Why Do We Do Bootcamp?
Harbor West has a bootcamp 2-3 times each year. Our bootcamp is open to anyone who wants to learn more about our church: what makes us unique, our mission, and the beliefs that drive our actions. We meet over the course of two Sundays, for a couple of hours each time. We go through Harbor West’s core values together (gospel, community, mission, God’s glory), as well as our doctrinal statement and affiliations. Along the way, we give people the opportunity to ask questions about our church that they may not have felt comfortable asking on a Sunday morning.
Why do we call it “bootcamp?”
It’s interesting how Paul wrote to Timothy: “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim. 1:18-19). Paul made it clear to Timothy, a young church leader, that he was entering into warfare. Joining Jesus’ church isn’t like joining Costco (although, Costco could feel like a war zone sometimes I guess). It’s much more like joining a battle. A real battle that’s going on in our world. Later, Paul said it this way: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). He tells him to fight. There’s something in the church worth fighting for. There’s something worth giving our lives for. And it’s a good fight. Some of the last words that we know that Paul wrote say this: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).
We call it “bootcamp” because we want to prepare people for what it means to join our church. Harbor West in a battle. We’re battling our own personal sinfulness. We’re battling to have beautiful marriage and to parent our children well. We’re battling to speak truth in a context where it’s increasingly difficult. We’re battling cultural divides and prejudices. We’re battling to show our community the beauty and love of Jesus in all things. It’s not easy. So we need training. We need to be on the same page and know the battle plan.
Come to bootcamp. Get excited for the battle that’s being waged in Ewa Beach, Kapolei, all of Hawaii, and around the world.