High School Camp is God's Camp Not Ours
High School Camp is God's Camp Not Ours
 God proves His faithfulness each year by providing the finances for the high school summer camp. It is a test of faith that the funds will be available but God touches the hearts of people to give sacrificially.
“Every year I’m amazed how the Lord has been making the summer camp possible by providing finances, bringing kids, and giving wisdom to the workers. It is obvious that this is God’s ministry and not ours. We are just servants obeying what God wants us to do in ministering to the youth. All the more we realize our nothingness and we do the ministry only through His grace. And we would like to give all of the glory and thanks to God,” said Tina Brooks.
The camp was held at Lemery, Batangas on April 18-22 at the Bayside Bible Camp.
Fifty students and 11 staff made it the largest camp in the past seven years, including an unexpected delegation from Tuguegarao. Students also came from Batac, Cabagan, Catanduanes, Los Baños, Metro Manila, and Muñoz.
Two goals of the camp are to build security with God and with one another.
 The kami kami and kanya kanya mentality was clearly broken by the end of the camp. One of the most repeated word or words heard on the students’ lips was bonding or bonding time. Old friendships were renewed and new ones established. By the end of the five days, students were signing notes on each other’s folders and exchanging cell phone numbers to keep in touch until next year.
More importantly, students learned how to bond with their Lord and Savior. Each day started with a team quiet-time to teach students how to spend time with God. A passage of Scripture for each day covered topics such as God’s Goodness, God’s Love, God’s Family, and Stewardship.
Five college students were enlisted as trainees to lead or assist in the quiet time discussions, they included Gladys Precilla; Shigmy; Melanie Cristobal; Caleb Jimenez, assisting Jerry Francisco; and Andrew Marasigan, assisting Marlon Callueng. Another quiet time group was led by Reggie Cumla.
 Six teaching sessions focused on how to develop the students’ relationship with God and on character issues. Millet Beltran, Lea Marasigan, and Rose Molina shared three parts of the Wheel Illustration in separate sessions, The Word, Prayer, and Obedience.
Stewardship was touched again on a wider scope by Alma Francisco and dealt with handling resources such as abilities, money and time.
Tina led the session on Self Image and Bitter Roots. Students were encouraged to forgive those who hurt them after reading Max Lucado’s illustrated story You Are Special. They wrote on a slip of paper the name of someone they wanted to forgive and then burned the paper to symbolize their release of anger for the hurt inflicted upon them.
Tess Saquing spoke about How to Make Your Hands Beautiful by taking on responsibilities at home. Students brought their bags to the session and later learned the proper way of folding clothes.
There was also a special session on boy-girl relationships led by Ruby Cureg and Jerry. Students were given case studies and asked how they would advise a friend in the same situation. Ruby later shared Biblical principals for relationships that helped the students discover if their advice was correct.
The students also enjoyed swimming at the beach, group dynamics, and performing drama and skits. The scripture memory contest encouraged teamwork again rather than individual competition as the students coached one another and quoted the verses by teams—students begin memorizing the verses during the school year.
Marlon served as camp director and Jerry as assistant director. Marlon gave the final challenge based on Col. 2:6,7. The staff prayed over students wishing to commit to walk with God.
There were many lessons to learn and apply from the camp.
Maria from Cabagan says, “I learned to forgive others as God forgives my sins.”
Allen from Metro Manila says, “It’s my first time in this camp. I learned about obedience and how very important it is in a person, and how prayer is very important to grow in Christ and God. I hope I can join another camp in the near future.”
Mary Jane from Metro Manila summed it up simply and signified that the camps goals were accomplished, “I learned how to know God more deeply.”
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