More than 25 churches across this part of the state are to play a part this month in Camp USA for 28 youngsters from South Korea and their seven chaperones.
CENTRAL LOUISIANA – More than 25 churches across this part of the state are to play a part this month in Camp USA for 28 youngsters from South Korea and their seven chaperones.
It’s the fifth annual Camp USA, a joint project sponsored by the Cenla/Korea Missions Partnership – now known as Reach Missions – and the Korea Baptist Church Development Board, equivalent to the Southern Baptist Convention’s LifeWay Christian Resources.
“The commitment of Louisianians to Korea extends back for 41 years,” said David Cranford, pastor of Tioga First Baptist near Alexandria, and coordinator of Reach Missions. “We’ve been going there every year for evangelistic crusades in cooperation with the Korea Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board. Five years ago we added a west-bound component to the partnership.
“It’s the completion of – the cross-cultural component of – the fellowship that assures us that achieving the Great Commission mandate is possible,” Cranford continued. “As we see Christianity extending across the globe, our faith is affirmed.”
The 35 Koreans are to be in Central Louisiana from July 19-28. They will be staying in host homes, attending vacation Bible school in the mornings, and participating in the afternoons in a variety of fun activities.
These are to include swimming, horseback riding, all-terrain vehicle riding, and even racing remote-controlled cars after learning about NASCAR racing.
“NASCAR is America’s favorite sports pastime,” explained Susan Duke , coordinator of Camp USA and children’s minister at Tioga First Baptist. “We want them to see America, but the goal is to reach these young Koreans with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The event is also good for Americans who help, Duke added. “It gives Americans a global vision for the gospel,” she said. “It puts a face on international missions.”