Summer camps sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention made an impact for eternity in ways both measurable and immeasurable this summer. Here are highlights of four of the camps offered for children and students:
Camp McCall
Directors Cliff Satterwhite and Eddie Pettit and 55 staffers welcomed 2,515 campers in 2009. “We don’t just teach about missions, we give young men the opportunity to do missions,” said Satterwhite. This was the 50th summer for activities at Camp McCall. All nine sessions of Lad Camp (grades 1-3) were pastored by former McCall staffers. Many former staff members are now in full-time ministry, Satterwhite said. Camp McCall staffers also worked beyond the Upstate. Twenty-eight were sent to work in Peru, Malawi, Maine and West Virginia. Staffer Charles Hegwood, a North Greenville University graduate, worked in South Dakota with the Lekota/Sioux people, helping to start a church there. In five Camp McCall commitment services this summer, 556 campers made decisions for Christ. The last day of camp was Aug. 7.
Camp La Vida
Cindy Skelton directs this camp near Winnsboro, where 2,047 were registered this summer. Camps were offered for girls involved in Girls in Action and Acteens, as well as for mother/daughter overnights. Co-ed sessions for Children in Action and Youth on Mission were also offered. Thirty-four staff members helped Skelton lead the camps. “Camp La Vida is all about missions education in a fun outdoor setting,” Skelton said. The theme focused on “Inside Out,” encouraging campers to examine themselves and make missions a part of their lives at home and school. Missionary speakers came from Niger, Indonesia, Honduras, Peru, East Asia, the Pacific Rim, Bulgaria and Guatemala. North American Mission Board missionaries were present from Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Catherine, a 15-year-old camper, said, “Although it is my sixth year, Camp La Vida never gets old or boring.” By late July, 124 decisions were recorded, 56 of them first-time decisions to follow Christ. Camp ended Aug. 7.
Music Camps
Younger Children’s Music Mini-Camp included 87 children this year, and Young Musicians Camp registered 280. Twenty-nine first-time decisions for Christ were made at Young Musicians camp. Both camps were held at White Oak Conference Center under the direction of Jasmine Lee. Youth MusicArts Camp at Summersalt was offered in two separate weeks, with a total attendance of 130 students. Mark Powers, director of the SCBC worship and music office, said, “I have been impacted personally by music camps, both as a camper when I was growing up and as my own children attended them. Discipleship and first-rate musical training are emphasized at all four of our camps.” Music ministers and volunteer staff from across South Carolina helped teach and lead the camps.
Summersalt
Directed by Steve Rohrlack, 1,926 students and leaders attended Summersalt youth camp at White Oak Conference Center this summer. A staff of 27 helped Rohrlack and Cory Singleton, assistant director of the youth ministry group, lead the camp. The theme was “Captive.” Students asked themselves what was captivating them: the things of the world, or the things of God. “Our staff this year was fun and so strong in their faith,” Rohrlack said. “They help make Summersalt what it is, helping students see that college students and young adults can live out their faith.” He said 166 decisions were made, 59 of them first-time commitments to follow Christ. – SCBC