By Jeb Egbert
SEP Director
ORR, Minnesota--The second session of the Summer Educational Program here July 18 to Aug. 5 was a stirring example of what can happen when 160 young people come together in a Christ-friendly environment.
From the first day of the session, Jesus Christ was clearly at the center of the camp experience.
Messages delivered at worship services were tailor-made for the teens. Mark Mounts, pastor of the Detroit, Michigan, West church, explained that for real change to occur, we must be willing to take a risk--to open up and share of ourselves.
He explained that Jesus Christ as our elder brother and Savior is the answer to our problems and challenges.
Jim Kissee, director of Counseling Services at Ambassador and director of the basketball and volleyball program at SEP, addressed the issue of male and female roles, responsibilities and relationships. Dr. Kissee explained the roles of the sexes under the new covenant.
Jim Blackwell, associate pastor of the Champaign and Springfield, Illinois, churches and director of the swimming program at SEP, told about his unconditional love for his daughter, Chelsea, 5 1/2 months.
He explained that while his daughter, at her young age, does little directly to or for him, he almost inexplicably has nothing but thoughts of love and devotion for her.
He read a story exemplifying unconditional love, and concluded by showing that God's love is so great that he gave us the life of his Son.
Jeb Egbert, director of Business Affairs at Ambassador and director of SEP, focused on the fact that, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are all children of God. Understanding this brings us hope, encouragement and a sense of power because of our association with our Father.
On Aug. 2, the final Friday night, C.W. Davis, chaplain of Ambassador University and director of Christian Living at SEP, led the camp in an evening of worship and praise.
The most stirring moment came at the conclusion, when the air swelled with the thought-provoking lyrics of "Amazing Grace."
I was moved as teens locked arms and swayed, many choked with emotion, during this final number.
The last Sabbath, campers spoke about how the mission of the camp had been fulfilled in their lives. The mission of SEP is to proclaim the good news of what Jesus has done and continues to do in the lives of the young people who come to camp.
Many campers spoke about how their relationship with Jesus had grown. A story was told about when camper Rachel Thompson was injured, an entire dorm stopped to pray for God's intervention.
Mr. Davis concluded with a message about the commitment of a Christian. He began by pointing out that the deacon Stephen was stoned to death for his convictions.
Mr. Davis then called for Al Kurzawa to serve as judge for a courtroom scene that followed. Staff members played the role of guards and arrested various campers and brought them to the courtroom for trial.
Mr. Davis served as the prosecuting attorney and questioned each camper about acts of Christian commitment.
What was poignant about the presentation was that Mr. Davis had become aware of the real commitments made by campers. For instance, he called to the stand Grant Bentley from Natchez, Mississippi, and asked him about hitchhiking to worship services, something that he does each Sabbath.
He spoke to a girl about her decision not to have sex outside of marriage--a decision she said she was committed to.
In the end, Mr. Kurzawa sentenced the prisoners to either life imprisonment or death for their commitment to Jesus Christ--helping to express what Stephen had to go through because of his beliefs.
As I witnessed this, I reflected on the late Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach's question: "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you?"
Mr. Davis elicited in his message that there was ample evidence in the lives of the teens at SEP to show that they are Christians.
I baptized two college staff members in Pelican Lake on that same Sabbath. What was so inspiring was that several campers came up afterward and explained that they wanted to make the same commitments symbolized by the baptism ceremony.
I encouraged them to speak with their pastors about this issue as soon as they returned home.
Meanwhile, as an SEP veteran, I was thankful that commitment to God and his way of life and his Son was what the campers were getting excited about.
One girl explained to her counselor that she questioned God's existence before coming to SEP. By the end of the session, not only did she believe in God's existence, she went to her assistant counselor and asked if she could pray together with her. Further, she applied for and got accepted to Ambassador University.
One reason she was so excited about applying to Ambassador is that she knew that a positive, optimistic culture would be there, and that it is a Christ-centered institution.
After three weeks of SEP, she decided that she wanted to have her higher education experiences in the same kind of environment.
The relationship between SEP and Ambassador University is exciting. Teens from around the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean can come to SEP and for the first time (in many cases) begin to develop a relationship with their elder brother, Jesus Christ.
Because of this, they are excited about the possibility of enhancing this relationship with Jesus and with their new-found friends at Ambassador--where they can receive a liberal arts education that is Christ-centered and prepares them for the world of work.
A handful of campers and high school staff members got excited about this possibility, applied to Ambassador, and were accepted for this fall.
SEP was fantastic this summer. Others have described the facility, the staff and the programs at SEP as state-of-the-art in the world of summer camps, and I would agree.
Many church-related camps run only a week or so, cost more and most do not have as much to offer as SEP. But the highlight of my summer is knowing that many of my young friends who came to Orr for the summer of 1996 developed relationships--not only with numerous new friends, but with their elder brother and personal Savior, Jesus Christ.
Does God's way work at SEP? Absolutely! And God's way is paved by the life, the shed blood, the death and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
As good as the summer of 1996 was, we are already planning for the summer of 1997. We hope that hundreds of teens who wish to begin or enhance their relationship with the best friend they could ever have, in an environment of pristine beauty and remarkable activities, will come to SEP.
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