The Dock Ministries
At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. The photo is grainy, the faces hard to make out. It wouldn’t win a photography contest or be splashed on the cover of a magazine. But to us, it’s the most powerful picture from camp this summer—because it captures something far greater than perfect lighting or flawless composition.
It captures God at work.
In the photo, Jay (not his real name) is standing among younger campers, urging them to sing praise to God during chapel. What makes this moment extraordinary is that Jay had never even heard these songs before. Yet, with unrestrained joy, he threw his entire body into worship—dancing, singing, and leading with passion.
That passion carried through the week. Jay eagerly filled out every page of his Bible study book, memorized multiple verses a day, encouraged his cabin mates to participate, and wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions about faith.
But Jay’s story didn’t start at camp. Before arriving, his faith background was uncertain. We knew he came from a single-parent household facing many challenges. School had always been difficult. He had been absent from The Dock for much of the school year, pulled away by a girlfriend who discouraged him from anything connected to God. From the outside, it looked as if Jay was running from God.
And yet, God wasn’t and isn’t finished with him.
At camp, Jay encountered God in a fresh, undeniable way. His enthusiasm for worship and his hunger to learn revealed a heart being transformed. Watching him, it’s hard not to see the possibility of something greater—a future faith leader at The Dock and beyond.
Our prayer is that Jay’s passion for growing in Christ becomes contagious, inspiring other young people to pursue God with the same energy and openness. We believe God is raising him up to be a leader, and at The Dock, we’re committed to giving him the space, encouragement, and support to step into that calling.
Because sometimes the most powerful stories of God’s work aren’t the clearest pictures—but the clearest evidence of His grace.
