Middle Schoolers Wrestle with God at Wel3ane (On Fire) Camp
As worship began, the room slowly awakened. Hands started clapping to an upbeat Arabic Christian song. Soon afterward, speaker Elie Heneine stepped onto the stage with a message that would shape the entire week: following God does not mean pretending everything is okay. It means being willing to wrestle honestly with Him.
Wrestling with God
“Every day I was trying to break one of the lies the world gives us and call them to action,” Heneine explained.
Beginning in Genesis, he challenged students to acknowledge the brokenness around them rather than live in denial. As the week progressed, campers explored how God reveals Himself and calls people to respond, culminating in the Gospel message and an invitation to personally consider Christ’s call.
For many students, that invitation led to conversations they may not have otherwise had.
“It Was a Pleasant Surprise”
For Mario, attending a YFC camp for the first time completely changed his expectations. Having met YFC staff through school chapels and recess activities, he arrived anticipating a quiet retreat filled mainly with sermons.
“I didn’t expect all the games,” he laughed. “It was a pleasant surprise.”
Yet what impacted him most wasn’t the schedule; it was finally opening up.
“I had been suffering for the past two years,” he shared. “I felt lonely and weak. At camp, I tried my best to open up to a few youth leaders. I felt joy after opening up, but also sadness for what had passed. I felt joy for turning a new page.”
Mario also appreciated the relationships he found at camp.
“The people here have more time for me,” he said.
When asked how he would describe the experience, his answer was simple:
“Life-changing.”
“My Real Identity Is in Christ”
That sense of being seen and heard was also reflected in Emmanuel’s experience. For Emmanuel, one evening became unforgettable after he agreed (for the first time in his life) to publicly share his testimony.
“I never expected that I would share my testimony with people,” he admitted. “I thought my story wasn’t that significant.”
Instead, his testimony about growing up as a South Sudanese refugee in Lebanon, facing racism, financial hardship, and questions of identity deeply moved the campers. He spoke honestly about forgetting to trust God while carrying responsibilities far beyond his years.
“I realized that knowing God is something, and trusting God is something else,” he reflected. “My real identity is in Christ.”
Afterward, as worship continued, campers began approaching leaders for prayer. Small groups formed around the room. Teenagers bowed their heads together while worship songs quietly filled the background. Three boys later found Emmanuel and embraced him.
“He just hugged me and said, ‘Please be there next year,'” Emmanuel recalled. “I had taken my story for granted. I hoped it would draw them close to Christ, and it turned out to be a much bigger night than I expected.”
A Journey That Has Just Begun
These moments of response became some of the most meaningful parts of camp, not only during worship, but also through discussion groups and prayer walks. The assistant camp leader witnessed such openness among the campers, particularly as discussion groups and the prayer walk, which encouraged deeper reflection.
“This year, more than 60% of the middle school campers are newcomers to YFC,” she said. “They’re open and thirsty.”
As campers packed their bags to head home, many carried far more than memories of games, songs, and late-night laughter. They left having wrestled with difficult questions, shared burdens they had long carried alone, and discovered a community ready to walk beside them.
We pray that, for many, that journey has only just begun.