Jamie Murphy’s dream is to create a boot camp for troubled teens, teach parenting skills to parents, and develop families that can impact lives and communities for Jesus Christ.
Formerly a Southern Baptist pastor, he is now devoting himself full-time to the development of the camp while he continues training facilitators and teaching classes for the Parent Project, a secular curriculum designed to help troubled teens.
George Ducworth started the boot camp years ago, when he was the circuit solicitor for Anderson County. The camp, located on property owned by the Anderson YMCA, is in need of repair and has remained dormant for several years.
George Ducworth (left) and Jamie Murphy. Murphy plans to reopen a boot camp for teens that Ducworth first started years ago.
Ducworth, who teaches at Anderson University’s School of Criminal Justice, said, “Jamie has a real passion for helping young people who have gotten on the wrong track. He has a Christ-centered program designed to have the entire family involved. I hope this program can impact the lives of parents for the glory of God.”
Murphy met Ducworth when he was working toward a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Anderson. Murphy graduated in May 2015.
The boot camp, named Camp Teaspot, plans to launch in November and is limited to 15 teenagers and their parents. The living conditions and meals for the kids will be “basic,” according to Murphy, but the parents will receive better accommodations. He said, “Our strategy for this is something like Scared Straight. The kids cannot even go to the restroom without permission.”
He plans to hold one weekend camp per month, starting on Friday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon.
Cost for the camp will be based on the family’s income, and parents will need to complete five of 10 classes from the Parent Project curriculum. Objectives for the camp include learning to show respect to parents and those in authority, learning consequences for bad decision-making, and learning to appreciate what they have.
Murphy says, “An evangelistic tool called Explore will be used during the weekend at camp. It focuses on three strategic keys — why trust the Bible, why believe in Jesus, and confronting the issue: you are a sinner in need of a savior.”
Murphy is working to obtain 501(c)(3) status for his ministry, Proactive Parenting Initiative. The ministry will teach the Parent Project material in schools, etc., and operate Camp Teaspot.
For additional information, go to www.proactiveparents.org.