BROWN HILL, Nevis – THE popular Camp Abraham, hosted by the St. Kitts Brethren Assemblies in collaboration with the Nevis Gospel Halls’ Assemblies, attracted more than 120 youths during this year’s 10-day episode at the Ivor Walters Primary School from July 29 to August 7.
According to this year’s Director Elroy Halliday, the camp, which started 14 years ago, has an objective to train young people in the ways of Christ. Each year over 100 children, between the ages of eight and 18 go through skills-building workshops conducted by a team of church elders and volunteers.
Halliday said that through the camp sessions, youths are molded by being exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“We mould them mentally, physically and spiritually to become rounded individuals”.
He also said campers are recruited through field assemblies and the friends of Sunday school children and teachers.
Apart from learning spiritual values, the children are taught craft, performing arts skills and sports to keep them fit. During the camp, the youths are introduced to domestic tourism. This year the campers went on a hike, observed sea turtles, went to the beach and visited various historical sites as part of an island tour.
Elder Allen Rogers of Bethany Gospel Hall, Sandy Point, whose church sent 10 children, holds the conviction that all stakeholders in the society have to do their part to keep youths out of anti-social behaviour and gang violence.
He said when children are trained in church the parents need to complement the institution’s efforts.
“The church can only do that much and no more. Everybody has their part to do. The children go back to their homes after the two weeks. Parents should make sure that what the children learn continues to impact and influence them.”
He said that during the camp, children are taught to have daily devotions and this ought to continue at home. Children are also trained to make beds and perform other household chores.
Mitchelle Woodley of the Grace Gospel Assembly, who has volunteered for the past eight years, said the skills passed on to the children are vital for their total development.
She agrees that parents should try to sustain the skills that the children learn by getting involved in their well-being. She said the parents could sustain knowledge gained by ensuring that children have morning and evening devotions and they could also enrich their children’s life by spending quality time with them.
Twenty-four volunteers assisted at this year’s camp.
