Who wants to start a fight?

[EagerBeaver]

The reports I've always heard out of any CoG branch/division, etc. youth camps are that every year the same kids get saved over and over again. If that's revival then woopdy do!

That's true and there are a number of kids that do keep it. Being given a good support system and relevant ministry in one's local church is key -- we must remember it is about reaching kids where they are at.

I always thought the State Convention reports from the Camp Coordinators should include the number of attendees, number saved, filled with the HG, and those who were saved last year but got re-saved this year

[dawgs10]

started a fight!! check out my post ( a question for everyone)

[RaceRunner]

The reports I've always heard out of any CoG branch/division, etc. youth camps are that every year the same kids get saved over and over again. If that's revival then woopdy do!

So?


I would rather those kids ride the altar to heaven...then remain in their sin 100% of the time. Not ALL kids at camp have loving, church going, God serving homes to go home to.

And, unfortunately, some of those who do have those things...take them for granted...until they need God so desperately in their lives...that they will make the PERMANENT change. Until then....we're there.


The MAJORITY of our kids at camp come from families that don't attend a church, much less know much about God.

The local church kids that invited them were trying to reach out to them...and used Youth Camp as one of their resources to reach that family.

Some of those kids were saved at camp...some were not.

At the end of camp, we've had to send those kids home to terrible family lives and I've seen those tiny children on their faces begging God to save their families too. It always breaks my heart.

If I could have adopted them and took them home with me....to give them a chance at a clean life....but in the end...I had to pray for them and send them home to the mess...praying that God would strengthen them.

Wonderfully...those same children....because their local church kept up the tender care all year long....would return to the next camp. Some of those children who were saved last year...were still saved this year.

Others succumbed to their family's sinful practices or influences at school, and did not remain saved, but still came and gave us another chance to witness to them again.

Even some of those children, those who we couldn't seem to reach last year at all, came back because they remembered the great times at camp and the love.

I had one teen girl...who has attended camp for many years...some of those years, she was as hard hearted as stone...come running up to me and hugged me hard and said....THIS YEAR IS THE BEST YEAR EVER! The difference?? She had gotten saved the previous year at the end of camp (and her Dad did too)...stayed saved all year...and came to camp ready to go!

Every time we list a soul saved at camp...I rejoice...because that is one more year we got these kids closer to heaven. The second chance at Salvation is as glorious as the first....and it may just stick this time.

These kids, churched or unchurched need love, compassion, attention, care and prayer....not ridicule.
.
.

[EagerBeaver]

The reports I've always heard out of any CoG branch/division, etc. youth camps are that every year the same kids get saved over and over again. If that's revival then woopdy do!

So?


I would rather those kids ride the altar to heaven...then remain in their sin 100% of the time. Not ALL kids at camp have loving, church going, God serving homes to go home to.

And, unfortunately, some of those who do have those things...take them for granted...until they need God so desperately in their lives...that they will make the PERMANENT change. Until then....we're there.


The MAJORITY of our kids at camp come from families that don't attend a church, much less know much about God.

The local church kids that invited them were trying to reach out to them...and used Youth Camp as one of their resources to reach that family.

Some of those kids were saved at camp...some were not.

At the end of camp, we've had to send those kids home to terrible family lives and I've seen those tiny children on their faces begging God to save their families too. It always breaks my heart.

If I could have adopted them and took them home with me....to give them a chance at a clean life....but in the end...I had to pray for them and send them home to the mess...praying that God would strengthen them.

Wonderfully...those same children....because their local church kept up the tender care all year long....would return to the next camp. Some of those children who were saved last year...were still saved this year.

Others succumbed to their family's sinful practices or influences at school, and did not remain saved, but still came and gave us another chance to witness to them again.

Even some of those children, those who we couldn't seem to reach last year at all, came back because they remembered the great times at camp and the love.

