Around the Southern Union in 60 days

By GREGORY TAYLOR

One of the tasks of the Southern Union Conference’s youth and young adult director is to travel throughout the Union to show support for children, youth, and young adults at the local conferences’ Camp Meetings, summer camps, and other youth events. In the Southern Union, we are blessed to have eight conferences. This past summer, my wife, Kim, and I took off on a grand adventure to see them all in 60 days. In our travels, we were continually reminded of just how blessed we are to be a part of an amazing group of individuals who love Jesus, love young people, and want to give all that they can to make that connection between Jesus and our youth a reality.

We began our tour at the end of May by traveling to Camp Kulaqua for Florida Conference’s celebration, Red Zone, led by Pedro Perez, club ministries director, and Stephen Stewart, associate director, along with their amazing team. This event served thousands of Adventurers and Pathfinders who came together to work on honors, worship, recreate, and camp together. We were so impressed to see every inch of camp utilized by the Florida team to accommodate three separate tracks for the participants. A highlight on Sabbath was a special baptism in the spring.

We raced back from Florida to participate in the Pathfinder Fair and Adventurer Fun Day held during Kentucky- Tennessee’s Camp Meeting. Edward Marton, Mariya Marton, Nelson Silva, and the youth director team planned out a day full of activities. Pathfinders were involved in a parade, drill down, pine car derby, and many other activities throughout the day, and also provided lunch to the rest of the Camp Meeting participants through their food booths that raised funds for their clubs. Meanwhile, Adventurer Fun Day provided a petting zoo, miniature train, inflatables, and much more for the Adventurer-aged children.

Our next stop took us to the beautiful Lake Junaluska for the Carolina Conference Camp Meeting to visit Cris Carazine, young adult director; Hector Gonzalez, youth and club ministries director; and Kathy Russell, children’s ministries director. The programming for the youth and young adults provided great trips such as white-water rafting, as well as meaningful spirit-filled worship services, and fun camaraderie with the pastors leading out.

We next headed to Southern Adventist University for a brief stop to visit Don Keele, young adult director; Fernando Verduzco, club ministries director; Jonathan Montes, youth and summer camp director; and their teams for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference Camp Meeting. It was evident that great planning, detail, and effort were put into the multiple youth and young adult programs, including Camp Cohutta Springs staff leading music in multiple divisions.

Oakwood University was our next stop. Bryant Stewart, pastor and youth director, and Gabriel Agramonte, associate director, provided amazing activities for the youth at the South Central Conference Camp Meeting. We were blessed by the inspired preaching and meaningful worship services, as well as the Pathfinder parade led by a local fire engine and Bryant Stewart on his motorcycle.

From Oakwood, we made our way to Camp Alamisco to visit Gulf States youth director team Michel and Elizabeth Rodriguez and their incredible summer camp staff. We were in awe of the beauty of the campgrounds. The worship area sits with a stunning view of the lake with three crosses attached to the stage. The camp staff performed skits to introduce the departments and get the young people excited for the week. There was truly a fun rapport amongst the staff as they embraced the opportunity to minister to their campers.

We next headed to Orangeburg, South Carolina, to River Oaks Camp, the South Atlantic Conference campground, to attend their Camp Meeting in support of John Newlove, pastor and youth director, and Darryl Howard, children’s ministries director. Here we were able to participate in a bonfire, communion service, anointing service, Pathfinder parade, and a beautiful ordination service. Throughout the week, classes and activities had been offered for the youth, and an interactive Vacation Bible School program was provided for the children. It was truly a blessing to see the Spirit being poured out during our time there.

Next, we were on our way to Georgia to visit Jonathan and Alana Montes and their camp staff at Camp Cohutta. After a tour of the facility and activities, we were able to see an epic game of capture the flag, followed by an incredibly planned and organized evening program complete with sound, lights, and camper participation. “Jesus Gems” were given out during this program. Staff were tasked with looking for campers who showed the love of Jesus throughout the day. They would then take time to affirm these campers. Perhaps the highlight of our time (other than time on the ski boat) came at the end of the evening as the staff spent time praying with and encouraging one another.

