Mission21

Please pray we will have food in our home when I get there.

Pray my Dad and Mom can get through this divorce.

Pray for my Mom, she is working so hard trying to provide. What about your Dad? Oh...he is in jail.

This type of prayer request energizes the Free Camp staff. This is what has kept us going for the past 18 years.

Free Camp is an extreme measure of evangelism that takes on the extreme problem in our nation. The camp is hosted by Christian Heritage Church in Amarillo, Texas. Free Camp seeks to break racial, social and economic barriers by offering a summer camp experience to children ages 8-12. There is no cost for any child to attend.

The children are with us for four days and three nights so we can keep them out of the ugliness of their home environments and build a relationship with them. We don’t “perform” for them; we build a relationship with them. It is a time of serving the least of these for the Kingdom of God. It is our prayer that the seed of love and Word of God will survive the hardships they face when they return home.

Literally hundreds of children came to Free Camp to get a break from the hellholes they call home. One little girl was homesick because she had never been away from home this long. She called her family, who told her stay at camp because there was no room for her at home. She lives with ten other people in a small two-bedroom house.

Volunteers scurried to find clothing, bedding and toiletries for children who came with little or no provisions. One girl arrived with the clothes on her back and one towel. A volunteer went home and got clothing and bedding for her. Another leader gave nearly all of his bedding to boys who came with no pillows, blankets or sheets.

373 people were present from all social, economical and racial classes. It was a power packed, busy, fun, and spiritually empowered experience! God truly moved through all of the workers. We had volunteers from:
• Amarillo, TX
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Dumas, TX
• Greenwood, SC
• Franklin Springs, GA
• Albuquerque, NM
• Petersburg, VA.

Children “walked on water” after hearing the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water; experienced worship led by teenagers with a full powered smoke and light show; swam at a high end swimming pool; saw two Christian motorcycle stunt riders shows; and spent quality time around the altar seeking God. Our campers were built up through ACE Awards, lessons that told them they were special; and they were exposed to a Global vision by praying over and signing soccer balls to be used in evangelism throughout the world.

We would like to thank CEM and Rev. Talmadge Gardner for making it possible for the National Royal Ranger leader, David Moore and his three sons and the National Youth Pastor, Rev. Charles Boyd, to be present for their contribution to the camp.

Pastor Scott Brown, South Greenwood IPHC, SC brought a team of ten to assist in the camp and Pastor Kevin McBride, Crossroads Ministries, Petersburg, VA sent two of his children’s pastors, Amber and Stephanie, to assist and help prepare them for the upcoming Free Camp in Petersburg, VA. Rev. Marcus Brown, Sr. Pastor and church planter in Albuquerque, NM brought a team of six and ministered in two services.

Free Camp, in its 18th year, is becoming an option for young people who want to do a missions trip and not leave the country. We believe that in the future we will see them across the country where young people raised in church will be able to do an evangelistic camp to reach out to children that cannot afford to attend camp.

- by Rev. Gary Burd, Mission M25 Director