Teen and Discipleship Camp Wrap-up

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

~ 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 ~

What kind of camp is this? Bible camp! This familiar question is one that all of our staff and campers at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp hear every year. That is because our aim at the Bible camp is to proclaim and submit to God’s authoritative, perfect, infallible, powerful Word. We aim to preach the truth and the heart of our message is Christ and Him crucified.

Our staff at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp has felt the support of so many Christians who count the glory of God and the souls of young people in Alaska more valuable than any earthly ambition. The Lord delights in your prayers on our behalf and we are grateful for His never-ending grace. Right now our staff is resting and making preparations for our final camp (Young Adults Camp). We just finished four camps: Jr. High, Teen, Discipleship, and Elementary camp, and we are so grateful for God’s work through His people.

KHBC was filled with nearly 60 campers for this years Teen Camp. We had the privilege of welcoming returning and new campers from Galena, Huslia, Kaltag, Nulato, Ruby, Buckland, and Selawik. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the staff bonds with the campers and how many tearful goodbyes there are after just a week spent together studying the Word of God.

We had six full days of camp and our time was consumed with the KHBC Olympics including activities such as: Bible memorization, basketball, archery, rifling, obstacle course, speed stacking, capture the flag, beautiful beachy sand bars, line dancing, a movie time, and hilariously creative talent show skits. While all of these activities are a joy to enjoy God’s wonderful creation and build relationships are primary focus was on preaching the Word of God.

It was an overwhelming blessing to feed these young people with the pure milk of the Word and to enjoy their extravagant company. During our ten preaching sessions and six small group cabin devotionals, several of the young people showed great desire to be equipped and challenged by what the bible says, and to grow up into a mature knowledge of the Lord. Our aim was to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. We opened our session time with a message from Luke 6:46 where Jesus made this shocking statement to a crowd, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The rest of our sessions fleshed out this theme as we moved into how His Lordship extends to all areas of life (Lord of salvation, Lord of the demons, Lord of your body, Lord of your ambition, Lord of your time, Lord over rejection, etc.). At the beginning of each session the campers would take in a deep breath and weren’t told why until the last session when they received a bracelet with the words, “Breath in its all GOD’s oxygen!” We hope it serves as throughout the year as reminder of His Lordship. We were also able to conduct a Q and A filled with sincere questions and a morning where people were able to share testimonies of God’s grace in their lives. 

After tearful goodbyes for Teen Camp, eighteen of our campers stayed over through Discipleship Camp. The setting was much more intimate and gave us opportunities to open up our lives and the Word in a special small group setting through discussions at meal times, berry picking, hiking, camp work projects which included skinning bears, canning salmon and moose, and camp maintenance. 

Our Bible study was spent in the book of James, where we studied one chapter a day for five days covering topics such as trials, temptations, favoritism, faith and works, the tongue, worldliness, and prayer. Campers were given study questions to get them in the Word and see for themselves what the Scripture says. Our intention was for them to walk away seeing God's Word is powerful and alive and that they could walk away from the week learning the book of James, feeling encouraged to further their study of the Word back home. 

Friendships were made, prayers were said, and campers left feeling encouraged to return home and let their light shine before their friends and family. But several stayed over to help staff the elementary camp. Five of them served for their first time as counselors, three were maintenance, and five were kitchen staff.

The seed of the gospel has been planted in the hearts of many and we trust that wherever God sends forth His word that it will not return to Him void. Not even a hint of salvation and eternal life is gained by man’s efforts it is impossible with us, but with God these things are possible. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would move and create repentance leading to eternal life and true spirituality in the heart’s of these people who are one day closer to the judgment seat of Christ.