SUMMER CAMP 2011 WEEK ONE UPDATE

SUMMER CAMP 2011 WEEK ONE UPDATE
TEEN CAMP #1 - CAMP SPEAKER: JON WARD

Summer Camp is off to a great start!  Students arrived back for training and are now pouring themselves into their various ministry roles.  We start out with 2 weeks of high school teens then roll into 3 weeks of junior high, and then 2 weeks of kids.  We have seen God do some pretty amazing things, from working in troubled teens' lives to watching record returning camper numbers.  It's amazing to be involved in a ministry like summer camp where ministry is unfolding before your eyes literally every day. 

On Monday nights this year we share the gospel with our campers.  This is a change from previous years where we were sharing the gospel on the first night of camp (Sunday).  Why the change?  Because our Canadian youth culture is becoming increasingly "post-Christian", meaning,  they're no longer coming with a Christian frame of reference for their life.  So, we, Scott and Tyler, take the first night of camp to talk about the fact that there ARE absolutes, there IS authority and there ARE answers for life.

As Scott shared the gospel on Monday night, 6 teens trusted in Christ to save them from eternal separation in a real place called hell.  6 may not seem like a lot, but that was 10% of our camp that week.  Either way , we rejoice that the gospel went forth and that we had the opportunity to participate in the Great Commission.
 
We also saw God work at our Tuesday night drama, Wednesday night campfire dedication service and Thursday night split (guys/girls) Purity session. 12 kids indicated on Wednesday night their desire to a live a life of dedication to Christ, and 18 decided to live a life of sexual purity.  We praise the Lord for how we saw Him work.

Thanks for taking the time to read this update.  Please take some time today to pray for the continued ministry of Word of Life Youth Camp and may you be blessed!

Also see Introducing Word of Life Youth Camp

Recharge Weekend Four!

From WOLBRANOS

Well it has been yet another amazing weekend of snow camp!

Out of the 81 campers in attendance this past weekend, 2 teens were counseled in accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour. There was also opportunity to speak with 2 youth regarding the assurance of their salvation. On Sunday morning the challenge was given to live your everyday life for God which saw 73 campers dedicate their lives to God! Praise the Lord!

A special thanks to all of you who faithfully pray and encourage us to serve God and share His word with Canadian youth.

This week leaders and campers said:

“This was an amazing experience & the sessions were fun and taught me a lot.”

“It was amazing! Met a lot of new people and grew closer to God. Now I really want to come back here for school.”

“This weekend I realized we are all afraid to share the gospel, but I also learned that God is the one doing all the work we just tell the good news.”

 KD

Satellite Snow Camp #1

Some of our students and staff had the opportunity this past weekend to travel to beautiful Huntsville, Ontario. Riverside Baptist Church's Word of Life Student Ministry hosted a satellite snow camp. Five churches attended this event seeing 60 teens plus leaders gather for skating, tubing, snow sculptures, and piles of activities and challenges. WOLBI students helped as counselors, leaders, praise team members, and chaperons. Our Dean of Men and Professor of Bible Survey Mr. Jonathan Ward (blog here) shared God's Word and challenged teens to think about how they will win the "Game of Life" the "Battle of the Mind" and the "Battle against Temptation."
We praise the Lord for the 6 students who accepted Jesus for salvation and the 10 students that stood in front of their peers to commit their lives to Christ in the battle against sin!

This weekend was a great oppurtunity to serve the Lord. I was really excited about what God had planned. It was definitely a chance to grow as I stepped out of my comfort zone. By the end of the Snow Camp I could see some areas I needed to work on in my ministry. I'm so glad God gave me this oppurtunity and I'm excited for how He will use me next.

If your Church would be interested in hosting a WOLBI ministry team please contact Richard Heppner, our Associate Dean of Ministry.

Recharge weekend 3!

This past weekend of snow camp (Feb 4-6) was amazing. God worked in the hearts of many people, and it was such a privilege to be apart of this ministry. We had the privilege of hosting 106 teens and leaders.

On Friday night Mr. Gary Stairs shared the gospel message and 7 kids accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour. Also one of our students had the amazing opportunity to lead a camper to Christ on Saturday morning. Praise the Lord!

