The Youth Camp traveling team of Student Life, an interdenominational Christian youth camp, is going to be meeting on the Stephen F. Austin (SFA) University in Nacogdoches, TX, where 2,500 campers have been arriving since Monday and will stay until June 4.
Attendants are from 90 youth groups from Texas and surrounding states. Bible study messages will be delivered by Rev. Greg Matte, founder of Breakaway Ministries at University of Texas A&M who is now serving as senior pastor of 22,000-member First Baptist Church in Houston. Nationally renown worship leader Chris Tomlin, who is appearing at many of Student Life’s camps, will be leading the worship services, which begin at 7 p.m. each evening during the camp and is open to the public.
“Love God, Love People” is the 2004 Student Life camp’s theme.
Camp Director Michael Kelley said, "We hope students will walk away with a further understanding of how much God loves them, and how that enables them to better love Him and to love others.”
Activities available to students during the camp includes Basketball, Volleyball, Snack Bar, Tennis Courts, and Game Room. Students will also be doing community service as part of their faith-developing experience.
SFA has been a popular location for students who attend a camp hosted by Student Life, according to Kelley.
"We had a great experience here last year," he said. "We're looking forward to the same this year."
The campus’ dormitory capacity to accommodate the large group of attendants has also allowed the camp to grow, said Kelley. Last year, there were 1,400 students in attendance and that number nearly doubled this year.
Close to 50,000 attend one of Student Life's camps each summer, Kelley said.
The Christian youth camp is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and brings 50 youth camps to approximately 25 locations each year. The organization has three traveling teams which host youth camps, one children's camp team, two mission camp teams and on team which hosts camps on beaches.
