Graduating students of Maranatha Christian College, Bacolod City interacted with SMO Bacolod Staff and Bible Training Institute students on love, sex, and abstinence. Maranatha has been regularly inviting SMO to conduct these kind of talk to their fourth year students as a way of confronting prevaling liberal standards of today’s youth. “True Love Waits”, locally published by Church Strengthening Ministries (CSM) is the main material that is being used.

Forty first-time campers participated in Camp Forever 14 at Hacienda Kaftrees, Murcia last December 26-30, 2008. We thank our speakers who delivered powerful messages and our sponsors for their generosity and heart of sending a young person to the camp. Our gratitude also goes to our hard-working student leaders. God be praised!

BUT BEFORE THAT, HERE’S AN AMAZING TESTIMONY

The first time I heard the announcement about Camp Forever, I don’t know, but my heart seemed to pop. There seemed to be a prompting for me to join this camp. But there were two things that almost dampened my excitement. First, I just finished my schooling and I think that if I join, I may feel out of place. Second, I do not have 400 pesos to pay for the registration.

On Decemeber 24, I went back to our hometown, which was 1.5 hours bus ride from Bacolod City. I told my Nanay (mother) that I need to go back to the city the next day because I have an appointment. They’re used to my regular travel to the city when I was still a student that they don’t bother anymore what’s the reason for me to go back to Bacolod. Nanay asked me whether I need some money. I told her that I need to borrow from her 500 pesos. Surprisingly, she did lend me some money. Then Tatay (father) gave me my transport fare.

While I was packing my things, I prayed “God, whatever will happen to me during the camp, I am prepared to discover more of Him. Whatever happens after the camp, I want to be prepared as well.

I am so grateful to God for He provided me the ways and means to be part of this camp. I enjoyed every activity. I enjoyed every moment of worship and hearing His Word preached. I have learned to appreciate more His mercy. The camp went beyond my expectations. The chance to know God is a rich experience, so rich that I cannot place a price tag to it. I have so many questions on my mind about Him before the camp and I thank God that this camp has provided answers already to some of my questions. On the last night of our camp, I made a covenant with God that beginning on this day, I will make His Word a part of my life.

THE PLACE

Gawahon was once called as Alipo-op which means “fog”. Before commercial logging that destroyed its primary-growth forest (except at the summit ridge). Gawahon used to be under perpetual dense fog and continuous heavy rain. Although it is has lost most of its hostile characteristics, any climb of Gawahon, particularly on its west slopes, remains a great challenge. It is still has a high rate of rainfall. (http://www.geocities.com/siba_ph/Gawahon.html)

Gawahon is 50 kilometers away from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Travel time is 1.5 hours.

WORSHIP

This camp’s loaded. We’ve got an early morning group devotion on sex (materials were selected from Randy Alcorn’s booklet “The Purity Principle”. Pastor Rodney Necesito met with mostly first-timers of Camp Forever where he conversed with them on the holiness of God and sinfulness of men, and of God’s forgiveness and man’s need to repent – in other words, the Gospel was preached to them. Pastor Ritchemar Macoy met with a separate group, those whose faith were harnessed by time and experience in their Christian walk, where he lectured on Christian apologetics. Time was limited though as eager youths sought more. The evening sessions focused on the theme – standing firm in the faith – from Philippians 1; Young preachers, Alan Solidum and Xerwin Ceballos delivered the challenges. Of course, not to be missed out in worship is – praise!

GAMETIME

Camp Forever wouldn’t be Camp Forever were it not for the hyper-active creative games which require a lot of thinking and solid teamwork. We wanted the youths to step into the outside world with the thought that it’s a tough world out there and that if they shouldn’t be working together, they’ll be in an awful lot of mess.

FUN NITE

It’s a night of discovery as campers and staff express their creative stuff – all in the spirit of clean fun.

BEST SOLO PORTRAITS

We chose some solo shots which we think were taken well and tells a story. It’s good someone brought a nice Nikon camera. Thanks dude.

BEST GROUP PORTRAITS

Congratulations to Team Zion for being chosen as this year’s Model Team and Team Eagle’s Eye as Performance Team! For Team Advengers and Team Cross-Aiders, you’ve got 11 more months to get yourself ready.

85 staff and campers participated in this year’s camp. And here are what we considered as the best group shots.

As a means for the students to join in this year’s Camp Forever, we have printed T-shirts for sale at only 150 pesos. The T-shirt design below highlights the Christian’s right to stand for the Truth. Those interested may contact the SMO office at (34)4336923 or 0927-6766-361.

“There is a battle to be won…” – the catchphrase for Stand: Camp Forever 13 captures the importance of addressing the Christian youth’s fight against the world’s ideologies and philosophies – worldviews – that run contrary to the Biblical mindset. The theme also captures the need for unbelievers to know that there has been a battle that has been won already on the Cross by the Victor – Jesus Christ.

The camp’s theme verses were taken from Paul’s exhortation to the church at Philippi, which states: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God (Phil. 1:27-28, ESV).

Highlights of CF13

Morning Challenges: “The Whole Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Speaker: Mr. Alan Solidum

Evening Challenges: “Contending for the Faith” (Philippians 1)
Speaker: Mr. Xerwin Ceballos

Lecture and Workshop (for believers): “Christian Apologetics”
Speaker: Pastor Ritchemar Macoy

Lecture and Workshop (for unbelievers): “What is the Good News?”
Speaker: Pastor Rodney Necesito

Group Discussions: “The Purity Principle”

Plus! Group Dynamics (all new!) and Special Night Events

Registration Details

Date: 26-29 December 2007
Venue: Gawahon Eco-Tourism Park, Victorias
Registration Fee: 400 pesos (subsidized rate)

Contact Us

smoconnect@yahoo.com
Landline: (34)4336923
Mobile: 0927-6766-361