By now, the young people in the Church will have viewed the first Ambassador Youth Camp video, which was intended to point all of our teenagers toward the longer, expanded, and better 2008 youth camp (AYC).

I hope every one of the teenagers will want to be at this camp, and will find a way to be there. In fact, it is my belief that every person of this age in the Church should be there if at all possible. This may also be the last year in which we could even fit all of the teens of The Restored Church of God in one camp session, but this is how we will always try to do it.

The whole Church for decades has looked forward each year to the Feast of Tabernacles. (Of course, this includes any young people who might have so recently spent time together at summer camp.) After attending even one Feast, it is easy to understand why everyone cannot wait for the next one. The same is true of summer camp. There is simply no other occasion comparable to time spent there.

Let’s talk about the big picture! Let’s talk about why camp elicits these same feelings. And before we continue, do not permit finances to be an excuse. The Church (and God’s people through support such as occurred last year) is prepared to help those we can. Neither is shyness an excuse not to attend—in fact, it is one more reason to be there.

Here is a list of reasons to consider as you make your decision:

(1) Spiritual training—AYC is carefully designed and structured so that all attendees learn and understand the central importance of contact with God throughout one’s life. They are taught that character-building does not merely begin with adulthood and/or conversion, but rather is a quality—the quality—everyone of all ages should be building all the time. You will learn that the gospel of the kingdom of God has a place in it for you—and that you must clearly understand what that is.

(2) Training to be a leader—In the end, there are only two kinds of people: leaders and followers! No matter how you slice it, you are on your way to being one or the other. One of the tasks of God’s Church is to teach, and carefully explain, the component parts of effective leadership. And this is not just something for adults to learn, but rather is something that begins early in life. Two weeks at summer camp represents about 4% of your life during a given year. This allows for a short, intensive course (actually multiple courses are presented) in leadership. Some who learn quickly early in camp also may have a chance to experience some “hands on” leadership opportunities.

(3) Fellowship—Any number of friendships, or even special friendships lasting for life, once had opportunity to begin at the Church’s annual Summer Educational Program (S.E.P.). I know because I witnessed many, having taught in Orr, Minnesota, in 1968, Big Sandy, Texas, in 1987 and even later at the Global Church of God camp in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, in 1995. I also saw what happened at RCG’s first camp last summer. People who might meet on the first day of the camp can find themselves going home with bonds of friendship and memories that last a lifetime. The laughs, difficult experiences together, setbacks and achievements, skills learned, poison ivy and mosquitoes defeated, and a host of other kinds of moments to be cherished form the backbone of unique relationships unavailable in any other arena of life. Also recognize that people your age from around the world, who bring a wide diversity of backgrounds, cultures, experiences and knowledge of faraway places, can all be part of the marvelous learning that lies ahead for every attendee.

(4) Physical fitness—Everyone who knows anything about summer camp realizes that many sports and physical activities are part of the camp schedule. All campers come home with a variety of new skills learned. These can be: how to kick a soccer ball—and occasionally score a goal; swing a bat—and hit a softball; paddle a canoe—and in the right direction; build a tent—and find it still standing in the morning; spike a volleyball—and have it clear the net; embark on a scavenger hunt—and actually finding things; etc. Of course, in one way or another, all of these involve teamwork. This is a constant theme repeated throughout camp. The 2008 AYC will also include a healthy dose of cleaning cabins as a team in pursuit of a reward. All of these things present opportunities for achievement, for building a lifelong pattern of accomplishment and success. No description of summer camp would be complete without this statement.

(5) Learning government and structure—Also, no description of summer camp would be complete without referencing the all-important emphasis on how God’s government guides everything in life, in the Church and throughout the universe. Campers come away each year with a strong sense of structure—including regimen, schedule and order according to instructions in everything that is done. However, all of this occurs in an atmosphere that is enjoyable—fun! In fact, even the acts themselves are seen to be fun and enjoyable, meaning it is not just the atmosphere that brings these feelings.

A new understanding and theme needs to be introduced this year to all of the young people in God’s Church. We believe that God is now making it possible to start a small school to train future ministers and employees for the final few years of the Work. Plans are already underway. Whether it is called a school, academy, institute, college or training center is unclear—but it is abundantly clear that we must have something in place absolutely no later than the summer of 2010 to “build” leaders and pillars for all that lies ahead. Without offering details, we have every reason to believe that this school will happen, and on time. (You will be hearing more about it.)

Here is the point: Like Imperial Schools of the past, which were next door to each college, summer camp immediately becomes a place for young people who might wish to attend to begin their advance preparation for this school. While we will probably accept only the truly exceptional 18- or 19-year-old, the place to begin to work toward being one of those possible exceptions is the Ambassador Youth Camp of 2008. Of course, this may apply even more immediately at this point to those who are this year’s counselors and support staff assisting the Headquarters personnel and other adults who are directing the camp. (It could be noted that a new employee will be arriving in less than two weeks almost solely because of what we observed in this person at the 2007 camp.)

See you at camp!