I have been thinking about the song “Amazing Grace” recently and these words have touched my heart “I once was blind but now I see… Was lost but now I am found.” God has been doing amazing things and we all have the privilege to be apart of it. He has been picking young campers out of the darkness and placing them into the light. Wow, eh? Praise God!!!

Along with the 8 salvation decisions, 1 teen was counseled for assurance of faith and roughly 85 teens dedicated their lives to Christ.

We also had 4 teens fill out applications to come to WOLBI.

Keep praying for us as we continue serving the Lord. Pray also for the youth groups that are coming these next few weeks.

Here are a couple of comments from campers and leaders from the past weekend:

“I always benefit going to snow camp every year. It is always good to know other Christians are going through the same things I am going through.”

“I really enjoyed this weekend. I think that it should be longer. The sessions were really good and they convinced me that I need to go home and share God’s love with my friends.”

“Great weekend!! The BI students were welcoming and friendly” 

KD

Super-Bowl! (not the football kind)

From Superbowl

SUPER-BOWL
So there isn't actually bowling that is super, and it really has nothing to do with the football game you may be thinking of.  It is however, a great event that youth leaders and teens in local churches look forward to every year! An evangelistic "all-nighter" for youth coordinated by Charlie Lyons and the Word of Life Local Church Ministry Department.  Church groups get to start off the night with a hockey game at 7pm, followed by an on-ice rally where the gospel is presented. Tom D.Phillips, from our WOLBI campus in sunny Florida, preached the gospel message and many believed the message that Jesus died and rose again to pay for their sins.  There were about 700 teens and leaders in attendance.  We praise God for the 45 salvation decisions that were made.  There were also about 16 people who made the decision to commit their lives to Christ. 
The night started off watching the Mississauga St. Michael's Major's battle the Brampton Battalion at the incredible Hershey Centre.  Then the on-ice rally of games, prizes, and the gospel were followed by sports and all kinds of activities until 3am when everyone boarded the buses and headed over to Playdium, a giant arcade complete with batting cages.  Churches started loading up their sleepy teens to go home at 6am.  The whole night was a blast!  It was a tiring night but totally amazing to see the gospel shared so clearly and people receiving Christ.  The Admissions team also spoke with over 20 high school students interested in pursuing studies at WOLBI and received 7 Bible Institute applications!

Students involved in this ministry event said,  

"It was really great, I think the teens enjoyed it a lot!"

"It was fantastical! The teens dedicated their lives to Christ and it was amazing to see God work in the lives of young people."

"It was sweet to see so many Christians in the same place, and so many people hearing the Word of God."

"I survived the whole night on energy drinks :) but it was totally worth it to see what God did."

Open Air Evangelism

    Last week students and staff of WOLBI were out on the streets of Toronto and Hamilton sharing our faith with anyone who would listen.  Sam Frey, Word of Life's Open Air Evangelist, trained us and ministered with us all week.  We were all nervous but 'pumped up' to share God's incredible message of the gospel.

It was amazing to see God work through us and help us realize that we need to be obedient to God's call to share our faith and then let God work through us.  Every year students fear it and love it.  This is the real purpose we are all here; to tell others about what Christ has done for us.

"I loved open air...It was amazing to see the life change when people got saved...I was tired every night but excited for the next day knowing that we were going to share the most important truth people need to know and believe.  It was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. Open Air did many things in my life, just in the short week. Most of all Open Air Week made me not ashamed of the Gospel, realizing that it is all God, all we do is give the message. It has made me bolder in witnessing and has made my relationship with Christ a lot more serious." Alumni (Grad 2010)

Students this year said:

"People were shutting me down and I was so discouraged so I began to pray.  I looked up and there was a guy on a park bench so I went over to talk to him and he ended up getting saved.  It was such a good reminder that God has a plan and that even when we don’t see it, He is always working."

"I have been considering ministry in this area and it stood out to me that there are so many Christians who are struggling and it's so important to minister and pray and encourage other believers."

"I loved it.  I loved the challenge.  I loved doing what I didn’t think I ever could."