It's always said about the Hume Lake Firefighters Conference, "it just gets better every year." The 2024 popular retreat (held March 13th-17th)  fit the bill and then some. Thursday night opened up with great worship by Emily Marschner, a Hume Lake native . After our international meeting, Phil Scott and Robert Blair gave an introduction to what the men would be going over on Friday morning . To put into words what took place on Friday morning in the hearts of the men who attended, would be impossible. I believe addictions were broken and lives were changed forever. Definitely a unique message for the masculine soul. While the men were meeting, the women were having their own gathering.
My wife Melinda summarizes what took place in Cedar Chapel Friday morning:
The Ladies Gathering, (formerly known as The Ladies Tea) is a time when the ladies come together for refreshments, hear a speaker and discuss the theme the speaker has presented. The purpose is to encourage women to draw closer to Jesus and grow in their faith. This year Jennifer Osler-Bolton spoke on John 20, highlighting the responses to the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, the disciples and Thomas. She encouraged us to be honest with Jesus about our pain, fears, and anything that may be holding us back from an intimate relationship with Christ. Intimacy with Christ leads to trust which leads to faith which ultimately allows us to live for, and glorify Jesus.
Friday night Pastor Burt Almazan took over and we went through the Book of Philippians. We were so blessed by his teaching and his encouraging us to know Christ intimately. Through this teaching many had that Hume "Mountaintop Experience". The phrase "mountaintop experience" has come to mean a moment of significant revelation given by God, or a time of feeling especially close to God, or perhaps, like the disciples, an experience of seeing Jesus as never before. As I came away from Hume , I have to remind myself daily, I cannot stay forever basking in the light of our mountaintop experience (see Mark 9:1–9). But we must obey the light we received there; we must put it into action. When God gives us a vision, we must transact business with Him at that point, no matter what the cost.
We pray those of you who weren't able to attend the FFC International Meeting and Hume Firefighters Conference will be able to join us in 2025. Registration is already open to reserve your spot for this powerful weekend at Hume Lake Christian Camps.
Thank you for allowing me to serve.
In Jesus' name,
Joe