The evening of March 31, 2010 saw the kick-off of the first Negros Oriental Bible Baptist Church Camp. This is an activity patterned after that 20-year old or so Family Camp in the forest of Bukidnon which has been the annual cause of excitement among Baptists in Mindanao Island.
Initiated by Pastor Larida of Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church and organized by 3 more pastors - Pastors Jay Mabalod, Louie Roque and Quirlan Garinggo, the camp was held on the beautiful property of our gracious hostess, Atty. Ainy Mandajoyan, at Villa Pastora, Batinguel, Dumaguete City. The main speaker was Pastor Elden Saguindel of Siquijor.
Akin to the Old Testament Feast of Booths where the Jews lived in thatched palms, the church also dwelt, for three days, in tents. The novelty of the event was simply exciting. All the churches involved have been blessed and have unanimously decided to make this a regular annual affair.
From the talks we had among members and the testimonies on culmination night, the following observations have been noted as reasons why this camp should be repeated over and over again:
1. The camp is catered for the whole family. Two mothers have noted that unlike youth camps where only the youth are sent, this camp is designed so that the spiritual needs of the father, mother, youth, children, masters and servants are addressed. This is made possible through split-sessions of morning lectures.
2. The family is made to bond intimately. Huddling together in a cramped tent beneath the stars strangely bond families in a way that nothing else can.
3. The church is made to bond comprehensively. Let's face the fact that in church we fellowship more or less only with our circle - of our sex, age or status. In a camp, the church cooks together, eats together, wash dishes together, play together and drink coffee at nights together. Strange how the church got closer in three days of camping than in a year of casual meetings in our churches.
4. The camp provides much time for preaching. Early morning devotions, split-session lectures, and main preachings in the morning and at night fill our souls with a feast on God's Word.
5. The camp enables us to appreciate our houses. Living in tents with all its inconveniences somehow make us long for our own houses, however humble they may be. The ancient Feast of Booths was also a way of reminding the Jews that they are pilgrims on a journey to our final home, heaven.
That last night of joint supper with everybody was sweet. Tearful testimonies from different brothers and sisters have just confirmed how truly blessed all the campers were. We ended the camp in a mood filled with praise and thanksgiving.
Join us in praying for another camp that is just, or even more blessed and blissful as this.
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