SEP North Carolina

SEP North Carolina:
From the foot of the cross
to higher ground

By Shane Bazer
Assistant camp director

"We’re not a sports and activity camp with Jesus added on. We are a Jesus camp with sports and activities added on." These comments from Greg Williams, camp director, set the tone for the nearly 150 campers and staff at the North Carolina summer camp July 21 to 26.

Yes, we had activities such as volleyball, canoeing, golf, tennis, mud volleyball and a nature hike in Raven Rock State Park. But the theme and purpose of the week was to build and strengthen our relationship with God.

To that end, each day began with solo time in which we encouraged individual prayer and Bible study. A dynamic praise and worship and chapel service took place after lunch every day, and we conducted seminars and lectures on spiritual topics each afternoon for the older teens. In the evenings the dorms would gather for group prayers and discussions.

A wide range of young people attended the camp, including several who had not attended church before. Some campers began a relationship with Jesus Christ at camp, while others used the camp experience to deepen or renew their previous commitment to him.

Stan Harris, a ninth degree black belt, was a guest speaker. Dr. Harris used his skills at bending steel and breaking boards and cement to gain the attention of the campers during one of the chapel services. While blindfolded, he even cut in half with a sword a watermelon that was placed on a counselor’s stomach. But what really cut to the campers’ hearts was his personal testimony and sharing the gospel message.

After counseling with various pastors on staff, nearly two dozen campers decided to be baptized. Eleven of them were baptized later in the week. The others waited to share the special event with their family and local congregation.

MUD VOLLEYBALL—[SEP photos by Sabrina
Abney and Kim Jenner]

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