For three days in June, the World Mission Society Church of God in Glendale hosted a summer camp in Phoenix, AZ. This event included students from ISBA, which is the International Student Bible Academy. Just as Phoenix is home to the Sonoran Desert and known for high temperatures in the summer, the students of the Church of God were raising the temperature of their faith, being filled with the word of God.
The student camp took place from June 9-12 and included 50 members from elementary, middle, and high school. In total, four different churches from the area participated: Glendale, 2nd Phoenix, Mesa, and Tucson.
Making good use of their free time during the summer, many students sought to get closer to God and improve their own character. Through this event, the students were able to spend valuable time together, learning how to display God’s glory through their upstanding citizenship and good deeds. The camp also aimed to foster spiritual growth and give students the courage to follow God in all circumstances.
The camp included various topics on biblical teachings such as the importance of prayer and worship, as well as different seminars enhancing the students’ understanding of God. Through activities such as these, members were able to be spiritually renewed, in an environment free of daily distractions. It also allowed them to explore and reflect on their own faith and how they can apply the teachings of God in their lives.
One of main topics of the event centered around the development of virtues such as respect, compassion, and love. In a world were people find it harder and harder to love one another, the teachings of the Bible remind us how to be good neighbors and share the love of God.
ISBA Summer Camp Recreational Activities
In addition to Bible study, the students participated in various recreational activities, including team-building games and even ice skating. As they continued to spend more time together, they were able to put the teachings they were learning, such as brotherly love, into practice right away.
Through all of this, the students were able to express positive changes in their behavior even after just a few days. The values and lessons learned during the camp positively influenced students’ behaviors. Thanks to the grace of God, they were able to exhibit greater empathy, responsibility, and a sense of purpose in their daily lives.
The World Mission Society Church of God hosts events like these regularly all over the world with the hope of cultivating and allowing even the students to grow in their faith. Just as Heavenly Father held student camps to educate the the youth, Heavenly Mother continues to encourage students around the world to overcome peer pressure and temptation of the world.
Through this event, the hope is that the students, regardless of age and situation, can become the salt and light of the world and glorify God on their respective campuses.
