ⓒ 2015 WATV

“It was a new experience. It’ll become a good memory” (Choi Jeong-wu, 17, Daejeon).
“It completes my summer break” (Sohn Hee-gyeong, 16, Busan).

Students who belong to the Churches of God in Korea highly praise the student camp. This summer, the camp was held with renewed programs.

Each church began the camp with orientation. Participants introduced themselves and expressed their resolutions in a heartwarming atmosphere. The pastoral staff and teachers announced the summer camp schedule and proceeded with it.

The camp, which had consisted of the truth study, character education, work-study, and volunteer services, leveled up by including cultural events and student-oriented festivals such as plays, exhibitions, and quiz shows where they could display their talents. The festivals were held on a church association scale, rather than a local church scale, that students from different regions could communicate, broaden their horizons, and build unity. On top of that, they had opportunities to socialize with their parents and the older generations to share their thoughts and narrow the generation gap between them.

The Head Office of the Church of God distributed educational videos about the use of proper language and volunteer services. A documentary about how the students from the Church of God carried out volunteer services and educational videos from the viewpoint of youth met with a favorable response as they were made to be both fun and sympathetic.

To the students in their senior years of high school, who are planning to take the SAT or get a job, this camp was their last. The third-year students with many memories in the camp said this year was particularly special. “I’m a little reserved and not much sociable. But through the student camp, I gained confidence. As I approached my classmates first, my relationship with them got better. I could speak up confidently during the school presentation. The student camp healed me,” said Park Sahng-gyun (18, Seoul). “I began to participate in the camp at the first year of middle school, but it feels like yesterday. I’m a bit sad, thinking this is the last camp. However, the end means another beginning. I’ve learned a lot from here and so I’m confident that I can make a new, good start,” said Noh Su-jeong (18, Cheongju), showing her hopeful will.

During this summer camp, they had preliminary rounds of the Young Adults & Students’ New Song Festival, of which the finals will be in September. Spending a busy vacation, following the camp schedule and practicing New Songs, the students were joyful; they called the moments “precious memories that cannot be bought.” “I’m in my second year of middle school. My age is notorious for not listening to parents, but I’m doing fine at puberty, thanks to the student camp. This year’s camp was more interesting and newer than the last year’s. Last year, I wasn’t really willing to join the camp, but this year, I participated in it actively. I feel as if I’ve become a little more mature. It was really great,” said Kim Yu-bin (14, Seoul).

The Churches of God in Korea hold the camp twice a year, during school vacations, so that the students who are tired with schoolwork can refresh their minds and bodies and dream for the better future. The camp began in 2006 as Students’ English Camp, but as years passed, it included various programs and has become the major event for students. As the student camp gets renewed year after year, the students get refreshed.

ⓒ 2015 WATV