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Camp Still Impacting Lives

Matt Miles • Jul 19, 2017

June is usually camp season for us here at CTF and this year was no different. We ended May with Genesis Week at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, IL. This was our fourth year to partner with this camp and guide junior and senior high youth in their worldview development through Genesis. Having completed our 3 year rotation last summer, this year we started over again with Genesis 1. It has been great to see the growth in many of the campers that have been with us since the beginning of this outstanding camp. We study a little more than other camps and have the opportunity to do a field trip each year. This year we went to the St. Louis Zoo and studied created “kinds” of creatures. Our work through this camp is impacting lives of future generations as we are able to drive a Biblical worldview home summer after summer.

CTF was also the mission for the entire month of camp at Flaming Spirit Christian Camp in Oregon, MO. Each week we had the opportunity to teach Biblical worldview to campers. I was unable to attend all of the weeks, but the Lord provided great friends of the ministry to fill in when I was absent. Ryan Cox (11 th Cadre) and his family went to Sr. High week in my stead. It was Ryan and I who started Genesis Week in Illinois, so I knew this camp was in good hands. Not only does Ryan understand the importance of our ministry, but he has a great handle on the material we are called to preach and teach. I received outstanding reports from faculty and students alike about how well he (and his family) represented CTF in their presence and teaching times. I am personally very grateful to Ryan and Amanda for their passion and heart for this ministry. Rich Atkins (9 th Cadre) and Jim Brown (7 th Cadre) filled in at Junior week of camp with great response from campers and faculty as well. These men also understand the importance of our ministry and were able to drive that point home to the campers, impacting their worldviews. I attended the remaining four camps and took on the task of helping campers understand that the Bible’s history is accurate. The theme for all camps was “Suit Up” with the armor of God, which begins with the Belt of Truth. Helping the campers see that Genesis is truth helps them understand the importance of the first piece of armor the Lord provides.

It was a great camp season with numerous students’ worldviews impacted for the Gospel by studying Genesis. There were over 35 campers that gave their lives to Christ, with many sharing the importance of our studies in seeing the truth in the Bible beginning in Genesis. I praise the Lord each month for the faithful supporters of this ministry who continue to send us prayer and financial support. That support is not going to waste as we utilize it to impact lives for Christ. Thank you.

By Bob Dugas 25 Sep, 2024
By Ryan Cox 23 Sep, 2024
Wooly Mammoth
By Matt Miles 19 Sep, 2024
This summer we have been busy advancing our mission. Not only have we traveled many miles in our efforts, but we have almost completed our Mobile Museum of Earth History expansion. Back at the beginning of the year when we announced the expansion, there was uncertainty around the time frame of completion since we knew the amount of design and fabrication that was needed for this task. Then an event that was scheduled for the end of summer with the full collection was upgraded to the “mega” expanded collection. This put a deadline on our expansion that focused us and applied a bit of pressure. With many hours of head scratching, planning, design and sweat, we slowly brought the expansion together. When we were unsure about new stands needed for our 24-foot wide Pteranodon , the Lord provided. Michael and Amy Harris (supporters from Willow Hill, IL) donated disc blades, while Aaron Lawrence (minister at Barnsdall Christian Church, OK) fabricated the blades into bases and made rods and hooks to hold the fossil. The stands are such a blessing and exactly what we needed to exhibit one of the Lord’s creations. The Lord has continually provided what we've needed from supplies to funds.
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