Members of several youth groups who attended camps at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega this summer strived to follow Jesus’ example of service by volunteering to work side by side with Shocco Springs employees and helping various community organizations.
Youth from Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, assisted Shocco staff members in food service, grounds keeping and lodging and experienced what it means to serve others as Jesus did.
“We wanted our students to learn that it isn’t all about them,” Cottage Hill Minister of Students Mark Rudd said. “As followers of Christ, they should bear fruit that is a witness of their relationship with Him.”
The students helped clean a nature trail on the Shocco campus and cleaned air conditioner filters, covers and exhaust fans in two of the hotels. “This camp had more impact on our group than any camp we have ever done,” said Cottage Hill ministry intern Hannah Moore. Three members of the group were saved during the retreat experience.
Youth pastors Tim Rhoads of Eastern Shore Baptist Church, Daphne, and Doug Hemanes of First Baptist Church, Bonifay, Fla., designed a camp, MAD (Making a Difference) Week, that provided opportunities for youth to serve others.
Christopher Lauen of First, Bonifay, led a missions team during MAD Week.
“Our intent was to encourage and bless others by serving them,” Lauen said. “We wanted our youth not only to hear about the importance of missions but to experience it firsthand. We had several opportunities to serve both on and off the Shocco campus.”
One team also worked at a local food/clothing distribution center called The Samaritan House, where team members swept, mopped and helped organize food and clothing.
“I got a lot from the missions track at MAD Week,” said Elizabeth Quintero of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Green Cove Springs, Fla. “I love missions and it was great to have it incorporated into the camp. I realized that even the smallest random act of kindness like picking up trash around the campgrounds can be used to glorify God.”
Young people attending Student Life Mission Camp also served the community four hours a day for three days of their camp experience. They painted, repaired, sorted, cleaned and worked with children and the elderly, showing love in action as Christ has shown to them.
“It’s a wonderful way for these teens to look beyond themselves,” said Melissa Proseus, Student Life mission project specialist. “More often than not, these students go back into their own communities with a desire to serve the people in their own back yard with that same love.”
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