By Kaleb Eisele & Jason Calvert

“This generation loves Jesus and longs to engage in church.” – Jason Calvert, Oregon Conference Director for Church Ministries.

This year’s Oregon Conference Bible Camps brought together some 950 young adults, parents, teachers, middle school, and high school students from homeschools, public schools, Adventist schools, and church communities. But the most meaningful numbers are not the attendance numbers—they are the spiritual decisions and invitations to continue the journey that students made during both Bible camps.

From the outside looking in, one could find many reasons young people love going to Bible Camp. From exciting activities like go-karts and ziplines to the meaningful social connections made between students from different areas, Bible Camp offers a one-of-a kind experience that sticks with youth for years to come. But it was the deep spiritual growth that stood out to Jason Calvert as he visited with a group of young people on the Friday night of High School Bible Camp.

“On Friday night at Bible Camp we do this thing called ‘Margins.’ It’s a chance for kids from each church or school group to get away from everyone else to process and discuss what they’ve been learning, what their experience has been like, and how to apply it in their own contexts. I visited with the PAA (Portland Adventist Academy) group because I have a son that goes there. So, for the first time I’m there as a parent, not as a leader, and I’m just listening to the kids. I heard them talk about worship and life groups being the most powerful and influential parts of the week, and how those things could help guide them spiritually as they went back to their local campus.”

A quick look at the numbers further supports these thoughts. Of the 950 combined attendees, 18 Adventist schools and academies and five church groups were represented. Two hundred and thirty-eight students requested special prayer, 155 students asked to begin talking with a pastor or to connect with a church, 113 expressed interest in Bible studies, and another 107 students made decisions for baptism. 

For Jason and the Bible camp team, these numbers are just the beginning of a long-shared journey of discipleship. “The next step is intentional follow-through,” he continued. “We want to celebrate what God did at Bible Camp while also making sure that each student who raised a hand, checked a box, requested prayer, or expressed a desire to know Jesus more deeply is personally followed up with by caring adults, pastors, churches, and youth leaders. The camps may have ended, but the ministry opportunity is just getting started. We praise God for what happened—and we are committed to what happens next.”

Check out some great photos of the camps by Samuel Ngo...