The Living Youth Program has completed another challenging season of summer camps in the United States. This year camps were held in six states with a record number of campers and staff in attendance—North Carolina (86), West Virginia (78), Missouri (147), Texas (156), Wyoming (41) and Ohio (320).
Both the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming “Adventure Camp” and the Ohio camp conducted at Camp Lazarus Boy Scout Camp in Delaware, Ohio were designed for “teens” while the other camps focused on the youth ages 8–12. Family members of the campers largely comprised the staff, although anyone who wished to serve could apply. Background checks and pastoral evaluations were required for all staff.
Foundation for a Lifetime!
All of our summer camps are designed to provide young people in God’s Church the opportunity to meet others of like mind and to build friendships that will last a lifetime! The positive effects these relationships have rendered are inestimable. Making and nurturing Christian friendships remains a major reason why young people apply to attend the various Living Youth Program activities. The need to love our neighbor as ourselves is a prevalent and underlying theme at all of our summer camps, and certainly helps to strengthen the strong bonds that are built among those who attend.
In addition, Christian Living classes were held daily at all of our camps, focusing on topics particularly relevant to young people. These classes, in addition to the Bible Studies and sermons presented, emphasized the need to put God first in our lives, and to love Him with all of our strength, mind and heart. It was refreshing to see so many young people at these camps striving to put these values into practice. We are blessed to have such a fine group of young people in God’s Church today! God is preparing them for the tough times to come at the end of an age.
Each camp offered a wide variety of activities appropriate to the campers and their locations. Many young people found themselves participating for the first time in an unfamiliar activity, while others developed and honed their skills in familiar areas. Activity directors and their respective staffs spent considerable time and effort in preparation well in advance of the camp session to ensure a well-structured and dynamic camp activity program. The commitment to excellence in their respective areas of expertise demonstrated their care and concern for every counselor, assistant counselor and camper who participated.
Many volunteers were necessary to fill other important roles. Dozens of people were needed to serve as members of the kitchen, laundry, custodial, nursing, media and office staff. Without these people our camps would have come to a grinding halt. Though many of these key people worked long hours, without pay, their service-minded approach and positive attitudes were a light and inspiration to all. Their service did not go unnoticed and was greatly appreciated. May God richly bless all who served!
Morgan Montgomery: A Tragic Loss
This year was especially challenging for those who attended the Teen Camp at Camp Lazarus in Delaware, Ohio. On Sunday, August 2, approximately halfway through the camp session, Morgan Montgomery was killed in a tragic boating accident on Alum Creek Lake just four miles from camp. When the family was notified and the announcement was made at camp that Morgan had been struck and killed by a boat (driven by a boater who is not a member of the Church), they were devastated. Many tears were shed, and everybody was in a state of mourning. Our hearts went out to the family as we shared their pain and loss. Ministers were sent to comfort and console the campers, and to pray with them. Dozens of the adult staff also stepped in to help deal with this incredibly difficult situation. Although the pain was almost unbearable, most people retained their composure and remained calm and levelheaded. In spite of this tragedy, the decision was made to move forward with camp. No one quit. No one went home. Everyone pulled together and worked through this trial together and we were strengthened in the process.
A few days later, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery arrived. Once again many tears were shed. The line of people who assembled to hug and console them seemed endless. The strength of character and the attitude and approach of the Montgomerys gave us hope. They inspired us with their words and by their actions! Mr. Montgomery spoke to the camp following Dr. Meredith’s moving address. He impressed upon us the need to have hope and to move forward; that someday soon we would again see Morgan; that Morgan loved camp, she loved children, and she had died doing what she loved—serving young people, as an assistant counselor. We all cried. His words echoed the words of Job when he had suffered great loss: “The Lord [Eternal] gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
We realized that God could have prevented this from happening, but He chose not to. We thought of Isaiah 59:1, which reminds us that “His hand is not shortened that it cannot save.” Our faith in God was not rocked, it was not diminished. It was tested and perfected.