I had one teen girl...who has attended camp for many years...some of those years, she was as hard hearted as stone...come running up to me and hugged me hard and said....THIS YEAR IS THE BEST YEAR EVER! The difference?? She had gotten saved the previous year at the end of camp (and her Dad did too)...stayed saved all year...and came to camp ready to go!

Every time we list a soul saved at camp...I rejoice...because that is one more year we got these kids closer to heaven. The second chance at Salvation is as glorious as the first....and it may just stick this time.

These kids, churched or unchurched need love, compassion, attention, care and prayer....not ridicule.

RR from reading this I can tell your heart's in the right place and I applaud that.

I would like to ask though what is being done to supplement the spiritual blessings received at camps?

When the kids are being prayed for, do people lay their hand on them and speak tongues over them without them understanding what's going on, or do they have dialogue and communicate their problems, then pray and allow the Holy Spirit to lead?

Do the youth groups have a good support network to help keep the kids on the straight and narrow?

Does each young person completely grasp the concept of serving Christ, and if not is there someone there to mentor them?

I honestly do agree that Camps are a great experience. I grew very close to God in part because of my camp experiences. However it is every person's choice to serve God and I think some youth don't grasp the concept, others don't take it seriously enough and still others just "receive Christ" to get people off their back. I'm not sure.

Something has to be done in our churches to continue to reach the kids where they are at, but as I stated above it is their choice.

[RaceRunner]

The reports I've always heard out of any CoG branch/division, etc. youth camps are that every year the same kids get saved over and over again. If that's revival then woopdy do!

So?


I would rather those kids ride the altar to heaven...then remain in their sin 100% of the time. Not ALL kids at camp have loving, church going, God serving homes to go home to.

And, unfortunately, some of those who do have those things...take them for granted...until they need God so desperately in their lives...that they will make the PERMANENT change. Until then....we're there.


The MAJORITY of our kids at camp come from families that don't attend a church, much less know much about God.

The local church kids that invited them were trying to reach out to them...and used Youth Camp as one of their resources to reach that family.

Some of those kids were saved at camp...some were not.

At the end of camp, we've had to send those kids home to terrible family lives and I've seen those tiny children on their faces begging God to save their families too. It always breaks my heart.

If I could have adopted them and took them home with me....to give them a chance at a clean life....but in the end...I had to pray for them and send them home to the mess...praying that God would strengthen them.

Wonderfully...those same children....because their local church kept up the tender care all year long....would return to the next camp. Some of those children who were saved last year...were still saved this year.

Others succumbed to their family's sinful practices or influences at school, and did not remain saved, but still came and gave us another chance to witness to them again.

Even some of those children, those who we couldn't seem to reach last year at all, came back because they remembered the great times at camp and the love.

I had one teen girl...who has attended camp for many years...some of those years, she was as hard hearted as stone...come running up to me and hugged me hard and said....THIS YEAR IS THE BEST YEAR EVER! The difference?? She had gotten saved the previous year at the end of camp (and her Dad did too)...stayed saved all year...and came to camp ready to go!

Every time we list a soul saved at camp...I rejoice...because that is one more year we got these kids closer to heaven. The second chance at Salvation is as glorious as the first....and it may just stick this time.

These kids, churched or unchurched need love, compassion, attention, care and prayer....not ridicule.

RR from reading this I can tell your heart's in the right place and I applaud that.

I would like to ask though what is being done to supplement the spiritual blessings received at camps?

As noted above...the local church has taken them into their tender care. The results speak for themselves doesn't it?

When the kids are being prayed for, do people lay their hand on them and speak tongues over them without them understanding what's going on, or do they have dialogue and communicate their problems, then pray and allow the Holy Spirit to lead?

We have dialogue where they communicate their problems, then pray and allow the Holy Ghost to lead. Doesn't everyone?

Do the youth groups have a good support network to help keep the kids on the straight and narrow?

Hopefully....but that would be according to each local church. We can only control what goes on at camp.

Does each young person completely grasp the concept of serving Christ, and if not is there someone there to mentor them?

