In 1892 Ellen White predicted that the youth of the church, when rightly trained would help to finish the work of the gospel in all the world. “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of crucified, risen and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come-the end of suffering and sorrow and sin.” (Messages to Young People, p. 196)
- F-CAMP (Friendship Camp) program is designed to assist young people to reach other young people for Christ, to expose youth to Jesus in a positive way, and to see them either accept Jesus Christ or come closer to accepting Him.
- It is used by the church as a vehicle for training young people in the skills of sharing their faith. There, they can learn to express vocally and to share their own experiences with Christ;
- To provide an environment where they can be at home and feel at ease and unafraid of creation and should learn how to live in the wilderness, to cope with natural elements.
- F-Camp is an evangelism activities designed by Northeastern Mindanao Mission intended for the young people with scheme that is very unique and challenging. Part of this idea is taken from E-CAMP program introduced by retired worker Pr. Felipe Caballero with some modifications. Every young people will have to invite at least 2 non-sda in order for them to qualify to attend the camping. The activities were like Pathfindering;hiking, swimming, treasure hunting, songs and yells and many more. Of course with more emphasis in spiritual development. They will be divided into small groups with a minimum of 12 members. They will have unit captain, counselors, guidon in every group. Each unit will have facilitators who will help them in explaining the truth.
- For this purpose we trained and organized many young people and developed them through training and seminars. And at this time we have 820 trained facilitators who envisioned themselves to do the job in reaching out and explaining the Bible truths to non-sda believers in the camp.
There are guest speakers in every venue of the FCAMP who will focus on doctrinal messages every morning and evening devotional coupled with the Health lectures about human sexuality pertaining to avoiding irresponsible sex, drugs and narcotics focusing on alcohol and Tobacco.
Last October 27-November 2, 2011 NeMM, carried out this first FCAMP program in seven (7) areas namely: 1) Punot, Esperanza Agusan del Sur 2) Bonbon, Butuan City, 3) Cabadbaran City 4) Loreto, Agusan del Sur, 5) Tagbina, Surigao del Sur 6) Forest Hills Academy and 7) Dinagat Island. It’s amazing how the Lord used the young people in this kind of evangelism. Eight Hundred Sixty (860) precious souls were baptized.
Thru God’s providence last April 15-22, 2012, the Covina International SDA Church, California, sponsored eight (8) FCAMP in different places conducted simultaneously in 1) Sto. Tomas, Loreto Agusan del Sur 2) NEMA, Los Angelels, Butuan City 3) San Francisco, Agusan del Sur 4) Forest Hills Academy, Bayugan City 5) Lanuza, Surigao del Norte 6) Cagwait, Surigao del Sur 7) Hubgan Surigao del Norte 8) Siargao, Surigao del Norte. The Mission shouldered the food for the facilitators while the churches sponsored the campers’ food.
As a result 1,499 precious souls accepted Jesus thru baptism.
- Sto. Tomas, Loreto Agusan del Sur – 148 souls
- San Francisco, Agusan del Sur – 238 souls
- Forest Hills Academy – 182 souls
- NEMA Los Angeles, Butuan City – 223 souls
- Hubgan, Surigao del Norte – 221
- Lanuza, Surigao del Sur – 168 souls
- Cagwait, Surigao del Sur – 198 souls
- Siargao, Surigao del Norte – 121 souls
Some amazing experiences were met. A young man with long hair confessed that he is a theft and wanted to change his life. And after baptism he signified that he wanted to be a pastor.
A young lady was disturbed by an evil spirit while listening to the presentation, and later was baptized and all non-sda participants were baptized too including the Catholic sacristan.
A Baptist youth leader attended the camping because he wanted to follow the style of our camping and plan to introduce in his congregation was also baptized.
Many young people addicted to alcohol and drugs were baptized including a “Gay” and promised to follow Christ.
Another one was baptized during FCAMP in Sto. Tomas, Loreto, Agusan del Sur last April 22, 2012. His greatest desire is to share the truth to his family. With fervent prayers and efforts together with the church elders in Kauswagan Church who helped him gave Bible studies, his parents and brothers were baptized last July 14, 2012.
Praise the Lord for all the energetic young people who devoted their talents in spreading the gospel. It is now a challenge to all of us in the Mission to nurture our newly baptized members much more to the facilitators who never get tired of serving God in helping non-SDA young people know the truth.
Their efforts as facilitators were not wasted and our prayers were heard and granted when many of the non-sda Adventist participants decided to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and became members of our church – The Seventh-day Adventist.
It will be an eternity of joy when we see “them” the fruits of our labor to be with God throughout eternity.
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