A Baptism at UGM Camp

By Clare Pursch, UGM Camp Blogger/Photographer

Last week the staff at UGM Camp walked down to the river and watched as one of their own was baptized by UGM Camp Director Ryan Brown. 

Ryan had interviewed Tristin and hired her as an intern at UGM Camp. Since then, their relationship has grown through team fellowship, and the two have developed a sweet father-daughter relationship. So, naturally, Tristin asked Ryan if he would baptize her.

“When I met Tristin, I knew she was someone special,” says Ryan. “She has been through a lot in her life and still has a lot to go through. When I offered her the internship position at camp, I also knew that God would grow her a great deal while she was here. As the weeks went on, and as she served and walked with Christ surrounded by an incredible group of caring and passionate believers, I was even more affirmed of this decision.”

Since coming to serve at camp, Tristin has deeply impacted all who have known her. She came to camp a bit shy, slightly reserved and lacking self-confidence. Because of Christ’s freedom, Tristin has since grown in confidence, and it is apparent that she has adopted His beautiful peace as her own. Furthermore, through accepting the love of Christ into her own life, Tristin has gained an incredible ability to project that love to all who come in contact with her. Tristin is a remarkable young lady who knows how to love so deeply.

As the staff stood down by the river and watched as Ryan baptized Tristin, an undeniable calm fell over the camp. In the calm of the water, drenched in golden sunlight, Ryan hugged Tristin with the love of her heavenly Father—a love that can be found nowhere else; a love that Tristin has seldom known.

Ryan described that moment. “The baptism was very brief, but the hug I was able to give her just before she was submerged was one that will last a lifetime. It was the hug of the Father for sure, both to her and to me, affirming that Christ has called us all to live our lives for Him.”

As she went down into the water and re-emerged, the peace that filled her eyes spoke of the insurmountable refuge that is found in Jesus Christ. Tristin was able to bring her pain, her scars, her aching soul to the feet of her Heavenly Father in that water, and we all watched as He gently lifted those burdens from her shoulders and as Tristin re-emerged with a perspective that was different from before. She felt peace, she knew love, and she carried Him with her.

Tristin says, “I have learned that God does care, and He is with me all the time. He is also going to protect me, and when I get hurt, He already knows how to help me get through it. I want to live the life God has for me; I don’t want to be blind anymore. He is my rock, my salvation, my defender and I will not be shaken.”

Tristin has known pain in its truest form. She understands suffering. She has known darkness.

Often, when we have come to the end of ourselves, that is where we find Jesus, and we lavish ourselves in His rich light because it is so different from anything we’ve ever known.

Tristin has found Jesus and she has lavished herself in His light. Tristin understands the love of Jesus so well, and a lot of that can be attributed to the amount of suffering she has endured. She is a strong, gracious, beautiful woman and God has the greatest plans in store for her.

What a blessing it is that our pain can become something so beautiful.

“It took me a very long time to be okay with being broken, but I know now that I am not broken, because God will heal me and I don’t have to live with pain and hurt. He fixes all for good.” -Tristin Morgan

UGM Camp note: Sadly, camp ended for the summer and kids are going back to school. But we praise God for the mighty work He did in kids' lives this summer, including bringing 220 to Himself. 

Please keep all the children who attended camp, as well as staff, in your prayers throughout the year. Pray that what God planted would grow and that He would continually remind these kids they are greatly loved by Him. 

If you'd like to make an impact in the life of an at-risk child, send them to UGM Camp. Sponsor a kid for next summer below.