit. He has such wonderful things in store!

Transition into a new season (literally and metaphorically): The coming of September brings with it a new school year and a new life rhythm, both for students and for myself personally. The last few months have been incredibly full and active, and there is a bit of adjustment required in order to transition into a new rhythm and flow in the ministry and in personal affairs over the next couple of months (for instance, I am preparing to take the next step in learning Romanian with a professional tutor, and I am beginning the search for a personal vehicle as well). Pray that the transition into the fall is a fruitful and productive one for our students, the youth team, SALEM Church as a whole, and myself personally.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine: The war in Ukraine continues, with some of the most intense and geographically extensive bombings and attacks of the war taking place in recent weeks on both sides. Unfortunately, many civilians have been caught in the crossfire, and the war continues to take lives, both civilian and military. Pray for the churches within these nations and the organizations such as Unite4Children that are actively walking in obedience to the Lord in response to His commands to help the poor, the oppressed, and the widows and orphans. Pray with us for the organizations themselves as well as those they help, that God would protect and care for all those who are suffering in the midst of this conflict.

It has been one big, crazy, full year, and I consistently find myself thanking God for the fact that so many people continue to pray, provide financial support, and offer encouragement through every challenge as well as through every mountaintop moment. Know that your prayers have an active impact here, and none of the incredible things that took place this summer would have been possible without your prayers and support! I know for certain that the Lord has such wonderful and excellent days ahead for these students, for this church, for this city, and for this nation and region, and I couldn’t be more grateful that we get to do it together! Thank you, and all glory to God!

More to come soon,

– Nate Lorenc