Wild at Heart was our 1000 Hills children's camp theme this year and was brought to life by Jan and George Syrigos of Meta Missouri. Jan and George not only led our morning and evening worship times but also provided the music. "Jesus Your My Superhero" was a favorite song among many of the campers.

Activities for the week included a 100 foot slip and slide, tie-dying t-shirts, night hikes, talent show, cabin Olympics that included relay races, and tug of war over a pool of cooked spaghetti, and of course an evening campfire that was both fun and inspirational. Throughout the week we enjoyed Grand Oaks beautiful facilities, the great pool (which is always a favorite activity for our campers), and delicious food. This years' campers kept our camp nurses busy with bee stings, vomiting, and even 2 cases of ringworm. Amy Armstrong and Jane Thompson we're wonderful in the nurses station even after several nearly sleepless nights.

Marty Joplin, Bart White, Tracy Fields, Kyla Wilcox, Melody Britt and April Hovar each took responsibility for either some or all of the Bible and Mission lessons taught. After a particularly compelling mission lesson one camper asked when the next mission trip was because he wanted to go! On our last night during chapel, Brother Bill Smathers gave his personal testimony and led us in a time of invitation. Brother Bill's testimony spoke clearly not only his need for Christ but also ours. Many we're moved by his personal stories of his growing up years.

This year campers we're given a 3-ring binder with morning and evening devotions as well as pages to take notes about the worship times. A weeklong contest was run to see whose folders had been completed the day before. The campers took this very seriously and did a great job of writing down ways they felt God was speaking to them during the week. Prizes for this contest included compasses, bubble gum for the entire cabin, astronaut ice-cream and t-shirts from previous year’s camp. Many campers told me this was their best year of camp yet. By the end of the week we we're able to celebrate 6 salvations that included 1 junior cabin leader.

Erin Koch
2009 Children's Camp Director

Saint Joseph Youth Camp
Don Beavers, Director

Saint Joseph Baptist Association Youth Camp was held May 26-31, 2009. The theme of this year’s camp was “Off The Chain”. We focused on the Book of Galatians and on grace. One hundred and fifty-five campers and fifty-four staff attended camp this year. One decision for salvation and three for rededication were recorded. John Regan Student Minister at King Hill Baptist Church was camp pastor. Nathan Elder, Pastor of Worship at Crosspoint Fellowship, Pearland, TX led our worship. Assistant director was Jerry Scott, First Baptist Maysville. Don Beavers, Calvary Baptist Church, was director.

A big thank you goes to all who served this year. There was a general feeling that the Memorial Day week would make it more difficult to secure enough staff. However God richly blessed this year. We had an abundant staffing level in all areas of the camp.

Saint Joseph Children’s Camp
Micah Fries, Director

Children’s Camp was held June 29 - July 3, 2009 at Grand Oaks. The theme was iPray with the focus scripture from I Thessalonians 5:17. 201 children attended camp with 21 children making a decision for Acceptance of Christ as Savior and 13 children who checked the box for rededication, and 19 who checked other (wanted prayer.) Camp Pastor was Jared Hamilton, Pastor of First Baptist Church, St. Joseph. Kyle Bridgman, Minister of Music and Education at First Baptist Church Maysville lead worship. Micah Fries, Pastor of Frederick Boulevard was Camp Director. Chris Ellis, Children’s Ministries Director at Frederick Blvd. and Susy Jaggars of Frazier, were Assistant Camp Directors.

Camp next year will be June 28-July 2, 2010. Plan now to help with next year’s Children’s Camp. We will need many workers, as there will only be one week between Youth and Children’s Camp next year.

Heartland's Camps
Jane Lacey, Director

This years camp theme for Introduction to Camping and Younger Children's camp was "Follow the Leader" Into had 42 children and 39 adults, Younger Children's had 104 children and 49 adults and 11 mission friends and 2 decisions for a total of 164 people. The Younger Children's Camp for the past few years has enjoyed the challenge of memorize verses and saying pledges, they win awards for this on the last day of camp.

The camp theme for Camp Ground Zero was "Be Strong and Courageous" and the theme for Camp Life was "Proverbs 2:10" total was 127 campers 58 adults 14 mission friends, 2 day workers for a total 201, 5 decisions, 21 rededicates, 3 special service and 9 special prayer. It's very rewarding to go to camp as an adult to help change the lives of our campers as a lot of you know and I thank you each and everyone for your dedication to the camps.

North Grand River & Harrison's Camps
Doug Faulkner, Director

Another camp year is over and as I look back, I find myself amazed at the greatness of God. Youth Camp was June 22nd- 26th. Our camp theme was No Neutrals, Luke 11:23, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. The camp pastor this year was Brad Walker from Shelbourne Baptist Church, Worship leaders were Eddie Vacation (for the third year).

The camp committee continues to search for ways to help connect with the campers and help them in their walk with our Lord Jesus. Some things we did different was the bible studies. In years past we had 3 bible studies and everybody went to all three studies. This year we had nine total bible studies, three each day and the campers were given the opportunity to choose which bible study they wanted to attend. The feedback from the campers was really positive. Also, this year instead of having one bible study time each day we divided the study time into two study times each lasting 30 minutes. For evening entertainment this year we able to have chalk artist Randy Davis come speak and draw a really awesome drawing. Youth camp this year we had 144 total campers, 40 of which were staff workers. Also this year we wanted to have more reflection time with cabin leaders instead of long drawn out invitations that lead some teens to make false professions in Christ. There were 6 total salvation experiences this year, and 8 re-dedications.

