Today, I remember my high school days. I attended several Christian camps in order to grow and glow as a Christian. With plenty of pious peers, we became deliberate about growth as instructed in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Foremost, there was a Faith Based Organisation (FBO), which was keen to organise life-changing Christian camps. This was Kenya Students Christian Fellowship (KSCF). Again, our local church, Christian Outreach Ministries (COM), based in Yala, in the Gem of Siaya organised Christian camps to help us gain spiritual insights.
We also glorified God as we won souls for Christ. We tapped floods of inspiration from Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
In retrospect, today, I take a mental flight to those days we were at the fledgling stage, age, and I just lavish God with plenty of praises. I also thank men and women of God who thought of gathering us to learn God’s word. Personally, I benefitted a lot.
It is what compels us to be resourceful in these times and climes. For our mentors did to us what Apostle Paul of Tarsus did to his protégé, Timothy. Quoth he, in 2 Timothy 2:1-2: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, commit them to faithful men who will be able to teach others.”
Somehow, those Christian convocations fueled and fanned fire in us. We grew in leaps and bounds because of our response to God’s Word. The zeal was real. We had the ravenous desire to grow in grace and attain spiritual maturity and self-mastery. Like the brethren talked to in 1 Peter 2:2, we craved for pure milk, so that by it, we could know more about the Sinless Savior. The conferences helped us to grow and glow because the preachers made us understand the essence of reading the Bible, praying, fasting, fellowshipping, giving, and engaging in other Spiritual Disciplines or Means of Grace, which Donald S. Whitney talks about in his heroic book: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
Moreover, it was in those Christian conventions that we gained confidence, and honed communication skills. It was in those holy assemblies that we learnt how to give exhortations and encouragements in front of small crowds. Indeed, we learnt how to stand and deliver as pointed out by Dale Carnegie. Then, preach and teach the mysteries of God. As put aptly in 2 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, and received in glory.”
Consequently, our mentors constantly directed us to 1 Timothy 4:11-16, “Command and teach these things. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, given to you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
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Therefore, you now know why I am contending that students should spare time and attend Christian camps as they make the holiday a season of reason. In every holiday, students should purpose to remain wise, not otherwise. The brilliant thought is this: they should purpose to attend Christian camps organised by churches and FBOs: to gain knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
Maybe, just to apprise you. Knowledge is acquisition of knowledge. Understanding is interpretation of knowledge. But wisdom is right application of knowledge. The wise man says in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Again, in Proverbs 4:7, he says, “Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.”
Furthermore, knowledge is key to a Christian. Actually, ignorance is a disease, while knowledge is medicine. No wonder, God speaks in Hosea 4:6, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” In Isaiah 5:13, He goes ahead to say, “My people go into captivity for lack of knowledge: their honourable men are famished and their multitude dried up with thirst.”
So far, there are some appropriate dates set by the FBOs such as KSCF and Teens for Christ-Africa, when students are to attend Christian camps, and know more about God. From April 6-12 2024, KSCF has a student leaders’ national convention and associates conference. The convention will happen in four blocks: Kabianga High in Kericho County, Chania Girls’ High in Kiambu County, Kagumo High in Nyeri County and Kwale High in Kwale County.
The theme will be: Arise and answer the call (Jonah 3:2). The following topics will feature: Aligning talents and gifts to serve God, obedience and devotion to God, mental health and the call of God and relating faith to academic success. Teens for Christ-Africa also has a conference in Ogande Girls’ High in Homa Bay County, which will run from April 6-11, 2024. The theme of the conference will be ‘transformative thinking’ (Philippians 4:8).
I have been a guest speaker in such sacred assemblies. And I must admit. In those mighty meetings, students experience great encounter with God. They also learn many life lessons based on topics taught. Therefore, the onus is on us, to ensure that we support students to attend Christian camps. Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap.
More so, if we do not faint in heart. As we have the opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially those who are in the household of faith. Students do not attend the camps free of charge. Instead, they should remit some money to facilitate it. The moolah they submit takes care of their accommodation and meals. The camp organisers hire places to host the camp. Then, they should raise some honorarium and love offering for the guest preachers and facilitators.
No wonder, school administrators should support the Christian Union to send delegates to the Christian camps. Parents and guardians should also respond to this clarion call, and support their sons and daughters towards this noble course. There is also the exigent need of philanthropic organisations that can express altruism, and sponsor those divine-driven meetings. In actual sense, Christian camps come once in a blue moon, but their impact is impressive.
The preaching, teaching and training that goes on there, carries the puissant power to inform, form and transform lives of teens. Apart from spiritual experiences, Christian camps have moments of fun and food, which many young people love and cherish.
In Christian camps, students watch godly movies, and listen to good Christian music. They also meet, greet each other, and have time to socialise, network and forge friendship. In conclusion, as a penman, I can write it right: Attending Christian camps is a way students can make wise use of the holiday. What they will learn there for five days or so leaves them looking better, brighter and smarter.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer is an author and a peripatetic speaker.
vochieng90@gmail.com. 0704420232
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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