Christian Camp | ✓

The Strange Figure

- Gavin -

As they all walked as a group through the entrance of the church, Gavin couldn't help but feel uneasy. It was such an abstract emotion for him to feel, surrounded by Christian friends and the very walls of a physical church building. He hadn't felt like this before. Shaking his head a little, he attempted to push the feeling away and focused his attention on the conversation the girls were hosting around him.

"Where'd you get that joke from? A Christmas cracker?" Libby was asking, sounding unimpressed.

"TikTok." Ginny replied with an unashamed grin. "I've been binge-watching Christian TikToks for a few weeks - they've got some really good ones on there." 

"Fair point, actually." Maisie agreed with a giggle. "I'm obsessed with them."

"You watch Christian TikToks?" Gavin found himself asking, his voice sounding a lot more surprised than he intended. Ginny jumped, as if she suddenly remembered he was there.

"Oh! Yeah, all the time. Why?"

"Well, I'm pretty big on there. I create all kinds of Christian content."

"What, really?" Ginny asked, her interest apparently piqued. Gavin nodded with a small shrug of his shoulders.

"Yeah. It just dawned on me one time that a lot of celebrities and influencers young kids watch haven't met Jesus and don't encourage it either. It's sad because they're missing out, you know? Everybody's searching for real love and peace of mind - but they're going to the world to get it instead of going to God."

"Exactly! And the things of this world are temporary, whereas God is eternal. That's why people's happiness doesn't last, because it's built on the wrong foundations." Ginny added. Gavin stared at the brightness of her grey eyes, made breathless by their shared revelation. It was as if they were sharing the same mind for a single moment, as if they were both under the same understanding.

Someone coughed deliberately.

"Um, prayer service, remember?" Libby asked, arching her eyebrow with a smirk. Gavin quickly averted his gaze, his hand automatically ruffling his hair.

"Um... Yeah, right. Sorry."

They all made their way over to the front of the building and sat in front of the giant powerpoint screen on their knees.

"Who wants to start? Maisie?"

Maisie nodded with a small smile, and everyone bowed their heads as she began to recite the Lord's Prayer.

"Our Father who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in Heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,

Forever and ever,

Amen."

As she spoke, the very air around them seemed to still, and a sense of brightness emanated from somewhere deep within. The Holy Spirit. Gavin smiled, but something still weighed on him, a feeling of unease. Something wasn't right.

Look up. Look up now!

The feeling was too intense to ignore. Gavin quickly lifted his face and glanced around the building. A figure was lingering in the open entrance. It stood there for a long moment, shadowed black by the lights inside the church.

"Can you guys feel that?" Libby suddenly murmured, her voice low and urgent. Everybody's heads were raised now, and they all looked troubled.

"This is bad." Gavin told them.

"Quick - we need to pray." Ginny said firmly. Her hand found Gavin's and Ruth's. Gavin was so focused on the Lord's presence that he barely even registered her touch, or the way his face had warmed ever so slightly.

They all sat in deep prayer for around ten minutes, taking it in turns to intercede for each other and to ask God for help in defeating whatever evil was around them. Gavin finally lifted his head again and glanced to the area where he had seen the unknown figure, but it had disappeared.

"That was intense." Maisie remarked.

"Did anyone else see a dark figure near the doors?" Gavin asked tentatively. Ginny nodded.

"Like a weird silhouette. It was horrible. But at least God helped us."

Everyone hummed in simultaneous agreement. Yet, when Gavin chanced a glimpse at Ginny, he saw that her face was unusually pale in colour. He tightened his hold on her hand.

"All glory be to God."

She looked to him with a small smile.

"Amen." 

Hi, everyone!✨

Here's the latest chapter of Christian Camp. I hope you all enjoyed it, because it is one of my favourite chapters so far! 

As usual, all glory be to God for giving me the ability to even write in the first place. This book is wholey dedicated to Jesus and all He has done for us! May we give praise to Him forever and ever! 😌❤

God bless you all! May you find your peace in the Lord! ❤