With the exponential growth in popularity of the social media app Tik Tok, especially since the lock downs associated with covid, Christian Assemblies Camps decided to use this as our theme for August camp 2020 - "Tik Tok - Time's Up". Our Easter camp had already been cancelled earlier this year, and we did not want 2020 to pass by without engaging with the young people who normally attend our camps. Some campworkers were skeptical about whether the online version of camp would succeed; some of the highlights of our camps include the crazy sports, the pool time, the hike, the food - none of which would be possible over the internet. Even though it was unchartered waters for a ministry with over 60 years camping experience, we were willing to try something new in order to adjust to the changing dynamic with which we were now faced.
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| Camper craft showcasing theme and memory verse |
We started off with the Senior Camp, to allow for participation of the younger ones who were writing the SEA exam the following week. We had an average of 20-25 campers between the ages of 15-21 years old in attendance. They were challenged about the urgent situation we are currently in: things are getting progressively worse in the world. We shared with them about the need to accept God's plan of salvation in these urgent times, because this is the only way we would be guaranteed the victory. We encouraged them to have a sense of urgency for the things of God, and to be passionate about their role in building the kingdom of God.
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| These truths were taught during our virtual "Pool time" using the analogy of a race |
We also took the campers on a virtual hike, where they were encouraged to see the Bible as a tool to help them live a victorious Christian life, allowing it to guide the decisions that they make when they have to make choices. They were challenged to consider the persons who they have in their circles, ensuring that they were those who would influence them positively. The hike also brought out the application that even though they may fall due to trials they face, they should not stay down, but get back up and persevere until the end.
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| Lessons taught during this virtual hike were etched in the campers minds during dorm time |
The final camp speaker provoked the campers to think about whether they were using their limited time on earth to be salt and light, recognizing that they are not guaranteed tomorrow. They realised that there are many persons around them who do not know Jesus, and they all have a role to play in sharing the good news with them. One camper admitted that she had let her relationship with God deteriorate over the past few months of lock down, and she was committed to making the effort to do better by the end of camp. We had a Spoken Word challenge based on the theme and memory verses, and this is an excerpt from one of the entries:
The campers got involved in the dorm discussions, where we were able to hear from them how they could apply the messages to their lives, and spend time praying with them. There was also a Fill the bottle game using water and a sponge which the participants enjoyed, as well as a Bible Jeopardy game which was hotly contested. We welcomed a camper all the way from the Bahamas who enjoyed the fellowship with us. The following week, we moved on to Junior camp, where we had over 80 campers ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent, the Bahamas, and the USA.
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| Singing our theme song lustily - The countdown's getting lower everyday! |
One of the speakers for Junior camp used the biblical account of Josiah as her scriptural focus. She used his story to illustrate to the campers how they too can seek God, turn away from things which seek to take God's place in their lives, build on the good things in their lives and depend on God's Word for guidance. She made the application to things they could relate to in their everyday lives, like persons who use social media to dictate how they should pattern their lives, and they were challenged to place God as top priority in their lives, regardless of how young they were.
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| Powerpoint used in teaching the lesson |
On the day that I was responsible for the message, I used the parable of the ten virgins to illustrate the importance of being prepared and having your own oil (salvation) when Jesus returns. It was also the day that we took the campers on the virtual hike, so I was able to use scenarios from the hike - someone falling asleep when they were supposed to be getting ready, which resulted in them being left behind; someone not purchasing water before the hike and then trying to get others to share their own on the hike when they got thirsty - to drive home the necessity for us to make the decision to serve Christ for ourselves NOW before it is too late. I also shared with them the importance of having the right gear (the armour of God) to keep them from falling for Satan's traps, much like how those who were wearing sneakers on the hike were able to keep from falling.
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| Taking in the view which was the reward for those who finished the course and kept the faith :) |
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| Entry by one of our youngest competitors - 6 years old |
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| This child clearly has a future as an artist |
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| Can you guess what are the verses represented by each of the items she created? |
When we asked the campers in our dorm what they had learnt from camp this week, here were some of their responses:
- I realize that I need to spend more time in the Word of God in order to strengthen my faith
- I need to encourage my friends to learn more about Jesus before it is too late
- You are never too young to be in the Word of God
- We need to seek God, and stand up for what is right
- Always put God first
- We need to use the armour of God so we can stand against Satan's plans
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| Painting representing Revelation 3:20 |
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