He was acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, His mercy, and His great love.” In the midst of the crisis of those final hours, Jesus communed with the Father in a way that carried Him through the crisis. And as she ends that section, she observes, “By faith, Christ was victor.” Communing with God amid a crisis provides the opportunity for us to be reminded of the evidence of God’s acceptance. Communing with God reminds us of how we have been able to become re-acquainted with His character. In those moments of life, we are reminded of His justice, His mercy, His love. Communing, as Jesus demonstrated a few hours before, involves not only seeking deliverance from the crisis but reminds us of the ample evidence of God’s full leading up to this moment.
Jesus did not bury His head from what had arrived on the doorstep of His life. The intensity of the crisis drove Him to recall, not the failures of those who fled in His moment of crisis, but the full goodness of the Father. He wasn’t finding scapegoats for this unjust moment. He recited the full goodness of God. His life had been a life of divine evidence. Communing with the Father in the midst of the darkness lifted His eyes to the full goodness of the Father.
As we gather for our 2025 Family Camp Meeting, our hope and desire are that communing with the Father amid the uncertainties of the day, even the dark moments many are facing in their personal lives, will be a time of praise. As one of our themes are during this year, Communing with the Father (some would use the word, “prayer,” here) helps us remain Christ and not crisis centered. My hope and prayer for each person who attends is that each will be reminded of His acceptance, His character, His justice, His mercy, and His great love. Crisis consistently presents itself. Christ even more consistently manifests Himself. May our time together result in that peace that passes our very, very, very limited understanding of this magnificent God. His goodness runs after us. May we know it in our bones as Elder Jerry Page presents the messages.
Dates: July 30-Aug. 2
Address: Camp Akita | 1684 Knox Rd 1200 N, Gilson, IL 61436
Main speakers: Jerry and Janet Page, with worships by Pastor Bill Kasper
John Grys is the Illinois Conference president.
