By Jenny Gregory
CLEVELAND, Ga., (TMNews) – The sounds of nearly 600 energetic campers chanting camp songs was heard all over campus as WinShape hosted one-week boys’ camps on Truett-McConnell’s campus this summer.
Created by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, WinShape Camps was established to provide an experience which enables children to sharpen their character, deepen their Christian faith and grow in their relationships with others.
Truett-McConnell sophomore, Fletcher Humphrey, and junior, Ben Pearman, were excited that WinShape was coming to their campus and applied to be a part of camp leadership.
“When I heard WinShape was coming to my own school, I was overjoyed and couldn’t resist applying,” Humphrey said.
“I love hanging out with kids because I still am very much a child at heart. I love telling them how Jesus loves them no matter how many times they mess up, and I love to laugh with them.”
A Summer of Hope
Many of the TMC campus buildings were adorned inside and out with props that suited the camp’s summer theme: hope. The chapel was no exception and was decked out with vibrant and inviting decorations; campers met here each day and participated in a chapel service where they sang songs and heard a biblical message. .
A typical camp day was packed full of exciting activities like sports, worship, wacky science experiments, indoor crafts, Bible studies and more. Throughout the week, the boys also connected in small groups where the leaders shared about Christ.
“Each day allowed me to get to know [my campers] better and helped me to find out what they are interested in, what kind of background they come from, and most importantly, where they are in their walk with the Lord,” Pearman shared.
“The connection that is formed is what opens the door for the Lord to work through you,” he said. “It makes it possible to show them Christ’s Love and the hope that I have because of His love for all of us.”
Humphrey echoed Pearman’s words and shared how those connections were the very thing that provided many opportunities for leaders to share about Christ. “I led two campers to Christ and that alone is amazing to me,” he said. “God is so cool that he used me regardless of my broken past to share His love.”.
“The teamwork was seriously legendary,” Humphrey added as he described the friendships made with fellow WinShape leaders. “I made so many friends with my fellow counselors.”
As camp neared its end, campers and counselors left TMC’s campus refreshed and revived. Pearman and Humphrey, who are both first time counselors, expressed their excitement as they anticipate making memories and watching campers commit their life to the Lord next summer.
“I have grown to love WinShape more than I ever thought I would,” Pearman said. “I did not expect to be personally impacted as much as I have been. WinShape is an amazing organization that has a heart for sharing the Gospel with young people and it has helped grow my desire to share the Gospel with others.”
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Photo/Adam Roark
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