Right at the Jefferson Davis/Marion County line something amazing is happening.
First Baptist Church of Columbia is sponsoring a church camp, Xchange, at the Harvest Ministries campground. Youth from different dominations, mostly from Marion County, are gathered there for the week. This is the seventh year First Baptist has held the camp.
Parker Dungan, one of the volunteers, said by having the camp locally it allows for relationships to be built among the youth in the community.
“Going off to camp you meet people from other states and that is great but by having it close to home, it allows youth to meet other youth who live and go to schools in the same community, creating building blocks in Marion County,” Dungan said.
During the day Dungan said they average 80 to 100 youth, depending on things such as a football camp or band camp, and at night they average 120.
The youth are put in one of three tracks: nursing homes, evangelism and PCY (painting, construction and yard work). The nursing home group goes, visits and sings to the residents at The Grove and The Myrtles. Evangelism track group go door to door offering prayer and prays while walking around public facilities, and finally the PCY does household chores for people who need extra help or are unable to do it themselves.
A typical day at camp:
Breakfast
Morning service, which may include music, games and a speaker;
Track small group Bible study;
Work in the community in one of the three track areas;
Free time;
Dinner;
Large service including everyone;
Small group Bible study;
Late night games or music.
Kane’s Catfish, Seafood and Steakhouse has been providing the food for the week for everyone.
Dungan attended the camp as a youth and said it impacted him greatly growing up.
“Life is not about me, but I get my value on how Jesus is able to use me,” he said.
He further described how incredible it is watching the youth grow spiritually and heal. He said many of them feel shame and guilt in things they have done, so to watch them let go of that guilt and shame has been amazing.
One of the youth, Slade Wilks, said, “God’s presence is very strong, especially when I am working and serving others.”
“A time of growth,” said Wiley Cleland. “We can stay locked in and focus on God and we are able to relate to one another.”
Shannon Willis is the youth pastor at First Baptist. He said the leaders came on Wednesday and have been busy setting the place up physically and spiritually before the campers even arrive.
“There are 23 college leaders who do everything, lead mission teams and they all love the students and Jesus. The college students are the light Jesus is using. They understand day to day the hurts these students are going through,” Willis said.
Willis added, “The brokenness in a young person’s life needs to be looked at through the lens of God’s Word and our leaders do that.”
“It has made me draw closer to God,” said camper Peyton Rowley.
Cole Lucas said, “I’m learning how to lay down my guilt and shame.”
The campers said the worship, speakers and the small groups have been their favorite. Dungan said they have had speakers come from all over, including from Picayune and Jackson.
Willis said in addition to Xchange the church also does a foster program at the camp.
Pictured Above: One of the three Xchange track groups is seen Thursday at the Harvest Ministries campground. The group is working on painting a house this week for someone who is unable to do so. Everyone in the group expressed how great the week has been. First Baptist Church of Columbia sponsors the camp that draws youth from throughout the community.
“We take 25 foster children from Marion County and we have one-on-one time with them and let the children do what they want to do such as swim, play games, etc.,” he said. “We will do the foster program all summer. We just want to make sure the children know they are loved.” He said there is no cost to the foster families.
“I’m coming back next year,” Kaitlyn Amundson said of her experience. Paige Saucier concluded, “Spiritual miracles still happen.” | Photo by Susan Amundson
