I was invited to be a colony commander at the 1997 Australian Camporama. One of my duties was to bring a morning devotion to the colony.

Each colony was named after a a great evangelist and pioneer in children's ministry - people who saw the unique value of children and stood in the face of hardship and criticism to reach out to the next generation.

The names chosen were

Robert Raikes, inventor of the Sunday School and advocate for literacy and education.

DL Moody, great evangelist and lover of children. Once was asked how many souls were saved in a meeting and replied "Two and a half". His questioner asked "Two adults and a child?" to which Moody replied "No, two children and an adult"

Johnnie Barnes, founder of Royal Rangers which has seen hundreds and thousands of children come to know Jesus because of his vision and determination

Bill Wilson, New York Kid's Church pioneer who's organisation reaches 18,000 children and 1,500 adults each week.

John Brown, who I had the privilege of leading.

Let me read you the description in my leaders manual says about John Brown.

"John Brown is no one special. He is not a Raikes or a Barnes, not a Moody or a Wilson. No yet anyway. John Brown could be anyone - even you or I. Any young man or woman of God who is prepared to give their all to reach a generation for Christ. Anyone who sees the desperate need of the children of today and when hearing the Lord say "Who shall we send?" responds "Lord, send me!"

When I read this, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. These four devotions were delivered in response to the Holy Spirit stirring my soul as I sought His guidance in speaking the word of the Lord to the Brown Colony.

The devotions were delivered out of doors on the grass in the aisle between two rows of tents; some sitting, some standing, some fully awake and some not.

I hope they prove useful to you in motivating your outpost for the great harvest