FBC Youth Group – Camp Canaanland 2011

The teens just got back from Sr. Camp at Camp Canaanland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Two vans went up full of twenty-six teen campers and four counselors.  The vans took off at 8:00 a.m. for a very interesting, six hour drive up to camp which took nine hours to arrive to camp Canaanland!  After registration everyone was assigned to their segregated dorm or tent.  After a quick meal in the quaint dining hall, the first night of Sr. camp began as the campers gathered together in the small, white country chapel for the initial service in which a powerful message on salvation was delivered from the guest speaker of the week, Pastor Stone from Canada.

Every day began for the campers as they were awaken by morning ”taps“ at 6:45 a.m.  At 7:45 a.m. the first bell of the day announced for everyone to gather at the flag pole for flag rising and a word of prayer.   The group then did some type of exercise such as jumping jacks in hopes of waking up everyone,  though I am not sure if it always worked!  After a hearty breakfast, the campers went to their dorms for cabin clean up.  Cabin clean up was serious business at camp.   After cabin inspection, the dorms with the worst scores were responsible for cleaning the bath houses the next day.

The second bell of the day then rang to call everyone to chapel for a time of practical Bible study.

The third bell of the day announced for the campers to head to the game field and gather with their teams.  The teams were separated into four divisions:  yellow, red, green, and blue.  The games played were very interesting and unique and some were even gag worthy!  Most of the games were played in a form of a relay as each team raced against each other.  Afterwards, a time was given of either personal or team time before the noon bell rang to call everyone to the dining hall for lunch.

Meals at camp tended to be very lively as the campers would yell out together, “Camper ____ strong and able get your elbows off the table around the flag pole you must go……!”  Thankfully only one counselor and one camper was allowed to be called on per meal.  However, that did not stop others from being called on to give a story, joke, song or pushups.  Following lunch was 30 minutes of quiet time, though it did not always turn out to be a quiet time!

The fourth bell of the day announced the girl’s swim time and the boy’s free time!  The 20 minute drive to and from the beach was always lively as almost every camper would sing with energetic fervor at the top of their lungs 101 versions of “O You Can’ t Get  to Heaven in…” and other animated camp songs.  When the girls got back from their hour of swim time the boys would then go while the girls had their free time.  Free time at camp usually consisted of hanging out at the snack shop, hockey and basketball tournaments or resting.

At 5:30 the well-known bell rang to call everyone to supper!  After supper the second game time of the day was organized at the game field.  After the evening games were over, time was then given for everyone to go to their cabins to change and hopefully take a shower to get ready for chapel.  Fifteen minutes before chapel there was optional choir practice for the campers who desired to be involved in the choir each evening.

The last bell of the day rang out at 9:00 p.m. to call everyone in the camp to the evening chapel service which began with a time of singing.  Every night the preaching that was brought forth was presented with power and conviction. The Lord was truly in every service.  After the service came to a close, everyone went to their assigned dorm for a time of cabin devotions.  Between 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. lights were out!

A major part of camp was the divisions of teams, as all week the team members were motivated to do their best in games, and competitions.  Teams were able to also receive points through memorizing verses and participating in activities such as choir.  Also, each team was to come up with a team name, cheer and flag.   At the end of the week, the cheers and flags were judged and awarded with points according to their spirituality and presentation.

The most important and sole purpose of camp, however,  was not the games, activities,  teams,  or even having a good wholesome fun time, but hearing every day from the Word of God.  If you were to ask any teen from Fellowship Baptist who was able to attend camp this year what the highlight of camp was for them or what stuck out to them the most, almost every answer, I believe, would be the same.  Their answer would be the preaching.  The preaching was five star!  The Lord really blessed the evening chapel services with his presence.  However, the service on the last night seemed to stick out to everyone the most. The message given that night was titled “Just a Glimpse of Hell.”  The message was given full of extra power and meaning as Pastor Stone spoke from God’s Word and expounded on verses that described the horrors of hell, the burning flesh, worms, darkness, screaming, wailing and gnashing of teeth, etc.   To add a visual perspective and emphasis at the close of the service, everyone was asked to participate in the message as the widows were boarded up.  Pastor Stone asked everyone born in the month of January through March to wail and every person born in the months of April through June to scream in agony, etc…  Then the lights were turned out for a few moments as everyone screamed, wailed, and cried out loud.  Somehow in that little chapel on that closing night, though how incomprehensible or unfathomable it may seem, there was a small, small minuet glimpse, awareness or understanding of hell revealed in many of the young people’s hearts, and that understanding was powerful and evident.  For when the invitation was given the altar and aisles were shoulder to shoulder with youths crying out in prayer as a burden was placed on their heart for the souls for their family and people that they know who lost and headed for hell .  Many souls fell under conviction and came to know the Lord as their personal Lord and Savior as others reaffirmed their salvation.  Many of the young people were still crying an hour after the service.  Yes, God met with us night after night, but somehow a spirit of quickening and revival broke out on the last service.  The spirit of power and conviction that was wrought forth can only be explained that the Lord was there, for no one could muster it in their own strength.  All glory, honor and praises to the Lord.

Camp is a wonderful time for the youths of this day to get away from the in and outs of mundane life to get rid of all the everyday distractions in our high tech society.  A cry for the youths of this day and age is for young men and woman to become mighty in the power and spirit of the Lord.  What an excellent way for young teens to spend a week away from the world and focus on the Lord and becoming that young person mighty in spirit.  “Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity till I come…” 1 Timothy 4; 12-13

Click here to view the photo album from this trip!

By Stephanie Kronbach (staff writer)