Banquet
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana—More than 200 campers and staff spent five days at Fontainebleau State Park June 21 to 26. We had campers ages 6 to 11, youth leaders ages 12 to 15 and staff ages 16 to 70.
Nearly three-fourths of the campers were not of our fellowship, but came with a friend or relative from the WCG or heard of our camp through brochures we mailed.
The mission of the camp is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people by planting the seed of Christ or, in some cases, by rekindling the fire.
Melvin Howard, a member of Volunteers of America and Little League coach of inner city youths in New Orleans, brought 19 boys ages 8 to 10 to camp. He expressed his gratefulness that these boys could attend camp and what little opportunities these youths have to participate in any kind of positive, wholesome activities.
Each evening before bedtime, the youth leaders and counselors would gather together in prayer circles. Some shared some pretty serious problems that they were dealing with and those in their circle just reached out and embraced them. It was such an inspiring sight.
One of the highlights of camp was the visit of Miss Teen Louisiana, 16-year-old Blair Abene, who encouraged campers to trust in God to overcome life’s obstacles. Blair was diagnosed with Tourett’s Syndrome at an early age and spoke of how it took faith in God to overcome the many challenges she has had to face with this disease.
Other activities during camp included swimming, tubing, volleyball, basketball, novelty olympics, water sports, archery, arts and crafts, writing letters to inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, and a Western banquet and dance for the youth leaders and staff. Camp ended with an awards ceremony attended by the parents.
After camp, a first-time dorm parent who brought three children to camp wrote the following note: “The experience has made a positive difference in our household. Now in the tradition of ‘camp style’ we turn out all the lights and climb into bed. I read Bible stories using only a flashlight to read. Afterward, we each say our prayers by candlelight.
“Rick added something special. He ends our nightly session with the song, ‘This Little Light of Mine.’ Camp is a very positive and inspiring experience for young and old.”
Banquet
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2003