Teenagers are pounding on the door to get in. It's hot outside and they are filled with teen spirit. The doors are locked until the precise moment has arrived. When the doors swing wide, youth run in as if they've got general admission tickets to a One Direction concert, only, it's a worship service. Where in America do youth clamor to get into a building to worship Jesus Christ? Camp Siloam.
"The worship services are awesome!" said Braxton Odell, First Baptist Church of Garfield, Ark. "I've had so much fun. The speaker was really cool with the way he talked to us about God by using these neat magic tricks."
At summer camp there is a spirit of abandonment and freedom. Kids come expecting God to do something. Camp Siloam puts a lot of creativity into its worship services, but they also ask speakers to share the Gospel and teach the deep truths of the word of God.
At Camp Siloam the worship services are consistently the highest rated activity at camp. Each summer, the camp writes a five-part drama which establishes the theme they follow with their programming. Past themes have included, Stuhkona Island (Joseph), Mulletopia (Jonah), The Gracie Spoon Diner (God the Father), Superheroes (Joshua and Caleb) and True North (Jesus is The Way).
This year's theme is "Light Runners." Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Camp Siloam is exploring what it means to be God's children of light.
"I praise Jesus for using the speakers, the band and the worship time to draw these kids closer to Him," said Liz Marshall, First Baptist Church of Monticello, Ark.
"We had five kids commit their lives to be Light Runners for Jesus. We had three of those kids realize that growing up in a Christian home and going through the motions of accepting Christ and baptism in the past meant nothing, because they were doing it for their families. Now, they are doing it for Christ, owning their faith."
"Church camp to me has always been a life changing experience; the worship, devotions and praise to God that you can feel throughout the camp, in everyone. This truly is God's work at its very best," said Lyndzy McDonald, First Baptist Church of Omaha, Ark.
What makes Camp Siloam so effective in sharing the Gospel are the same things that have worked since the Cane Ridge Revivals of the 1800s which took place in the woods of Kentucky.
These revivals were the foundation for modern Christian camping. At the Cane Ridge Revivals, a large group of people set apart time, prayed over it, expected God to move, retreated to the wilderness and heard the teaching of the word multiple times.
"This camp has been a treasure for our church and my family for 15 years now," said Christy Woody, Bethany Baptist Church of Gosnell, Ark. "Each year it is incredible to see how God can move when we 'unplug' from the world."
"Of all the years coming as a camper and this year as a counselor, Doug (Compton) was the best speaker I've heard," said Bailie Coger, Calvary Baptist Church of Hunstville, Ark.
"Our youth group made some life changing decisions and it is super exciting for each of them. I'm thankful Camp Siloam is something our kids always look forward to."
This summer, Camp Siloam has seen over 190 campers make professions of faith and could see over 400 professions of faith by the end of this summer. From first-time campers, to fifth-year returners, Camp Siloam has become a place that children, youth and even adults look forward to all year long.
"This was my first time coming to Camp Siloam and it was amazing," said Madison Linzey, First Baptist Church of Irving, Texas. "I have never felt like this during any other church activity."
"I really love how much (the camp) incorporates God into everything," said Lauren Henry, Lakeside Baptist Church of Hot Springs, Ark. "This week I felt led to recommit my life to Christ. It was the best feeling in the world to surrender everything to Him. The passion that all of the staff has for the Lord is so encouraging."
Camp Siloam is expecting 200 churches to bring 5,000 campers from six states to Siloam Springs this summer.
"The first week of camp we had 892 campers. It was our biggest first week of camp in the last six summers," said Jason Wilkie, Camp Siloam Executive Director. "Camp Siloam is now a great summer camp! We've generated a lot of momentum since 2010. We've kept a lot of all of the great things people remember about camp, plus many of the things you would expect in a modern camp. At the center of it all is Jesus Christ and 75 college students who serve wholeheartedly, tirelessly sharing the love of Christ with campers."
Facilities were some of the things Camp Siloam needed to improve. Over $700,000 has been invested in housing and facilities in the last 6 years. The dining hall is now the greatest need.
Without a new dining hall, the camp ministry cannot continue. In November, Camp Siloam launched the "Feed My Sheep" campaign with a goal of $3.4 million.
"I am pleased to announce that we have over $1 million in pledges and gifts," said Wilkie. The current facility was purchased from the Siloam Springs Masonic Lodge in 1923 making the building at least 93 years old. Wilkie has stressed the importance of this new building as it is the cornerstone of a vision to host 15,000 campers per year by 2035.
Founded in 1923, originally as the Arkansas Baptist Assembly, Camp Siloam has been sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over 93 years with thousands of people.
Each week of summer camp consists of a live worship band, talented youth evangelists, entertaining drama and various recreational activities. The camp offers a Blast Camp, which is for campers who have completed 3rd-6th grade; Forge Camp, for campers who have completed 6th-12th grade; and also offers a week referred to as Infusion, which is a combination of both Blast and Forge campers.
During the off season of summer camp, Camp Siloam functions as a retreat and conference center.
General News on 07/27/2016