News at ABWE
LIFE Camp 2007 Report
October 31, 2007
James and Annie Langston
“I’m alive, alert, awake, and enthusiastic,” bellowed out my students, along with actions to the song to prove it!! My class of university juniors was a joy to teach with their contagious enthusiasm and eagerness to learn English. The emphasis in my class at LIFE (Learning Intensive Free English) camp this year was on the days of creation. For many of the students, the material was completely new.
James had 26 professionals in his class and he also appreciated their desire to learn better English. Many of them were unbelievers, and a few had attended LIFE Camp in the past. They learned about the love of God and why Jesus died for us as well as better English pronunciation techniques and vocabulary.
LIFE Camp is an annual evangelistic English camp, sponsored by the Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, the Thai Fellowship of Churches, and a church in Holland, Michigan. Since its inception in 1993, it has grown from a handful of students, to the 620 in attendance this year. Over 250 of those attending were unbelievers, and it is a great training ground for our believers to learn firsthand how to witness to, and counsel, the unsaved friends they bring with them to camp. With 25 American teachers this year, the Thais, who came from all over Thailand, went home with more English skills than when they arrived.
More importantly, they learned about the importance of making right choices in things that matter most. The Bible speaker, Pastor Roger McCarty, spoke twice each day about people in the Bible who were faced with important decisions. What they chose to do with Christ and his message of salvation determined their eternal destiny. The campers were faced, too, with the question of “What will you do with Christ?” Many left camp with the new assurance of an eternal home in heaven. At last count, over 50 accepted Christ as their Lord and Master.
Thank you for praying for this intensive week. It is so exciting to watch God work, and we are thrilled to be a part of the privilege of joining Him in His mission to see the world come to know Him. As partners with us in the ongoing spiritual adventure here in Asia, please continue to pray for those who were born again, that the seed of life will continue to grow amidst questions and possible ostracism when they tell their family of their decision. Pray for the churches that will follow up these new believers. As our theme song says, “Life begins when Jesus comes in.” Let’s pray that those with this new life will continue on to bear fruit for Him.