On the last week of this summer’s Lad Camp at Camp McCall, my son Clint, his son Noah, and I all enjoyed a most wonderful time with the leaders and campers at McCall. Three generations at camp together – that was very special to me! For 50 years this great camp has been leading boys to know Christ and growing young men into leaders for the kingdom of God. I have been going to McCall for almost 30 years and have experienced and seen things that have thrilled my heart!
Noah, Clint and Bill Rigsby represent three generations touched by the life-changing experience of Camp McCall.I believe the people of our convention are not completely aware of all that happens at that sacred mountain. Let me tell you from my perspective as a dad, granddad and pastor. I watched my grandson Noah get excited flying down the zip line, landing on his feet (which is not easy), and having so much fun he wanted to do it again. We made crafts together, and I saw the delight in his eyes as he brought it to the cabin and eventually showed it to his Mama, his brothers, and his Mema when he got back home. Noah had never been to RA camp before, and I was hoping that during this 50th anniversary he would be able to catch the excitement of McCall and want to go back again and again.
His dad was able to relive some great memories, too. He was a camper as a boy many years ago, and now he was there as a Lad Dad with his 8-year-old son. What a joy to see them going to events and spending time together, laughing and playing, and learning about the Lord Jesus. Clint even told Noah stories about the times he was there and the fun he had. I have seen tremendous blessings in Clint’s life from the influence of godly young men who were staffers and from men like Cliff Satterwhite, McCall camp director.
Cliff and I have been friends for so many years, and I know the hard work and the mentor ministry he and the other older adult leaders have on the young staffers who have come and gone over the years. I know many of them personally. I have taught some of them in my ministry class at Anderson University, and some have come from and through our church fellowship, but I know that these guys are only a small fraction of those whom God has developed at Camp McCall. These young men have become pastors, music ministers, missionaries, college campus ministers, church planters, and faithful, dedicated laymen. Each summer there are around 50 staffers at McCall. McCall is as much about discipling these young men into the ministry as anything else. Each year, many of these guys go on mission trips as RA leaders to help establish other camps, run other camps, build churches in Africa, or share their faith in Peru. Some of these very same young men who spent many years at McCall are now in these mission fields serving and touching lives for Christ.
Some of the greatest moments I have experienced at McCall have been as camp pastor, where I have had the privilege to share the gospel with boys and their dads at Lad Camp, and actually challenge young boys to make the decision to follow Jesus with all their hearts at Crusader Camp. I will also tell you that hearing 50 young men singing the great songs of the faith and seeing the tears in their eyes just before I preach is as thrilling as anything that has happened to me in the ministry.
Rigsby is pastor of North Anderson Baptist Church, Anderson.