Youth Camp Testimonies

MALACHI, TRUETT, & CHRISTIAN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

From July 11th - 14th, 10 students and 5 chaperones joined our sister churches in the West for the 2025 Youth Camp. They gathered together in the mountains of AZ for a time of worship, teaching, games, and lip-sync battles, all to the glory of God!

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

Our youth came back with stories of God’s goodness. This past Sunday, students, Malachi Early and Truett Houlton, and youth leader, Christian Davis, shared with us. Read Malachi’s testimony and be encouraged that God is at work among the next generation.

Malachi:

Before going to camp, I expected God to move—I just didn’t know when or how. I’ve been to camp before, and every time, God has met me where I was. But this time felt different. I came in feeling discouraged and carrying a lot of shame. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but deep down, I still hoped God would speak to me. At first, I was frustrated that my dad didn’t let me bring my phone. But once I got there, I realized how much I’d been using my phone and music to distract myself from things I didn’t want to face. Without it, I was able to focus more on God and actually connect with people around me.

God showed me two big themes during the weekend: acceptance and sacrifice. First, acceptance. I’ve always felt like I had to act a certain way to be accepted—at school or even at church. I was afraid that if I was just myself, I’d be judged or left out. So I stayed quiet. But at camp, God reminded me that I don’t need to earn anyone’s approval. He already accepts me and loves me exactly as I am.

Second, sacrifice. Giving up my phone ended up being one of the best parts of camp. Without all the distractions, I felt more connected to God and more present with everyone around me. One devotional talked about how music shapes the way we think and view the world, and it really convicted me. I realized that a lot of the music I was listening to was pulling me away from God. That’s when it hit me—music had become a stumbling block. So for me, the real sacrifice wasn’t just giving up my phone—it was giving up music. But I know I’m letting go of it for something better: a closer, stronger relationship with God.

Camp reminded me that even in hard seasons, God still shows up. He reminded me that I don’t have to prove myself to anyone. He already accepts me, loves me, and wants me near Him. I left camp feeling more focused, encouraged, and ready to grow.

Praise the Lord!