28 JUNE 2018
A new camp year is upon us and we are as excited as ever to have the young athletes join us for a few days of ministry and transformation. This year we had 29 athletes join us all the way from Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan, and the home base for JAM, Ohio. Athletes were challenged to get out of their comfort zones, make new goals and set a goal for being better members of their communities, families and friends.
READ MORE BELOW
29 JUNE 2018
With JAM Camp now in full swing, the young athletes have had a chance to become more acquainted with their surroundings and with both old and new friends. Day two was all about self-realization and purpose in competition and performance. The young athletes were throughout the day mentored by various leaders regarding the day's theme of leadership and followership.
READ MORE BELOW
30 JUNE 2018
Day 3 was a great success! It was a day filled with overcoming challenges and understanding why sometimes pain and perseverance often make us stronger and rooted in God's promises for us. Hurting for Certain was the day's principle along with the manhood theme of perseverance.
READ MORE BELOW
1 JULY, 2018
What an unbelievable day it was! This year the young men demonstrated strength and perseverance that can only be accredited to God. They fought and brought everything within them to accomplish the SPECIAL.
READ MORE BELOW
DAY 1: PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
June 28, 2018
A new camp year is upon us and we are as excited as ever to have the young athletes join us for a few days of ministry and transformation. This year we had 29 athletes join us all the way from Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan, and the home base for JAM, Ohio. Athletes were challenged to get out of their comfort zones, make new goals and set a goal for being better members of their communities, families and friends.
Nick Turner spoke to the athletes about making God the primary audience for their performance in sports and life. Competition is great and the ability to play and win in sports are highly valued and rewarded by society, but living for God and making Him their Audience of One is the most important thing.
Athletes were then allowed to apply what they were taught during a series of high spirited volleyball games. Taurus James reminded the players to focus on playing for God and viewing Him as their Audience of One.
The 1st day ended with the athletes meeting with their huddle leaders to review the day's events and discuss the “manhood” theme for the first day of camp: Personal and Social Responsibility. Athletes were shown Jesus as the perfect example of manhood and for taking responsibility in His obedience to the Father and in His interaction with others.
"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers."
-Luke 22:32
DAY 2: LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP
June 29, 2018
“Now that I, have washed your feet, you also should wash
one another's feet”
-John 13:14
With JAM Camp now in full swing, the young athletes have had a chance to become more acquainted with their surroundings and with both old and new friends. Day two was all about self-realization and purpose in competition and performance. The young athletes were throughout the day mentored by various leaders regarding the day's theme of leadership and followership.
During the day, they visited a detention center which proved to be in many ways a spiritual and soulful experience. They met with people from the detention center and they were able to get firsthand stories on some of the bad decisions that had led some of those men in the position that they were in. This experience not only solidified some of the principles that were already being shared with the young athletes, but it also provided an intimate look into how through God's unwavering promises everyone has a chance at redemption once they allow Him to be the centerpiece in the design of their lives.
Pastor Cornelius and Leif Moore spoke to them about the principle of holy sweat, wholly surrender. They later applied the principle in a game of volleyball in which they were all teamed up according to the city they came from. During this activity, they were tasked with understanding why competition exists and for whose glory they play sports (man or God). It was during the volleyball game that they displayed a greater show of brotherhood amongst each other because they knew they were playing to defend their cities therefore playing for a larger audience than just themselves.
Day Two was a great day that began the journey toward a breakthrough for most of the young men at JAM camp this year. Some overcame challenges that felt like obstacles toward their enjoyment of the camp, some displayed maturity in situations that demanded they take matters into their own hands, some shared their stories in a commendable act of needed vulnerability in order to connect with their fellow brothers in Christ.
It was an overall rich day full of new experiences and continued growth and connectivity amongst the athletes. We are excited for these next couple of days and how we will continue to see God transform their lives.
DAY 3: MENTAL TOUGHNESS
June 30, 2018
Day 3 was a great success! It was a day filled with overcoming challenges and understanding why sometimes pain and perseverance often make us stronger and rooted in God's promises for us. Hurting for Certain was the day's principle along with the manhood theme of perseverance. Leif Moore presented the life of Joseph and the struggles and setbacks he faced. The young men were given Joseph's life as an example and how persevering like Joseph requires that we don't give enough and don't give in.
Later in the day, they participated in the AIA High Ropes course where they were challenged to overcome their fears and achieve more than they could envision. It was very inspiring to see how far most of the students had come. Some students who participated last year shared how they overcame their fear and did much better than they did last year.
Next, they participated in sports performance drills and a football skills clinic. The 90 degree temperatures were only exceeded by the 100 percent effort from the athletes.
After completing the sports performance drills and football clinic there was praise and worship. One of the musicians shared a powerful testimony of how close relatives and friends of his died within a 1 year period earlier in his life. He was so depressed to a point he didn't feel like life was important. He was transformed when he was reminded of God's love for him and that he truly was special to God.
Students completed their last lab where Principle 4, Hurtin for Certain was demonstrated when he they were restricted from playing volleyball as normal, but were given a number of obstacles and challenges they had to overcome.
The evening culminated with a powerful Gospel presentation by an AIA staff member who reminded them the God sent His very best, Jesus, to die for them.
The campers got pumped up as the evening ended with the drafting of the SPECIAL teams. Team captains picked their teams and were given instructions they needed to pass on for day 4's SPECIAL.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, scorning its shame”
- Hebrews 12:2
DAY 4: A S.P.E.C.I.A.L DAY
July 1, 2018
What an unbelievable day it was! This year the young men demonstrated strength and perseverance that can only be accredited to God. They fought and brought everything within them to accomplish the SPECIAL.
The athletes persevered through a 14 hour day full of activities which started at 4 a.m. Each team had 6 or 7 team members and a team captain. The team captains were responsible for being the support the rest of the team needed in especially challenging parts of the day.
Throughout the day, they battled feelings of defeat and kept true within them the principles they had been taught over the course of the past few days.
At one point in the day, most of the athletes were feeling tired and slightly defeated by their bodies. However, SPECIAL director, Andy, changed things up by talking to them, encouraging them and allowing them to speak up about their lives and share their journeys with each other. This was a powerful technique in getting the athletes back into the mindset of upward and onward always because they were able to have an outlet to just release any frustrations or strongholds they had in their lives. Once they resumed their activities they continued to endure through more challenges. There was a team in particular that had lost 3 members due to some minor injuries. During the tug-of-war portion of the day, this team was going up against teams that still had all their members. Despite being outnumbered and defeated in the game each time, they refused to be defeated in spirit and each time they got right back up and continued on until the end. This display of endurance was especially reminiscent of Christ's endurance during his walk to Calvary.
The day's activities culminated with the walk to Golgotha where the athletes were to carry a representation of the cross and allow them to get a glimpse into Christ's walk to Calvary. This exercise was transformative in several ways some being, the way it put the athletes in a position where their physical might was tested and they had to remember that their strength comes from the Lord.
After it all, they all discussed how proud of themselves they were for being able to complete the day's activities.
This year's camp really provided a space for these magnificently blessed young men to have several breakthroughs in Christ. The Holy Spirit moved in such strong ways amongst them and broke down walls of fear, pride and doubt. Once again, God continuously provides opportunities for His children to gather, fellowship, learn and grow with each other. Another successful year in the books for JAM Camp.
