Truth Bible Camp trains future church leaders

*Annual Tennessee Bible College camp draws largest number of campers yet

by AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE — They wanted fun, fellowship and Christian service training... and they got all of the above at the 11th annual Truth Bible Camp at Tennessee Bible College.

And more young men and women than ever before — a total of 39 campers — took advantage of this year's opportunity, converging July 12-15 on the college campus in Cookeville for hands-on training in preaching, Bible teaching and Christian living, plus daily devotionals, arts and crafts, sports and other fun activities.

Star Day Camper...
Ciera Farris was chosen as "Star Day Camper" at Truth Bible Camp. This is a new award at the camp, with the winner being chosen from the day campers, who are ages 9-11 and attend camp from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ciera is the 9-year-old daughter of Patrick and Amanda Farris of Cookeville. She is in the fourth grade at Capshaw Elementary School.

"This was the best camp ever," said camp director David Hill. "We had 39 total, which is almost our maximum as it's structured right now. But that's a nice problem to have. We're going to have to start looking for ways to expand the camp."

Hill said the purpose of camp is to generate future leaders in the church — elders, preachers, deacons and Bible class teachers — by providing campers with the practical experience they need. And practical experience is exactly what the campers got, as boys were instructed in sermon preparation and girls learned to teach children's Bible classes.

"We try not only to get young people in touch with the word of God but also to let them know what's involved in teaching it," Hill said. "We want them to realize they actually can be teachers, that they have the ability to do it."

Jordan Danner, a camper from Livingston who plans to become a preacher, said he gained much from the experience.

Most Christlike...
Kali Loftis of Albuquerque, N.M., and Tyler McHenry of Moss were chosen as "Most Christlike" by their fellow campers at Truth Bible Camp. 

"The best part was definitely all the time we had to learn more about the Bible and all the fellowship we had with other friends and Christians," he said. "I just enjoyed it a lot."

Fellow camper Pate Hill added, "There's a lot that goes on in our lives, being young people, and we need to always be prepared to be an example to everyone around us, to be the proper Christian we know we ought to be. I think camp really helped us with that."

At the conclusion of camp, six young men were chosen to deliver sermons during the Wednesday evening Bible study at Northeast Church of Christ in Cookeville. They included Pate Hill, 15-year-old son of David and Lisa Hill of Cookeville; A.J. Worthington, 18-year-old son of Bobby and Karen Worthington of Pikeville; Brad Cavender, 18-year-old son of Tim and Margie Cavender of Cookeville; Jordan Danner, 17-year-old son of Rick and Gina Danner of Livingston; Brock Ealey, 17-year-old son of Mike and Margaret Ealey of Cookeville; and Tyler McHenry, 16-year-old son of Tim and Connie McHenry of Moss.

In addition to preaching a sermon, McHenry, who attends Mt. Gilead Church of Christ in Tompkinsville, Ky., was chosen by fellow campers as "Most Christlike Boy."

He said, "It's a very high honor, and I appreciate every single one of my peers who voted for me. And thanks to everyone who helped throughout the camp. It was great."

Preaching practice...
Delivering the sermon he prepared while a camper at Tennessee Bible College's 11th annual Truth Bible Camp is Tyler McHenry of Moss. Tyler, 16, was one of 39 young men and women who converged on the college campus July 12-15 for fun, fellowship and Christian service training. For more information about camp, call (931)526-2616.

The honor of "Most Christlike Girl" went to 15-year-old Kali Loftis of Albuquerque, N.M.

She said of Truth Bible Camp, "I think it's important because it teaches you to work in the church as well as it helps you learn more about the Bible."

While the boys were offered a chance to preach and lead in singing and praying during the Wednesday evening Bible study at Northeast Church of Christ, the girls had the opportunity to teach children's Bible classes.

This year's campers included Brad Cavender, Brock Ealey, Pate Hill, Ann Marie Anderson, Brianna Dugan, Heather Hunter, Shaun Hunter, Tyler Greene, Paige Greene, Zachary Miller, Ciera Farris, Allie Strong and Adriana Wallace, all of Cookeville; Janessa Ford, Sarah Ford and Tiffany Gibson, all of Algood; Joshua Williams;

Jordan Danner, Lane Hill and Sarah Harvey, all of Livingston; Bobby Boles of Hilham; Zac Beason, Halie Beason, Blake Reeder, Chris Reeder, Corey Reeder, Justin Reeder, Matthew Reeder, Nathan Reeder and Dallas Whited, all of Monroe;

Tyler McHenry of Moss; A.J. Worthington and Clay Worthington, both of Pikeville; Luke Whitehead, Matthew Whitehead and Trent Whitehead, all of Tompkinsville, Ky.; and Kali Loftis of Albuquerque, N.M.

For information about next year's Truth Bible Camp, call TBC at (931)526-2616 or visit the Truth Bible Camp page on TBC's web site.