Happy Campers

Front row: Cameron Longoria, Caleb Kettula
Back Row: Josh Longoria, Austin Pond, Tyler Pond

Several weeks ago our teens made their 4th annual trip to Southland Christian Camp. In the heart of Louisiana, Southland sits near the tiny town of Ringold, roughly 45 minutes south of Shreveport. As an attendee of the camp myself for 3 years I know that camp is always a treat. The ability to get away from everything else for a week and just chill, you and God--well, plus a couple hundred other people doing the same thing. The week incorporates, good food, crazy games, devotions, Bible memory, hot, humid weather, and powerful preaching.

The speaker this year was Will Galkin, a big hit with our young men. It's been neat to see the influence his speaking has had on the youth who attended camp. Our campers were, Caleb, Tyler, Austin, and Cameron. Josh Longoria, our youth leader, took the teens solo this year. When responding to the teens' gratitude, he said, "I know y'all view it like me taking you, but the time is just as blessed for me as it is for you."

Find one of our crew in the Camper Choir (hint: It's not Josh)

Galkin spent his morning services talking about the life of Joseph and living a life a purity and forgiveness. The nighttime services were centered around salvation and living for God.

Melee!

Look hard to find Cameron, Tyler, and Austin in this free-for-all photo!

The atmosphere of isolation from the rest of the world, and being surrounded by things of God for a whole week, makes you far more sensitive to the areas of your own life where you are failing; you really feel conviction. That and the godly fellowship are superb reasons for camp attendance. Any camper who has gone with us will tell you how worth it camp is.

From big ball and water games, to chicken sandwiches and pizza, to Bible memory and life lessons from Joseph, this year's camp was once again a blessed a time for our teens (both young and old).

Tracking Down the Truth

The evening of Sunday, June the 1st, we celebrated the end of our 3rd year of Truth Trackers, our Wednesday night discipleship program for children Pre-K thru 6th grade.

It was a joy to watch and listen as the kids recited the numerous Bible verses they had committed to memory over the past year. When all was said and done, I'm sure I was not the only one of 18+ years that was put to shame. What a blessing to see the faith of parents being passed on and hidden in the hearts of the young.

Many of our kids memorized all of their verses and did all of their devotions for the entire year. A majority of those who did not were simply not here the whole year. Great effort by the kids, but even more so on the part of the parents. "Train up a child in the way he should go..."

Lastly, special congrats to Jeremiah Stevens. This was his last year in Truth Trackers. He was one of the students who memorized every verse and did all of his devotions. In addition, he also memorized each week's bonus verse. He won the "Truth Tracker of the Year Award" here at Messiah Baptist Church. Keep up the effort in Youth Group, buddy!

How good it's been to watch this program grow in our body. Praise God for his blessings in this regard, and pray for the continued growth of the program abroad for the purpose of training up little saints and the spreading of the gospel.