Finally!!! Youth Camp Report...Woohoo!!

Thank God for His presence in our Youth Camp this year! He was with as always…He has never, ever let us down. We were very concerned about camp this year, because it felt very much like a “rebuilding” year, and none of us knew quite what to expect going in. But as the time for camp grew nearer it seemed that everyone who was involved began to feel a very high level of anticipation for what the Lord would do at this camp this year. The theme was to be “A Life Changing Experience.” Truly the camp turned out to be just that for everyone involved! God brought us together at a little campground outside Aurora, KY and did things for us there that have changed us each in ways too numerous to even tell. I sincerely believe that there were changes made in our hearts and lives that will affect us forever! Even things which will make a difference for our local churches and this great region as a whole! Praise God! At the end of the report will be a list of totals for attendance, experiences, etc., but first I‘d like to give the following testimony…the story behind the totals, I suppose.
Youth camp is always a special time of fellowship, and fun. This year was no different. Old friends who have worked this regions camps for years got to gather and reminisce about the good times in the past, and work together to make great memories for the future. New faces, some who had never worked in camp before at any time got to join in and find out what a great experience is in The Church of God. There was one sister who had only been to camp one time, as a child. She is fairly new to our region and when she first arrived, she seemed a little nervous and unsure of just what to expect. But by the next morning she had caught the spirit of the thing and had become a part of Youth Camp. I believe she had a great time and will be back for many more great experiences just like the one she had this year!
Although we do not hold a “Family Camp“, per se, our Youth Camps do have a wonderful family atmosphere. Sister Christy Wilcox was another first timer and she was there to care for and teach the littlest campers. She watched over the young children, 5 and under who were at camp with their parents who were on staff. What a blessing! No one had to miss camp for lack of a baby sitter!
Brother Frank Lewis taught a class about being a good influence on others so that they too could find “A Life Changing Experience.” . Sister Cyndi Brown taught about changing from what we were, into the people God intends us to be. She used the analogies of Tadpoles becoming a frog, and caterpillars becoming a beautiful Butterfly to show that there should be no backing up, but rather a continual positive growth in our lives after we come to know Jesus. Brother Shane Wilcox, our boys dean taught a class about the origin and nature of sin, followed by a class by Sister Leandra Morris which showed “The Remedy for Sin.” A great presentation of the Gospel.
The Junior campers also enjoyed great Bible Lessons taught by Sister Sandra Montgomery, and Sister Serena Peters, as well as a wonderful craft class taught by Sister Vicky Morris, Sister Rita Talley, and Sister Cindy Peters.
Brother Frank Lewis led the group in some fun-filled daily activities, including flag football, a tug of war over a slimy mud pit (which I believe Brother Matt Wright from Sturgis, one of our boys cabin leaders, could‘ve won single handedly), and a HUGE water fight. Everyone had fun and there were no major injuries, thank God!!
Sister Leandra, and our cabin leaders, Brother Terry Flora, Brother Matt Wright, and Sister Phyllis Warriner and Sister Sam Flora did a great job with leading in us in devotions. Morning devotions were given each day by Sister Leandra, and cabin devotions before church were given by the cabin leaders. God really helped them to get everyone’s minds centered on Him. After all, isn’t that the point? We love to get together and have fun. I sincerely believe we have more fun at camp than anybody. But when the fun of the day is over, it’s time for the real reward! Thank God for the miracles he did in our lives at Youth Camp this year! It was truly a life changing experience!
I can honestly say that I am not the same. This experience has changed me, and brought me closer to God. I have relived in my mind the things that God did in that place ever since I got home. Praise God!
