YBC - Day Six

One of the great blessings to the Woodward Park family is the recent addition of the Garcia family. Herman and Marilynn's children, Herman, Jr., Marcelo, and Angelica have been wonderful at our camp this year!

Destiny and Sheonna. Rumor has it, they made a big splash during the Cannonball competition at the pool on Thursday afternoon.

Mike Avedikian baptizes Mariah Bishel. Mariah participated in our First Principles Day Camp and is a really special young lady.

Matt Holcomb baptizes Cody Hill. Cody was our only non-immersed staffer to help at camp this year, serving as our night watchman. Cody has been active in our college small group and has been prayed for by his family for a long time. Thursday morning before lunch, Cody confessed Jesus and was immersed for forgiveness of his sins.

YBC - Day Five

The highlight of camp is witnessing an eternity-altering confession. Wednesday night, Mario Ruiz made that confession and was baptized into Jesus by his step-brother, Juan Rivera.

A pre-camper extraordinaire, Page Mercer, thrills Wednesday's campfire with her rendition of the Books of the New Testament song.

Breanne Flint and Iyana Lewis

Back in April, Carol Hinton was rewarded as the five millionth fan to pass through the turnstile at Chukchansi Park. Part of Carol's prize package was a day with Parker, the Fresno Grizzlies mascot. As one of the camp cook staff, Carol decided to have Parker make an appearance at YBC. Here, Parker gets in a few pitches during the older boys' home run derby.

And Parker loves on Carol, who made his special appearance at YBC all possible!

YBC - Day Four

YBC - Day Three

YBC - Day Two

Sunday evening's devo concluded the same way as Saturday's - with a new birth into Jesus Christ! Jacob Cantrell, another Day Camp participant, was immersed for the forgiveness of his sins by his big brother, Josh. What was really cool was to see Jacob arise from the water with both fists clenched, as if his favorite team had just won the World Series.

All 4 Him thrills the camp with their splendid singing.

Tyler Clark and Scott Lock making a fashion statement (and a theological statement)!

Mariah, Ariel, Destiny, Sheonna, and Breanna

Isaac and Carson getting ready to smile for the "howling coyotes, burnt weenies" camp photog!

It's Monday morning at YBC and, officially, there are zero sick campers! Zero sick counselors! Zero sick staffers! The morning air is the in the 50's, there's zero humidity, and the refreshing mercies of the LORD that are new every morning are evident everywhere I look!

YBC - Day One (Father's Day Edition)

An early Father's Day present - Grady gets to baptize his son, Grant, into Jesus. What a great way to kick-off YBC '09.

Allie, Mutt and Jeff

Shiloh, Amanda, Rachel, Andrei, Grace, and Hannah

Julia, Trae and Madison

YBC '09 is off to a fantastic start! John Etherton, camp nurse, reported getting a full night's sleep without a single interruption! That is huge! Not a single child or their counselor awoke the nurse on the first night with a stomach ailment.

The theme for camp this year is "Rise Again: Destined for His Glory." Mike spoke on "Help, I'm Sinking" from Matthew 14 and riveted the attention of every camper and counselor. No one will look upon a "life preserver" in the same way again. We know for certain Jesus is our only life-saving device.

Grant Lane reached for the life-saving grace of Jesus and was immersed by his daddy, Grady. It was a phenomenal beginning to what promises to be a great week at YBC.

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Dear Dad,

Happy Father's Day! Thank you for every single sacrifice you've made for my life and faith. I am where I am today because of the goodness of my Heavenly Father and the graciousness of you, my earthly father. Your example, your wisdom, your love and your friendship are one of my most treasured possessions. Spring turkey hunting together on Howard Mountain is one of my most treasured memories. Thanks for teaching me what a sacrificial daddy is -- not only with words, but with your example! Thanks for showing by being you a glimpse of our Father in heaven.

I Love You, Dad!

Day Camp - Day Three

Travis and Jonathan (or is it Richard?) gearing up for the final day.

One of the greatest smiles at Day Camp - Matthew Watkins.

Always good to twist and sway with a Lord's Army to begin the day

The crew looking up a Bible verse. We hit 50 kids for the final day

(43 on Monday, 48 on Tuesday)!

Making an emphatic point, that apparently Corben didn't find to be as profound as was

mugging for the camera.

Lunch was provided by Sonya and the great folks at Riverpark Chick-fil-A on Wednesday. We even got an appearance from the famous CFA cow. With the voice of "Eat More Chikin" is Sydney, one of our great college kids who helped during Day Camp.

Before lunch, we got some great group shots with my favorite hero.

And then it was off to Cal Skate, where Trae and Andrei helped

Julia with her first attempt as skating.

Even Tori got in on the skating.

Robynae - one of my all-time favorites!

Derek and Zack grinning big at Cal Skate.

Carlie (aka the CFA mascot), another one of our great college kids, who helped out.

And then the capper, an event that makes an exhausting three days like

First Principles Day Camp all worth it, as a Daddy asks his daughter

the most important question she'll ever be asked.

And with her confession of Jesus as the Son of God, Allie is baptized into Jesus!

Without question, First Principles Day Camp 2009 will go down in my memory as the best one ever. Granted, it was the first time that I looked out over the camp and saw my own daughter in the group, which alone made the last three days extra special for me.

But beyond that, being with the other kids and watching their interest in Jesus and salvation rise is hard to describe! Each day they came with their homework completed (all done the night before with their parents). To listen to their answers and to discern the evident growth of their young faith over just three days' time was invigorating! The discoveries of their young hearts are birthing a love for Jesus that was last a lifetime.

And what better way to finish it all off than a dad and his daughter together in a baptistery?!

Moms and Dads of Woodward Park, thank you for sharing your children with me for the last three days. Their attitudes, their young hearts' desire to learn of Jesus, and the manners to every volunteer was exemplary! You have much to be proud of in your children!