By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
PINEVILLE – Many students entered the recent Ministry Fuge camp at Louisiana College looking for an opportunity to serve others and left having had an encounter with Christ.
Six campers repented for salvation, eight repented to restore fellowship with the Lord, three indicated a Holy Spirit call to ministry and eight made some other spiritual decision, according to Carol Pipes, media representative for LifeWay Christian Resources.
Throughout the week of July 15-19, the 115 middle and high school students from churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas enjoyed a time of worship and Bible study at the Pineville campus each morning and then dispersed into smaller teams to minister throughout the community.
Students held Backyard Bible clubs in Pineville at the Wardville campus of the Gathering Place, and in Alexandria packed boxes at the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and spruced up the grounds and facilities at the Hope House for battered women.
“We are pleased to continue hosting Lifeway’s M-Fuge summer camps on our campus,” Louisiana College President Rick Brewer told the Baptist Message. “Plans include an expansion of M-Fuge camp offerings at the College in future years offering more high school students the opportunity to experience our campus while responding to the Lord in service and worship.”
Since 1995, LifeWay Christian Resource’s M-Fuge camps have given students an opportunity to participate in Bible study and share the Gospel through mission activities. M-Fuge is part of four FUGE camps that take students out of their normal routines and place them into an environment focused on life change through a relationship with Christ. FUGE camps are for students having completed 6th grade through 12th grade. Youth pastors can choose from one of four programs at FUGE — Centrifuge, M-Fuge, X-Fuge and X-Fuge on Mission.
An M-Fuge participant helps pack food boxes at the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. Brian Blackwell photo
This year’s theme for all four FUGE camps was “Restored” which focused on how God sent a perfect Savior as the remedy to repair what was broken.
Cassie Cook, an eleventh grader from Ephesus Baptist Church in Forest, Mississippi, enjoyed painting faces of children from the Wardville neighborhood at the Gathering Place.
“I’ve had a blast and have loved the opportunity to get involved with where Christ is at work,” Cook said. “This week has reminded me that it’s important to communicate Jesus’ love with everyone.”
Teresa Thomas, an adult leader with the First Baptist Church in Lumberton, North Carolina, enjoyed watching her students step out of their comfort zones to share the Gospel.
“It’s so important for them to be the hands and feet of Christ, and I’m thankful this camp has allowed them to put it into practice,” Thomas said. “They will, hopefully, come back to their own community even more fired up to share Him.”
