Bible Camp:
Games, Wagon Rides, and Christian Education
by AMY DAVIS
Tennessee Bible College
COOKEVILLE — Many of them plan to be preachers. Some seek to be Sunday school teachers. But all want to know more about the Bible.
That's why 23 area young people took part in the 9th annual Truth Bible Camp at Tennessee Bible College held July 15-18.
The camp featured Bible classes, devotionals, sermon preparation classes and more to encourage Christian growth and Bible knowledge. Campers also participated in a variety of games and activities, including basketball, water balloon volleyball — even an old-fashioned mule-drawn wagon ride.
Twenty-three campers representing Cookeville, Tenn.; Livingston, Tenn.; Monroe, Tenn.; Pikeville, Tenn.; and Tompkinsville, Ky., attended the 2007 Truth Bible Camp at Tennessee Bible College.
It was a busy week, according to the campers, who were up for breakfast at 8 a.m. and involved in a full slate of activities until 11 p.m.
Ten-year-old Heather Hunter of Cookeville said she'd like to tell others that camp is "fun all the time. There is no time for rest. The camp has good fun and awesome classes. The food was also really good."
Heather, great-granddaughter of Betty Reed, attends Northeast Church of Christ.
In addition to their Bible studies, campers also enjoyed a mule-drawn buggy ride.
Also representing Northeast was 12-year-old Tiffanye Brown, who said she enjoyed camp as well.
"I wanted to learn more about God and be a better person and see friends," she said.
Tiffanye, daughter of J.R. Brown and Marla Tilley, also learned "how we should read the Bible more and how we should be nice to everyone."
Like most of the girls at camp, Heather and Tiffanye would like to someday be Bible class teachers.
Some of the boys are planning to preach and got an opportunity to demonstrate what they had learned at the conclusion of camp. Five were invited to deliver sermons during the Wednesday evening Bible study at Northeast Church of Christ — Brad Cavender and Pate Hill of the Northeast congregation; A. J. Worthington of Midway Church of Christ in Pikeville; and brothers Josh and Jordan Danner of Swallows Chapel Church of Christ in Rickman.
Eighteen-year-old Josh Danner, son of Rick and Regina Danner of Livingston, said he came to camp to check out Tennessee Bible College and "get over my fear of presenting a lesson."
Campers enjoy singing in the Tennessee Bible College chapel during Truth Bible Camp.
"I don't know if I want to necessarily be a preacher, but I feel good knowing I can better answer someone's questions about the Word," he said.
Josh also received one of the top honors at Truth Bible Camp — he was selected by fellow campers and counselors as the "Most Christlike Boy."
Chosen as the "Most Christlike Girl" was 18-year-old Andrea Beason, daughter of Darrell and Donna Beason of Monroe.
Andrea Beason of Monroe, TN, and Josh Danner of Livingston, TN, were chosen as "Most Christlike" campers for Truth Bible Camp 2007.
Why did Andrea go to camp?
"I went last year and learned a lot about the Bible, and I wanted to do that again," she said. "It was a very good experience. There are wonderful speakers and lots of fun activities."
Both Josh and Andrea are enrolling as students at Tennessee Bible College this fall. The school offers a bachelor's degree in religious education, master's and doctorate degrees in theology and a two-year preaching diploma.
"It will be a hard but wonderful experience," Andrea said.
Her 10-year-old sister, Halie, also a camper this year, is looking ahead and planning to attend TBC as well.
"I would rather learn about the Bible than anything else," she said.
Halie added, "This camp was a lot of fun. It was awesome! I am really looking forward to it next year!"
Also attending Truth Bible Camp were Brock Ealey, Tyler Hill, Ann Marie Anderson, Mallory Hill, Tiffany Gibson and Paige Green, all of Cookeville; Zac Beason, Corey Phillips, Dallas Whited and Dylan Young, all of Monroe; Clay Worthington and Brittany Burgan, both of Pikeville; Tyler McHenry of Moss; and Matthew Whitehead of Tompkinsville, Ky.
This camper studies her Bible during Truth Bible Camp.
These girls at Truth Bible Camp (above) get ready for some messy fun, enduring shaving cream on their faces and awaiting the cheese puff snacks to be thrown their way. Another camper (below) takes his best shot at one of the cream-covered faces. The 9th annual Truth Bible Camp was held July 15-18 on the campus of Tennessee Bible College in Cookeville. The camp also included Bible study, devotions and practical Christian training.
The non-denominational camp is open to all children ages 9-12.
For more information about Truth Bible Camp and Tennessee Bible College, call (931)526-2616; stop by the campus at 1616 McCulley Road, Cookeville; or visit the Web site, www.tn-biblecollege.edu.