After Camp Cohutta Springs, it was time again to make our way back to Camp Kulaqua for the summer camp program. We had heard about the complexity of ministry that happens at Camp Kulaqua. More than 300 campers are present per week. Camp runs three almost completely separate yet simultaneous tracks for the different ages, including mealtimes, flag lowering, and activities. Camp Kulaqua truly functions like clockwork to maximize the number of campers that can attend camp. Theresa Stride, summer camp and programming director, and Phil Younts, executive director, have done an incredible job of planning, organizing, and leading to provide for an impactful, intricate flow to their summer camp experience. A highlight of our stop came on Thursday evening when teen campers were given an opportunity to share publicly things that they were surrendering to God.

Only a little over an hour from Camp Kulaqua is the beautiful Camp Hawthorne. Lindsay Syeh, young adult director, and Shea Crockett, youth director, did a marvelous job of coordinating meaningful worship services that involved and engaged the youth and young adults at the Southeastern Conference Camp Meeting. One of the most powerful moments happened upon our arrival. Throughout the week, the team had worked to create a safe environment to talk, share, and challenge one another. The guys and girls were in separate rooms and were engaged in meaningful and applicable discussions about being a Christian in this day and age. It was inspirational to hear the youth asking vulnerable questions of the pastors, and the pastors having real conversations with them.

After a great weekend in Florida, we packed up and headed to Nosoca Pines Ranch in Liberty Hill, South Carolina, to visit Rick and Helen Faber, camp directors, and their summer camp staff. We immediately noticed the organization and buy-in of the camp staff, who truly embraced their jobs in the ministry. On the first night, Uncle Rick (as Rick Faber is affectionately called) took a moment to address the campers and let them know the purpose of being at camp was for them to meet Jesus. Another highlight from Nosoca was the cabin worships. Directly following a spirited flag raising event, camp counselors and campers found a nearby spot to quietly have worship together. It was truly beautiful to see the devotional time embedded directly into the camp program.

We then made our way to visit Bryant Stewart and Kimberly Mann, South Central Conference youth leadership team, at Camp Thunderbird in Chattanooga, Tennessee. My wife and I loved participating in the memorized calls and chants which helped create a beautiful camp culture. During the morning worship service, the Holy Spirit spoke loudly to the campers and staff, and there were many in tears as they surrendered their burdens to God during the prayer time. This led to multiple baptisms at the end of the week.

It was then time to return to Camp Kulaqua to support Juan Rodriguez, youth director, and Andrew Nugent, associate director, at their college retreat. Though we had been to Camp Kulaqua a few times throughout the summer, each event had its own vibe and personality. This college retreat was offered free of charge, and hundreds attended. Heather Thompson Day, pastor, spoke powerfully on the importance of community. The weekend was filled with powerful worship, social games, and creative activities.

We again made the hour drive to Camp Hawthorne, but this time to visit them during their summer camp program led by Shea Crockett, youth director, and Lexi Madrid, pastor. Campers here participated in some unique classes such as tips and tricks for photo editing using their phone, as well as script writing, baking, sports, and our personal favorite, dune buggy rides. It was exciting to hear the passion and dedication of the camp staff as we got to know them throughout our time there.

After a brief stop at home, we made our way to our final destination of the summer, Indian Creek Camp (ICC). As Kim and I had previously served in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference, we were thrilled to return to ICC and visit Edward and Mariya Marton, youth and camp directors, at our old stomping grounds. Indian Creek Camp is unique in that it not only provides three weeks of youth camp, but four weeks of family camp. We visited on a Sabbath during family camp and ended our time together with a baptism of one of the campers who had made a decision for Christ the previous summer.

As a result of the summer camp season in the Southern Union, more than 5,000 campers were reached, and more than 500 young adult summer camp staff shared the joy of following Jesus with them. More than 100 campers were baptized at our camps this summer, and nearly 300 made decisions to go home and pursue baptism at their local church with their pastors. This doesn’t include the many that requested Bible studies and/or are already baptized but were challenged to renew their dedication to their relationship with Jesus.

Kim and I are already looking forward to next summer’s adventures. And, as many of you might know, only a few weeks following the summer camp season, approximately 55,000 Pathfinders and volunteers will be making their way to the new International Pathfinder Camporee location, in Gillette, Wyoming, August 5-11, 2024 (camporee.org). This provides much anticipated excitement for our youth and those working with them. We look forward to watching the way the Spirit moves during such a monumental event.

I am so grateful to be a part of a Church that is willing to invest so much time, effort, and funds into its youth. Kim and I have been overwhelmed to see the incredible programs, camps, and activities that are made for the sole purpose of connecting our young people with Jesus Christ. We feel so blessed to be able to work among such gifted youth professionals who have answered God’s call to minister, equip, and empower our youth.