Children’s Camp was held Aug. 3-7. The camp theme and camp verse were the same as Youth Camp. We had 167 total campers, 60 were staff workers. Camp pastor this year was Jeremiah Bradford from Pattonsburg Baptist Church, Worship leaders were Rebirth (Youth Praise Band) from Bethany First Baptist Church. The bible studies were different than youth camp. There were three different studies each day and all the children went to each study every day, so there were three 30 minute studies each day. Each study was based from a bible story. There were 11 reported salvations from children’s camp.

A couple to things to think about for next camp year;
1) Pray for camp, the committee and the children.
2) Remember for every 5 campers you church is responsible for sending one cabin leader.
3) Get camp forms in on time. We have a very small timeline in which shirts need ordered and cabin assignments need to be arranged. When forms continue to come in late it makes is harder to organize camp. So, PLEASE get forms in on time.
4) Encourage children and teenagers to come to camp. It’s a great opportunity to get alone with God for a week.

Next year’s camp dates are Youth Camp: June 21-25; Children's Camp: August 9-13.

Thanks for your service to our King,
Doug Faulkner, Camp Director

New Life Camps
Brian Sparks, Director

“The early bird gets the worm.” “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

We’ve all heard those sayings and who knows if they are true or not, but we do know that we had summer church camp early and God blessed. New Life Baptist Association had 42 children, 55 youth, and 25 adults in attendance. We had a great week of discovering what truth is. To be more exact we learned that Jesus is the truth. There were several students who gave their lives to Jesus. The theme for the week was, “Driven by Truth,” and the key verse was John 14:6. There were storms all around us and one day the forecast threatened to shut the pool down because it was going to be too cool, but just in time the sun came out and we were able to swim. Students learned Bible skills, enjoyed crafts, and had a great time playing group games. On Thursday we enjoyed the giant inflatable water slide and the bungee trampoline. We give God all the praise for a wonderful week at Grand Oaks.

Linn-Livingston Children’s Camp
Barry Pfister, Director

As the day of camp drew near, the excitement of all the pre-planning was now coming together. The number of our children campers grew far from what I expected. With the number of the children added to our staff we had over 150 plus people at camp this year. We had a great lineup of staff, many who were not seen but for a few short moments each day, but without their help, this year’s camp could not have happened. Pastor David Gouge was our camp pastor and I had Pastor Brian Baker as my assistant this year. The challenge this year for our campers was to teach them how to witness to their friends. The camp was broken into four teams with each team having the same material to use. On Thursday night, they presented to their fellow campers and families their version of how to witness using the 'Eternal Life Tract' as a guide. Everyone was impressed with their ability to take the gospel to their friends. I pray and hope that this short lesson of how to witness will set a seed in their heart to go out and tell the Good News to all their friends. As always, our Bible teachers did an excellent job. This year we had Pastor Alan Brock, Pastor Will Douglas, and Mrs. Ruby Lewis. My thanks to each of these for putting forth an excellent effort to help teach our children God's Word this week at camp. Brian Pfister along with Ethan Andersen and Mitch Canote led our music this year, my thanks to them to coming in at a last minute notice. We also had two ladies who were our summer missionaries for camp, Tabitha Burge and Bobbi Myer. Both these ladies did an excellent job in helping out wherever there was a need, you might find them in the kitchen one day or find them spending time with some young lady who needed a sympathetic ear to listen. We also had many first time cabin leaders and some first time staff, to see such joy and excitement in their life to serve added to the overall joy of camp. Thanks for being there and thanks for serving God. With the greatest thanks going to God for good weather, good workers, and a great spirit, with six young people coming to know the Lord, two rededications and four that asked for special prayers. Each year that we do camp, we always find things that work and don't work and this year's camp was no different. I wish to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and comments during camp, and I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Most of all I look forward to next year and to each of you that plan to come back. Camp is always a joy, but the greatest joy is to serve God and if you don't think that that is so ask Mrs. Marsha Moore. She already had a sprained ankle coming to camp then she fell one day and broke her elbow. Most of us would have gone home and stayed home but she came back the next day with her arm wrapped up and bruises from the fall, but a great smile on her face for she knew she was serving her Lord with an inner joy that most of us have forgotten about. As she was leaving camp she told with the most reassuring words that she would come back next year. What a trooper.

As a side note, with all the last minute campers, and the needed staff, it put the camp financial budget in the red. Please make this a matter of prayer, for I know that God always meet the needs of those who ask.

Linn Livingston Youth Camp
Amelia Holder, Director

It’s true, there is “So Much More” at Grand Oaks Camp! This year let me start with the most exciting news. We had 5 salvation decisions, 6 rededicate their lives to Christ, and numerous lifestyle changing decisions! Our theme was “So Much More” and there were two main points we focused in on. First, we all look for something more in life (money, popularity,etc) and through Solomon’s writings we learned that there is so much more to life than all of these things. Second, the theme represented a cry from the heart to have more of Jesus in our lives everyday.

The camp pastor was Cole Calloway-Hodson, a youth evangelist from the Centralia area. Once again, he did an excellent job in relating Jesus to the youth through real life examples. Our worship was lead by Station2 from Columbus, OH. They were outstanding in leading worship through song and took part in every activity right along with the youth. God blessed us through Cole and Station2! We also sent youth and leaders to the Baptist Home to interact with residents there. This outreach was a big hit again. Thank you to Calvary Baptist of Chillicothe and First Baptist of Marceline for providing our transportation to and from the Baptist Home. Each day we spent part of our afternoon working around the campgrounds helping with various things such as, pulling weeds, painting, scraping, picking up trash, etc. Thank you to Don and Barry for organizing that part of our mission focus.

There were a total of 121 at camp this year, 93 being youth campers! (up from 73 last year) Our camp staff was amazing and made the task of directing camp go smoothly. Thank you to all who gave of their time and energy to make youth camp possible! A special thank you to SSG Brad Gladbach with the MO Army National Guard for bringing out the inflatable challenge for us again this year.