By Joyell Nevins – CFFM Blogger
The teenagers at Christian Family Fellowship’s YES! Camp 2026 are breaking the generational mold! With a lot of laughter and a little chaos, they embodied the theme verse of 1 Timothy 4:12 at this year’s 28th camp:
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set [for] the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 ESV
The campers, who ranged in age from 12 to 23-years-old, came from all across the country – literally Alaska to New York to Florida and many states in between! They were joined by crew members who also spanned the gap of geography and age – but each brought a heart of love for the Lord and for His young people.
Be the Example
Each aspect of the theme verse was studied in the teaching sessions. Teenagers were introduced to who Jesus is, who they are, and who they are in HIM. They discovered or recovered first hand the power of prayer and the transformation of God’s love.
Campers worshipped the Lord, cried on each other’s shoulders, showed off their creative skills, and took a salt covenant together. Some chose to be baptized to mark their commitment; under the trees of the campfire, they were cleansed and called! Below are some of the affirmations all of the campers learned in teachings and spoke over themselves at meal times.
The teachers, both youth themselves and more seasoned believers, used other Scripture, their own experiences, and metaphors to make the material live. One high school teacher even referenced the historical “gold standard” to show how our words should be backed by God’s standard.
There was also an interview-style session detailing a camper’s mental health journey and how Jesus brought her through. A successful businessman and follower of Christ came in to talk about the spiritual and practical side of finances – and even had real cash to give out for thoughtful answers!
Laughing and Learning
At camp, we bring the Lord into everything we do, both inside and outside the building! Recreation included trips to the pool and canoeing down the Stillwater River.
Canoeing down the Stillwater River. Photos by Joanna Howley.
There was also a trip to Scene 75 and of course, the never-ending Four Square game and the dance with DJ Art Love.
This year, before the dance, the upstairs at CFF was transformed into a beauty salon, complete with mirror and plenty of hairspray! Even some gents came to get their ‘do done, too. As happened most nights, the dance ended upstairs with a time of soaking, or spending time in the presence of the Lord through music.
The campers also got the opportunity to be part of a special moment, the ordination of Bob and Lisa Kolstad. They are seasoned crew members and teachers at camp (including being a Campmaster Challenge Judge), and they asked to have their ordination with the youth campers.
If you want a snippet of the energy and truth at camp, watch Campmaster Casey MacPherson teach on Sunday’s service “Be the Example!”
To get more information or register for next year, email sarah@cffm.org.