You can explain it to help someone understand. You can provide the environment to help it sink in. You can reach them on their level....but...it is still up to the young person to listen. But sometimes the noise of the world is really loud and it takes a while to sink in.

As said before....we can only control what happens at camp can't we? This isn't a perfect world...but at least we are doing all we know to do in the time allotted.

I honestly do agree that Camps are a great experience. I grew very close to God in part because of my camp experiences. However it is every person's choice to serve God and I think some youth don't grasp the concept, others don't take it seriously enough and still others just "receive Christ" to get people off their back. I'm not sure.

Very true. But then there are a lot of adults that do the same. Our job is to keep plugging away. Not all will be saved...but it's worth it when one is isn't it?

Something has to be done in our churches to continue to reach the kids where they are at, but as I stated above it is their choice.

Of course.

I've answered your questions above in blue.

[DeWayneTN]

Camps are the bomb!

[RamboPreacher]

i don't like bombs going off in camps. but they can be fun in concerts.

[curiouspk]

I love youth camp. While I think some aspects of it need to change, I think helps more than harms. If we can get people to realize praying for someone in the alter isn't just about going up there, putting your hands on a person and standing there, or just speaking tongues. It's about knowledgeably praying and ministering to the person your praying for. Too many people go through the emotions during an altar service (A class in altar work would help with some of these things.)

Camp gives people a chance to connect with people they'd never have a chance without it.

/side note
This is fun!
/end side note

Another controversial statement: Alabama COGOP Camp (Camp Boothe) is the the best!!

[RaceRunner]

I love youth camp. While I think some aspects of it need to change, I think helps more than harms. If we can get people to realize praying for someone in the alter isn't just about going up there, putting your hands on a person and standing there, or just speaking tongues. It's about knowledgeably praying and ministering to the person your praying for. Too many people go through the emotions during an altar service (A class in altar work would help with some of these things.)

Camp gives people a chance to connect with people they'd never have a chance without it.

/side note
This is fun!
/end side note

Another controversial statement: Alabama COGOP Camp (Camp Boothe) is the the best!!

I agree.

and....We rent Camp Boothe for our Alabama Camp too.

(sidenote: The Booth's (who donated the land) are my husband's cousins.)

[RaceRunner]

Now that we got Youth Camp all squared away.....

Personal opinion aside....The concept of Year Round Schools in the South isn't doing too well. Too much expense for air conditioning in ailing economy.

Paying for A/C sometimes = firing a Teacher or paying them less.

[DeWayneTN]

Paying for A/C sometimes = firing a Teacher or paying them less.

Pay them less? How could that be? They only make an average of $51,000 for ten months' work!!!

This IS fun!

[curiouspk]

Which is spread out over all 12 months

Told you!

[teach]

Paying for A/C sometimes = firing a Teacher or paying them less.

Pay them less? How could that be? They only make an average of $51,000 for ten months' work!!!

This IS fun!

I don't make anywhere near that much


wendy k

[teach]

Which is spread out over all 12 months

Told you!

yes, but we are only paid for 180 days... We just have it spread over the entire year so that we have money in the summer

[paul]

I love youth camp. While I think some aspects of it need to change, I think helps more than harms. If we can get people to realize praying for someone in the alter isn't just about going up there, putting your hands on a person and standing there, or just speaking tongues. It's about knowledgeably praying and ministering to the person your praying for. Too many people go through the emotions during an altar service (A class in altar work would help with some of these things.)

Camp gives people a chance to connect with people they'd never have a chance without it.

/side note
This is fun!
/end side note

Another controversial statement: Alabama COGOP Camp (Camp Boothe) is the the best!!

I have been out of pocket for a few day. But here is my take not only on camps but the church in general.. We are event oriented and not process minded.

We live from event to event.....camp to camp, but as a rule have no process for growth and spiritual development in between the events. That is why many revival fail to produce lasting fruit. This is a huge problem in the mission field when we are only going after the huge crusades.

What process does the local church have in place for spiritual growth and development for the kids when they return home from camp?