As the sun set and the evening session was about to begin at the Goroka Baptist Bible College (GBBC) youth camp, there was a chill in the air as campers and counselors alike anticipated how they might see God work through the evening message.
Picture this: youth and leaders walked across bare ground, exceedingly muddy from nightly rains, to the meeting tent on campus. Chairs, benches, and pews from all over the campus and surrounding churches were put to good use inside the tent. Every seat was filled, and as many as 50 people sat on the ground outside the tent—but they didn’t mind.
“I wish you could have experienced what we did during the week of camp,” said ABWE missionary Jan Smith, who served as a counselor with her husband, Phil.
Campers arrived at the tent with their bellies filled from not just one plateful at dinner, but there was round two and three as missionary Lori Smith headed up the kitchen staff that fed the hungry multitude of 582 youth and counselors from all over Papua New Guinea (PNG). On the GBBC campus, every hand was on deck as all worked together for lives to be changed and for God to be glorified.
The excitement rose when the invitation was given during the evening session. Solomon Joseph, the camp director, called for those who had made decisions for Christ to walk to the front of the tent for a time of prayer. Almost immediately, the first camper stood and started walking. Unafraid and unashamed, many others publicly demonstrated that they had done serious business with God that week. Soon, one third of the campers were taking a stand for Christ.
“It was the most amazing sight,” said Jan. “We had 66 youth trust Christ for salvation and 72 other decisions for Christ!”
Earlier that week, missionary Tim Hawes challenged the youth to follow the example of D.L. Moody, who, despite his education ending at grade 5, decided to follow Christ and impact those around him. Papua New Guinea is not a Christian country. Although many claim to follow Christian principles, beliefs are often mixed with animistic rituals and spirit worship. But it only takes one life dedicated to God to change many more lives. The youth were challenged throughout the week to impact their villages and communities for Christ.
The annual youth camp is an integral part of ministry at GBBC. Of the college students currently studying at GBBC, a remarkable 75 percent previously attended the camp. Many GBBC graduates now serving as pastors bring the youth from their churches and provide follow-up discipleship—impacting a new generation to shine the light of Christ in a spiritually dark nation.
