Altar Prayer Counselors

1)In most cases, it is advisable to counsel with campers of your gender; and, if you are a cabin leader, to give priority to those in your cabin. 2)You will need to know exactly how to counsel and pray with the camper; so always ask questions like: What do you want God to do for you? How can I help you pray? (The camper may already be prayingand even weepingbut you cant effectively counsel and pray with the camper unless you know what he/she is seeking; so, its OK to briefly interrupt to ask.) 3)Speak clearly as you counsel and pray with the camper; but dont shout in the campers ear. Music played during the altar service should not be so loud that shouting is necessary for the camper to be able to hear the counselor. 4)If the camper does not know how to pray, you may invite him/her to repeat a prayer; but encourage the camper to talk to God from the heart, praying in his/her own words. 5)Encourage the camper to boldly ask God in faith for what he/she needs or desires; but refrain from name it and claim it theology. 6)Be prepared to use appropriate Scriptures to instruct and encourage the camper as he/she seeks God for what is needed or desired. You need to have a Bible handy for quick reference to offer biblically based counsel.

Guidelines for

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Senior Camp 2012

Driven To Serve

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7)Assure the camper of Gods love, mercy and grace. Assure him/her of Gods acceptance of those who go to him in sincerity, honesty, humility and brokenness. 8)When counseling with campers who are seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit, emphasize the relational aspects of the experience. To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Third Person of the Holy Trinity; it is to experience the fullness of his dwelling in the believer. God the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ dwell in the believer through the Holy Spirit. Spirit baptism is not speaking in tongues. Tongues are only the initial evidence or proof of Spirit baptism. So encourage the camper to seek the fullness of the Holy Spiritnot tongues. Tongues will be manifested when the Holy Spirit has filled the seeker. 9)If the camper does not receive the blessing or experience that he/ she is seeking in a particular altar service; counsel him/her to refuse to be discouraged and give up. Rather, encourage him/her to continue to seek God in the next altar service (or at any time throughout the day when he/she senses Gods presence). 10)If a campereven a believeris having difficulty in prayer, or in receiving the experience he/she is seeking, you might ask if there are any unresolved and un-confessed issues in his/her life, such as sin, a spirit of un-forgiveness of others, bitterness, hatred, jealousy, lust, etc. These issues must be dealt with before the seeker can find the freedom and confidence to ask and receive from God. ! ! ! Author: Pastor Phil Pruitt

Senior Camp 2012

Driven To Serve