If you know anything about South Mountain Baptist Camp, you know how important our staff are to the camp experience here on the mountain. We may not be fancy but God uses our very special staff to tell their salvation stories to reach children for Christ. Here are some of the staff highlights from Week 3 this summer:
 
Sara Jenkins: Leading my church’s devotions on the last night, the kids explained all of the things they had learned and wanted to take home with them. Every answer was rooted in Jesus.
 
Matt Austin: One of my favorite churches came and I got to see all the kids who thought I wouldn’t be back this summer. It goes to show we can’t rely on our plans because God’s plan is so much better. I loved getting to spend time with these special campers.
 
Zach Miller: I really enjoyed watching my 1st and 2nd graders from Bible study walk down the aisle to say ‘Yes’ to Jesus. It is really inspiring to know that you can make a difference in someone’s life.

This week God saved 26 campers, 19 campers made public commitments to step closer to the Lord and God asked 10 campers to dedicate their lives to His ministry or mission. This should give you great praises in your prayer time this week,

As you read this update today, would you pray for the staff this next week? Pray that He would draw them closer to Himself in all ways possible.

We couldn’t do camp without the faithful, loving counselors who sacrifice sleep and time away from their jobs to bring their church’s children to hear the gospel and be loved on all week. We asked some of these wonderful people what their groups’ highlights were from the second week. This is what we heard.

Sabrina from Nazareth Community Church shared, “I think both adults and children would say Forrest! He did amazing! The tricks kept us on our toes and the way he worked the gospel into the messages couldn’t have been better. He was spot on with the gospel!! And we all love the food especially chicken tender night!

Linda from Enon Baptist Church said, “Kids and all adults LOVED the speaker Forrest and kids said they liked Bible study.”

Jana from West Hickory Baptist Church told us, “The kids would probably say swim! Every day they wanted to know when it was swim time. My favorite was church devotion and listening to their day.”

Forrest Davis (ForhisForkidz.com/forrestdavis) did an amazing job, again, this second week sharing the gospel while keeping our focus on his message. Also, God worked His miracles, again, as He saved 27 and drew many closer to Himself. We are thankful for all who brought children to camp, for those worked selflessly, and all of you who prayed.

Jesus puts together the puzzle of South Mountain each year. He places His staff right where He wants them. Each week, he uses the speaker, staff, donors, and prayer warriors to accomplish His work for that week. Each piece of the puzzle is necessary to complete the week. This is how He put the first week of His puzzle together.

Many of our staff had the privilege of talking with  campers about Jesus.

• Sara Jenkins was serving with her church, Macedonia, and saw 5 of her girls  say

            "Yes' to Jesus.

• Bethany had the privilege of counseling with her brother this week.
• Hannah Scronce, Brianna Serva, and Abby Waters counseled with girls who had

            responded to the invitation.

• Zach Miller and Geoffrey Mace taught Bible study and enjoyed watching Jesus bring

             fruit from their teaching.

• Some of our new staff enjoyed watching Jesus work, the the first time in their lost campers' lives as they responded to the gospel.

Many of our old staff enjoyed the pleasure of leading worship and recreation, serving meals, and learning new roles and responsibilities.

Forrest Davis (ForhisForkidz.com/forrestdavis) did a great job sharing the gospel and having fun as he shared.

Many of you prayed for lost kids and broken things. We are thankful God used all the pieces of His puzzle to save 15 children the first week.




                  

          

Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged after a long week of camp, but God always puts one camper in our path to remind us of our purposes. This year that camper was Sarah. Sarah is always full of joy. She would have a huge smile on her face every time I saw her. She dances with so much energy during chapel. She chatted with me on the walkies-talkies each recreation. Everything she did, she did with so much joy, which in turn brought me so much joy! She was my joy giver this summer. After camp that week, I went home and received a message from her Mom that Sarah was praying for me. Sometimes campers bless us just as much, if not more, than we bless them.

Taylor Davis

The most important gift you can give anyone, whether at Christmas or throughout the year, is to share God’s good gift of salvation with them. Abby Waters had an opportunity, with others at camp, to share God’s gift of eternal life with two campers.
 
The second week of camp, I was very nervous about sharing my testimony with my church group. However, after I shared, two campers came up to me and really opened up to me and shared some difficult situations at their schools. So, I encouraged them, prayed with them, and then they both were saved that very night.

So, who can you share God's good news with this week?

Monica, who is a newlywed, listened to God and is helping us the first part of the summer. She, of course, misses her husband, Ethan Fite, but knew she was called to serve this summer. One day in Bible study, she had the opportunity to share the gospel with a camper and the camper became a Christian. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Gracie is one of our favorite campers. She has been coming to camp since before she was born. She gives the best hugs! In the midst of my hard week with pain and all the exercises, she made my week delightful!

Zach was sharing the gospel in Bible study and notice a camper with tears running down his face. Afterward, Zach asked him why he was crying. The camper answered, “I asked Jesus into my heart.”

Mackenzie and Matt shared their testimonies with their church group and 9 campers had questions about salvation so Matt and Mackenzie shared the gospel with them and they all came to me Thursday night and clearly share their decisions to let Jesus be their Lord and Savior.

Madison’s church group had prayed for a sick girl who didn’t get to come to camp and before the week was over, she was at camp.

Reid and Amanda, during a Bible Study, were asked tons of questions, some from a new girl who had never been to camp before. She told Reid on Thursday night, she didn’t have any more questions because Jesus was in her heart!

We praise the Lord for 36 precious souls who came into the Kingdom the second week of camp.

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

Each time you prayed last week, your prayers were powerful and effective and these are the results of your prayers.

Taylor spoke with a small girl at Rec about her Granddaddy dying the day before and as they stopped to pray, the camper prayed, “Please let my Granddaddy have fun playing in heaven.”

Caroline had a moment to talk with a camper about the part she was playing in our play this summer and Caroline chose to steer the conversation to spiritual things. This opportunity led to a discussion that salvation is about Jesus dying on the cross for our sin and not about inheriting your faith from your parents.

Reid shared his testimony, which included details about his Dad, with his Bible study class and how God doesn’t always say “yes’ to our prayers but He always answers. At prayer time, much later in the class, one of the campers specifically asked the class to pray for Reid’s Dad. Reid’s heart was so touched.

Abby, a new staffer, had the opportunity to share her testimony with 7 lost campers!

Danny, again, a new staffer, had the opportunity to share the gospel with a camper and that camper, prayed to receive Christ!

God also brought a harvest of 38 souls into the kingdom and 9 others campers made serious decisions about His Kingdom. Keep praying!

When my church came to camp this past summer, I didn’t know if God would work in my church youth. One night, God told me to go talk to one of my lost campers. So, my Youth Pastor and I talked to him about salvation and shared the gospel with him. And he accepted Christ as his Savior. God is always faithful! I am glad I listened and was faithful to His call.

Cole Travis

One week, I had the privilege to get close to a camper named Malik. From the beginning, I could tell his heart was full of joy. Each day he would share a song with the rest of the campers. He would always be the first kid to talk to me.

Thursday night, I was sitting beside him as the gospel was shared. Tears began to stream down his face as the Holy Spirit began to move his heart. He talked to me downstairs about how he felt like he never had been saved. I was able to talk with him further and encourage him. I asked him if he would be willing to share what he had happened to him and he said, “Yes!” He approached Mischia and shared his full testimony with such eloquence! It was so awesome to see how God worked in his life throughout the week.

Matt Austin