Youth Camp 2008, Joshuas for HIM, held August 4-8 at Camp Whitney in Clendenin, was 4 days of great fun, food, fellowship and learning. We had a fantastic turn out of 68 children, tying 2006 as our highest number in the camp's history. We also had 30 counselors, staff and workers join us this year, bringing the camp total to nearly 100! What a Blessing!
The Mission was extraordinarily blessed with the help of 12 counselors and junior counselors. April Smith and Danny Beach, who serve as head counselors, have been with the camp many years. Both are certified school teachers for the Kanawha County Schools.This year they were blessed with a great group of counselors, some of whom were helping us for the first time, and some who came all the way from Ohio to help us out. Counselors and junior counselors included Casey Smith, Teresa Eads, Eric Lynch, Matthew and Michael Henley, John Nestor, Erin and Mallory Roach, Erica Lynch and J'Leigh. A special thank you and God Bless goes to these hard working individuals.
Phil Hissom, this year's speaker, gave the children a compelling, comprehensive, and soulful understanding of being a Joshua. His 6 L's were a great tool for teaching the children what it means to be a Joshua for Him. (the Leader is the Lord, the Law is Love, the promised Land is Life Everlasting with Him.) During the week, he distributed cards containing Bible verses for the children to memorize. He gave stars for each verse memorized, and stars for each verse a child taught to someone else. We were all very impressed by the response, and someone had to make a trip to Staples to get more stars when he ran out. What a Blessing! Monday evening he announced that when we marched around the wall on Thursday there would be no one left behind (as did Joshua), and prayed as such that night. Each night the altar had several children there to give their lives to God. Thursday, with all eyes closed and heads bowed, he asked that anyone who was not a Christian raise their hands. No hands raised. Praise God!
The Mission was extraordinarily blessed with the help of 12 counselors and junior counselors. April Smith and Danny Beach, who serve as head counselors, have been with the camp many years. Both are certified school teachers for the Kanawha County Schools.This year they were blessed with a great group of counselors, some of whom were helping us for the first time, and some who came all the way from Ohio to help us out. Counselors and junior counselors included Casey Smith, Teresa Eads, Eric Lynch, Matthew and Michael Henley, John Nestor, Erin and Mallory Roach, Erica Lynch and J'Leigh. A special thank you and God Bless goes to these hard working individuals.
Phil Hissom, this year's speaker, gave the children a compelling, comprehensive, and soulful understanding of being a Joshua. His 6 L's were a great tool for teaching the children what it means to be a Joshua for Him. (the Leader is the Lord, the Law is Love, the promised Land is Life Everlasting with Him.) During the week, he distributed cards containing Bible verses for the children to memorize. He gave stars for each verse memorized, and stars for each verse a child taught to someone else. We were all very impressed by the response, and someone had to make a trip to Staples to get more stars when he ran out. What a Blessing! Monday evening he announced that when we marched around the wall on Thursday there would be no one left behind (as did Joshua), and prayed as such that night. Each night the altar had several children there to give their lives to God. Thursday, with all eyes closed and heads bowed, he asked that anyone who was not a Christian raise their hands. No hands raised. Praise God!
