Thursday, August 30, 2007

Camp 180° at Navodari












We just finished our 4th annual summer camp, this year held on the coast in Navodari. We were blessed again to have the wonderful team from Michigan led by Pastors Terry and Pat Carlson

This year, I (chad) was again responsible for the competition aspect of the camp and I really wanted to emphasize team work and positive attitudes. We had great success in this regard as we saw people on teams that didn’t necessarily know each other before, working together and encouraging each other. We also challenged each student to memorize the first 12 verses from 2 Peter 1; to our astonishment, nearly every person in the camp was able to learn the verses.

There were 65 people this year, 23 of which were the non-Christian friends of our youth. They were all very touched by God in one way or another: through the small groups, the worship and the evening messages. Our cell leaders now have their work cut out for them in following up with the people who were saved at camp. Most of them have already begun to set up “hang-out” times with their new members and can’t wait to meet with them again.

Emma, for the third year in a row was the camp director and did a great job. She also led the worship 2 nights as I played guitar

Our cell leaders did a wonderful job of leading the morning group times to minister to the 23 non-Christians as well as our youth

During the final two evening services, several people tur-ned to the Lord, some for the first time! God is faithful when we preach His Word

The highlight of the camp was seeing the children perform a drama each night; here, Noah’s family is entering the ark; they also demonstrated for us the stories of Moses and Jonah

Many people for the first time were able to go windsurfing, kay-aking and canoeing! They were challen-ged personally and took new risks

Each day we were able to go and spend a few hours at the beach of the Black Sea. Being a less populated area, we practically had the entire beach to ourselves!