We are gathered at Camp Kavanaugh, some 22 of us, tucked away in Crestwood, Kentucky, on the outskirts of Louisville. We are here for what I have called preaching camp but what the young preachers wish to call something else: what, exactly, they are not quite sure.
They began preaching Monday morning, sermons on the Ten Commandments. All afternoon they met with coaches, after attending a workshop on vocal dynamics. They stayed up past midnight to prepare. Then Tuesday morning they were at it again, preaching, all of them, a second sermon on the Ten Commandments.
This is the second year we have done this, and it is one of the most rewarding, enriching things I have ever done. Very soon, you can watch interviews with some of these young preachers over on our Facebook site.
Why do we do it? The best answer came in an email to me Tuesday afternoon. It was from a man who had come out to visit our camp. He sat and listened to several sermons then joined a lunch table full of young preachers. This is what he wrote to me:
“Two things stuck out to me; at least they were expressed by the folks at my table. (1) They wish they had more support from home. They said their parents and their relatives were not very encouraging about their calling. (2) All they want is an opportunity to preach.”
This man heard the sad truth, and that sad truth has propelled the Academy as a place to “identify, network, support, and inspire” those who are called to gospel preaching. Unfortunately, many of these young people rarely get the opportunity to preach, even though each one of them is a powerful witness developing a compelling presentation of some piece of the good news.
It is an awesome week, and I rarely use that word. Today we visit the sites of our second national Festival of Young Preachers, and Thursday and Friday they preach sermons #3 and #4. Then we scatter; but we all hold each other in our hearts. We are a network of gospel preachers!