August 2013 Newsletter

Summer camp,  “where everything changes.”

Most of our middle and high school students have returned back to school or will return by mid-August and it is sadly the signaling of the end of summer freedom for our students. Late nights playing games, watching movies, running around with friends, bowling, or whatever that comes up has halted to a cease. However, not everything has come to a screeching halt. Phenomenal memories of middle and high school summer camps remain.

The middle school gang sporting our awesome t-shirts together! 

Serving middle school students snacks and lunch each day for 4 days in mid-July as each guy and girl group called out their cheers to beat one another. Each time the shouts getting louder and louder, to the point where people said they could hear the shouts from the parking lot. Beginning with Monday we came together and celebrated the gifts of each student rather than excluding others in events.  Moving onto Tuesday, we shared the importance of an open conversation with our Lord God in prayer.   On Wednesday, we discussed the idea of what modesty truly is and how God views it and cares more about what is inside us and on Thursday we finished our camp with an enormous game day indoors and water wars day outdoors. Living and sharing life with our students and having a true impact on our students.

Part of our guys group at Carolina Point as we finished the obstacle
course in our first competition together; it was epic!

High school camp begins at 5am, on the Sunday we leave. It’s been nearly a year in the planning for the leadership team and we originally committed to 5 total attending – God had other plans. We took 17 students and 3 adults to Carolina Point High School Camp in Brevard, NC. Boarding the vans, God showed up, but I’ll let our students share with you how they were impacted via their thank-you notes written to our scholarship committee.

“Thank you for helping me to get to camp this year. Camp really meant a lot to me because I really met God also with the help of Club Beyond. This camp helped me release my hidden anger. I’ve felt forgiven for my past. This camp gave me a family which I desperately needed. My spiritual faith exploded with strength in my Father God.” – D.C.

“Thank you for helping aid me in attending camp. This benefited my life by strengthening my faith in God. It was an experience of a lifetime. I learned so many things at this camp. I realized I was doing everything wrong. It helped me grieve my father and my grandfather’s deaths, as well as point me in the right direction.” – J.M.

“Thank you so much for making my camp experience possible! Last week consisted of facing fear after fear and also growing closer to God. I made so many brand new lifelong friends that helped me discover who I really am.” – D.S.

“Thank you for your donations allowing me to go to camp this year. Camp was inspiring and a new turning point in my relationship with God. My favorite point about camp was Club. During Club we worshipped the Lord and learned more about my relationship with God and Jesus Christ.” – M.G.

“Thank you! Carolina Point was an amazing experience and I’m so glad I went though many tears and laughs and it was all worth it. I became closer to many new people and God as well. Thanks again!”
 – A.P.

“Thank you so very much for your donations for camp. As a leader I was able to grow closer to God and witness amazing movement by God through our kids. I was also able to share my story with them which I never thought I could do. Every aspect of camp was nothing short of God felt. I got to see the kids grow spiritually and mentally. Although tough to put away the craziness of work and daily life, I grew along with our kids. God has blessed me to be a leader and I fully intend to continue to grow for God with our kids. To God be the Glory! Thank you all so very much.” – T.A.

Our group wearing bright neon shirts for the blacklight dance party one evening.

“I cannot begin to tell you what a difference your gifts made in the lives of our students. YFCamp was an experience so different from anything I’ve ever had before. I watched young people come to life in Christ, open to new experiences, new people and new understanding of a Christian walk. Your gifts made it possible for 17 young people (and 3 leaders) to recommit and change their lives. Thank you again, and blessings to you!” – C.H.

The whole high school group together as we showed up in our own super
hero costumes in amazing fashion!

Both camps changed lives, for Christ’s plan, not our own. We are truly thankful for the chance to live life alongside our amazing middle and high school students during these camps. It’s because of each of you who pray and support these ongoing efforts that we are able to do this for them. Please continue to raise us up in the prayer needed to move forward with our recommitted teens. Pray that they come alive to those around them and they bring others to know our Life Giver Himself.