Shining Our Light
It was late Sunday afternoon, August 2, when Headquarters staff heard the news of Miss Montgomery’s death. The immediate task at Headquarters was to assist with posts on the LYC Web site to inform the membership and to help see to the needs of the campers and staff.
Director of Business Operations Dexter Wakefield, who also serves the Church as Director of Public Relations, was responsible for handling the many media inquiries. Calls came in day after day from print and TV reporters, including the local NBC and CBS affiliates. The story produced a great deal of local interest, and it was important to let both Church members and the people in the Ohio area know that every effort was being made to take the best possible care of the campers and staff.
The local TV and print media were professional and respectful, and tried to report events accurately as they unfolded. Mr. Wakefield and others kept them informed on matters at the Living Youth Camp, and we were grateful that the media agreed that it was inappropriate for them to barge onto the camp facility to interview the campers. It is also worth noting that the camp staff commented that local emergency responders were very professional, courteous and helpful.
After the camp ended, the local community assembled a flotilla of 18 boats, which came slowly down the lake to the area of the accident, viewed by more than 50 people on land—most of whom were LCG members. Music was played and flowers were laid on the water, followed by five minutes of silence. It was a very moving moment for all who were there, and the kind gesture by the community was much appreciated by the campers and staff who had stayed after camp for the ceremony.
Church offices in Charlotte, NC and Adelaide, SA, Australia made arrangements for the Montgomery family to travel to and from the United States. Church staff at the camp coordinated arrangements with the local funeral home staff, communicated with local police authorities and also coordinated transportation arrangements to Australia, with technical assistance from the Australian Consulate in New York City. The Montgomerys returned safely to their home in Australia after a long and difficult week.
Many people have asked how they can contribute to help the family of Morgan Montgomery in this difficult time, and we are happy to report that transportation and related costs were fully covered upfront by the Church, to be reimbursed by insurance and private donations.
Others are continuing to express a desire to help. So, in Morgan’s memory and with the family’s approval, the Church has set up a special fund, the Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund to provide scholarships and transportation to help Church youth around the world participate in the Church’s youth camps, in addition to providing other important services to Church youth.
Donations should be made payable to Living Church of God, designated for the “Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund” and sent to: Living Church of God, P.O. Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227. Or donations can be made online at the LCG.org Web site. Simply click on the link for “Donations,” and be sure to designate that the donation is for the “Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund.”
Onward with God’s Help!
The tragic loss of Miss Montgomery helped us appreciate, all the more, the theme previously selected for this year’s camp: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). That theme was selected back in January or February, and it certainly seemed fitting this summer. It is also important to note that the scripture Morgan chose to put up on the wall of her dorm, among the other Scriptures posted by her dorm-mates, was Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to Hispurpose.” The events that occurred reinforce the fact that God knows what He is doing, that He sees things from a godly perspective and not a human one.
Now that camp is over, and we look back and reflect on what happened, we have been motivated even more to pray fervently for Christ to return and the Kingdom to come. Morgan was baptized just 19 days before the accident that killed her. We are looking forward to the time when she is resurrected and we will be able to see her and hug her again! With God’s help, we too can move forward and press on into the Kingdom.
Camps in 2016
Although we have not yet finalized the dates and locations for all of our Living Youth Programs camps in 2016, we can let you know the dates of the Adventure and Teen Camps, and the location of the Teen Camp, to help you plan ahead by reserving that time in your family’s schedule.
—Adventure Trip 2016–Location to be determined–Arrival: Tuesday, July 5 (not later than 5:00 p.m.)–Departure: Thursday, July 14 (not later than noon)
—Ohio Teen Camp 2016–Arrival: Sunday, July 24 (not later than noon)–Departure: Sunday, August 7.
Other dates and locations will be announced as they become available. Whether you come as a camper or as a volunteer, we hope to see you at camp next year. You will not want to miss out on this amazing opportunity for growth.
Adventure Camp
Ohio Teen Camp
Europe
North Carolina
Missouri
West Virginia
