by Anna Beth Wildman
4 February 2009

	Some teens reading their Bibles at the ECWA Youth Camp

"Nigeria needs a Christian youth camp," said Leslie Pelt to Claudia Long in the early 1990s. "Will you start one?"

Claudia, a teacher at Hillcrest School, agreed to help run a camp that summer. Soon camping had become her main ministry, and in 1998 she began the development of a facility that now covers more than 40 acres. It has a home for a future camp director, 10 huts that can house a total of 100 campers, and an unfinished girls’ washroom.

Youth camping was then a radical idea in Nigeria, even though the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), SIM’s partner church, was accustomed to conferences for adults. Now the ECWA Youth Camp is evangelizing and discipling hundreds of young people every year. The junior camp welcomes teens aged 12-15, and the senior camp reaches ages 16-28.

When I visited the camp with Claudia, we squinted out over the sun-drenched, weed-covered campground. I sensed that she was seeing not only weeds, but children and young people romping over the grounds and learning about God from their hut leaders.

She said, "We’re not looking for huge numbers but for one-on-one discipleship. For some kids, it’s their first time studying the Bible for themselves, rather than simply believing what their parents tell them. For others, it’s the first time they understand the Gospel and decide to follow Christ.” She gestured toward the "mountain" behind the huts. "This view makes the campground! It’s also perfect for camper hiking."

Seeking help

Two boys approached us, and Claudia greeted them cheerfully, asking about their families. Then she turned to the older boy. "John, will you help me pull weeds?" she asked. "Leave the trees, pull out all the weeds and thorn bushes, and flatten the ground. As payment, I’ll let you come to camp free" (worth about $35.00 USD for each boy). John nodded eagerly. "We’ll get some help from our Bible study group," he promised.

About 90 to 100 campers crowd into camp each time, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Claudia dreams of expanding the facilities to accommodate 200. In addition to more huts for sleeping, they’ll need bunk bed frames, electricity, two washrooms, a cook’s hut, a chapel, and a camp office.

Yes, the campsite has weeds to be pulled, but Claudia sees far more than weeds.

Pray

• for spiritual growth in campers’ lives.
• for funds to purchase the "mountain."

Give

Making a contribution to project 96912 will help this camp expand it's impact on Nigerian youth.