Nathan E. Lewis

At the recent Reformed Youth Movement Camp 2008 at Suttle Lake, Oregon, Pacific Northwest youth groups were joined by a youth group from Heritage PCA in Oklahoma City. The Youth Director, Nathan Carr, and his wife, Sarah, accompanied about 12 students. These teens noticed that one of the campers from Evergreen PCA in Beaverton, Paul, was autistic, walking around camp talking to himself, in his own little world. They reached out to him, engaging him in conversation to learn of his interest in making movies with his video camera. He told them that he one ready to shoot and they agreed to be his cast. Other campers joined in and soon Paul was directing over 20 teens. The campers wrote down their lines and took their cues from Paul. I have known Paul since his birth and have taken a special interest in him. There are few times in his life (limited to my observation) when I have seen him so happy and engaged. He was in his element. My estimation of the Oklahoma teens is high to say the least. The last night of camp, our worship director, Scott Lowe, interviewed Paul in front of the whole camp. Paul was funny, making the whole group laugh and applaud. The RYM theme for its 2008 camps is “The Incarnation of the Son of God.” Campers received substantial Bible study and preaching on this theme. As the main speaker at at the Pacific Northwest Camp, I was greatly encouraged to detect the powerful presence of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, present with us by his Spirit moving campers to reach out to Paul. Left to himself, Paul can enjoy himself in his own little world. I spoke to him several times daily and would ask him if he was having a good time. His response, of course, was positive. But I never dreamed that the other campers would draw him into the center of their socialization. For two entire days, Paul was “the man.”

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