SEP Iowa:
fun and transformation

From left: Selena Watson, Brenda Hill, Gabby Hacker and Erin Cole. [Photos by Doug Johannsen]

By Doug Johannsen

DAVENPORT, Iowa—Ninety-six teen campers, five minicampers (children younger than 10), and 42 staff converged on Camp Abe Lincoln near Davenport, June 29 to July 5, for the first SEP session in Iowa. 

Dream come true

The Iowa camp was a dream come true for Dave Fiedler, district superintendent. James Newby, camp director, was assisted by numerous dedicated volunteers.

BAPTISM—James Newby (left)
and Greg Neller baptize Brittany Neller.

The week was packed with activities and worship that included horseback riding, canoeing, archery, rope climbing, dancing, photography, soccer, swimming, basketball, fireside chats, worship music by the band Cranial Halo and daily chapel. 

DOWN THE SLIDE—Cory Butler
takes a turn.

When asked about his experience at camp, John Stonecypher, pastor of the Mason City and Des Moines, Iowa, churches, wrote: “Camp was just awesome. I’m having to exert some effort this week to restore some emotional equilibrium, but should be fine in a couple days. I have five campers and three workers in my churches and I will be starting a Friday-night youth group with them to try to keep the spark alive.

CAREFUL AIM—Susan
Husmann aims for the bull’s eye.

“We’ll be doing lots of worship with the ‘WOW Worship—Yellow’ CD, which has most of the SEP songs on it, and also fireside-chat- like discussions about the basics of Christian faith and living. We will make it the goal of the group to get all the kids to camp again next year (either as campers or workers) and also to get several of their friends to go with them. The group will also focus on inviting friends to a Discovery Weekend this winter, and doing fund-raising projects to make sure all the kids can afford to go to SEP next summer.”

Nathan Denn (left) and George Denn

Mr. Fiedler, who also served as archery instructor, said: “This was my first time to be at SEP, and it was one of the best weeks of my life! It was a week of fun and transformation for 100 young people, not to mention the staff. The Spirit was so obviously at work in the camp environment! The apostle Paul said, ‘Let us keep in step with the Spirit.’ I can’t stress highly enough how important it is for our congregations to establish youth ministries, and for our parents to send their kids to SEP camp.”

HERE’S’ HOW—Jamie Salcedo
gives it a try.

Seven campers dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ and were baptized at camp. Several also made commitments to Jesus Christ during camp but wanted to be baptized in their local areas.

   Doug Johannsen, pastor of the Champlin and St. Paul, Minnesota, churches, baptized Jared Jolin from Sioux City, Iowa. Jared’s parents, Terry and Jenny Jolin, were the first two people Mr. Johannsen baptized years ago at the beginning of his full-time ministry.

Seeds take root

George Denn from Mankato, Minnesota, wrote this to friends and family about his visit to camp to participate in and witness his nephew’s baptism: “I was hauling hay the other night when my cell phone rang. It was my nephew Nathan Marcus Denn. He said, ‘George, can you come down here and baptize me?’ I said, ‘When?’ He said, ‘I will let you know tomorrow morning.’

From left: Kyle Korte, John Lightbody, Kyle Swamp,
Matthew Perry, Nathan Denn and Jonathan Petty.
 

“It seemed at one time Nate did not know if he wanted to attend. Nate’s interest in the Lord started several years back at another church camp and Bible studies that I used to hold before I baled hay with my nephews. I guess that the seeds that were sown did take root.

“The whole camp was full of electricity (this is the only way I can explain the atmosphere), excitement, joy and camaraderie.

ARCHERY—Dave Fiedler takes aim.

“The whole experience just gave me a spiritual lift. One thing I enjoyed was the vast differences in personalities—just the way God intended it to be—something that our culture needs instead of everyone trying to be like someone else. 

“The most important activities to take place were the baptisms. Five youths were baptized that day into the fellowship and service of Jesus Christ. The excitement they had when they came up out of the water was almost unexplainable. I baptized my own nephew Nate.

“As I was driving home through Iowa and Minnesota I noticed the sky getting blacker and blacker. As the Fourth of July fireworks exploded in the sky and lightning flashed out of the heavens, I was thinking of the youths I met. They are lights in a world that is getting darker and darker. It is my hope and prayer that these young people take the excitement for Jesus Christ they experienced at camp and tip this world upside down, something that us older folks haven’t done yet. 

“So everyone watch out, because the fuse has been lit!”

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2003