Friday night, after a delicious meal prepared by our amazing kitchen staff (Brother Doug, and Sister Teresa Letcher, Sister Beth Peters, Sister Melissa Moore, Sister Freda Moore, and Brother Gary Graves), we gathered in for our first service. God’s presence was there from the start. The Senior Boys and their leader, Brother Terry Flora came forward to lead us in opening prayer. Song service was a blessing as we sang God’s praises and He began to let us sense His presence. We had testimonies from our Regional Overseer and his dear wife, Brother and Sister Jernigan. They were a blessing as always. Then time came for the message. I was camp evangelist this year and preached a message from the text of John 3:16. That night the Spirit was so beautiful, and we had one young lady to be Saved. Praise the Lord!! The following night we had another good service with an altar call, but service ended with no experiences. Or so we thought. God was not finished. A young man met his cabin leader on the way out and as they talked he let him know that he wanted to be saved. They hit the altar together and many others followed. The young man got up with the testimony that he had been Saved! Thank God!! We all rejoiced and cried tears of joy with him as he gave this wonderful testimony of “A Life Changing Experience.”
The following day, many of the staff decided it would be good to fast a meal and have a special prayer time for Saturday night service. It would be our last night together, and although we were overjoyed that God had saved two young people, we all felt there were so many more who needed to let go and let God have control of their lives.
When Saturday night came, we set up church in the outdoor pavilion, a beautiful setting for the evening service. As soon as the moderator opened service, the power of God began to move. He asked that the staff line up behind the campers and begin to pray. We did and the spirit of prayer began to get ahold of one after another of us until seemingly the entire camp staff was overtaken by a holy fervor and a sense of urgency that now was the time to get ahold of God! Before long it began to spread to the campers. A Holy Ghost message with interpretation came encouraging us to hold on. An area pastor who couldn’t attend camp, but was with us in service felt the Lord giving him a message also, but that it wasn’t quite time to share it with the group. Instead he felt led to share it quietly with myself and a few others. It said “The I Am is in the midst of thee.” Truly it is true for the entire church of God, but that night it felt very personal. The I Am was there in the midst of that camp ground. There with us, for us. Praise God!! The altar filled up. Nearly every camper was in the altar or knelt by a chair experiencing firsthand the power of the Holy Ghost. The whole staff, from the cooks, to the teachers, to Brother Jan Montgomery, a camp go-pher, was having the time of their lives watching the power of God move on one then another, then another of the kids and adults. Brother John Talley, our camp photographer took over two hundred pictures as the Holy Ghost moved all over the place and everyone in it! More than one young person removed jewelry from their person and threw it into the woods. Children as young as seven, eight and nine prayed and sought God for themselves and others. One young girl, about nine years of age shouted, spoke in tongues, and danced under the unction of the Holy Ghost! A young boy about ten worked in the altar for over two hours with the power of God all over him! There was a teenage boy who has been to camp every year but had never to our recollection gotten in the altar. That night he was Gloriously Saved, Sanctified, and Baptized with the Holy Ghost!! One young girl was healed. One whole family was in the altar as one after another of their kids came up and prayed, several being saved that night! I wish I could tell you everything that happened in that place, but there was just too much. But know this…God did it. He did it for His people. For the lost, ,but also for the saved who needed to see it. To God be all the Glory for He did it! That weekend, that night, there were about 60 people out in the woods under a pavilion. 34 kids, and about 26 adults. The people in the nearby town didn’t know we were there. The neighbors didn’t know us from any other camp group who had been there. But God knew we were there. And He came by to give us a weekend that we will never forget. He gave each of us a life changing experience. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” Amen.
Camp totals:
Campers 34
Staff: 26
Saved: 12
Sanctified: 10
Holy Ghost: 3
Healings: 1
Life Changing Experiences: Too many to tell!!

My wife and I want to give a very special thanks to everyone who came together to make this camp so special. It wouldn’t have been the same without any one of you. You are each closer to our hearts than we could ever express. Both campers and staff…Thank you so very much, and may God continue to bless you! I tried in this report to mention every staff member by name, just as a very small token of my personal appreciation. If by some chance, I missed your name, please forgive me. I love you, too, and thank you. That goes for you, too, Ben Brown, and Serena Peters, and D.J. Letcher, our Staff in Training
God bless you all…See you at Youth Camp 2008!!