This unbelievable, exciting, and world-changing announcement is the very first thing that Jesus says in the book of Mark. The very first thing! Must be pretty important.
The Kingdom of God is at hand…which means is it near, it is close, it is not just some far off promise – it is here and now! And God invites us to be a part of it!
The theme for Learning to Lead 2012 is “Our God Reigns!” We will be exploring the idea of the Kingdom of God. Jesus shows us what it means to be part of the Kingdom and to live as subjects with God as our King.
As we focus on the Kingdom of God, our aim is to live out the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught us to pray. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” When we do God’s will (the things he wants us to do) we are part of God’s kingdom here on earth!
What a great way to spend a week, turning our hearts and minds toward God’s Kingdom and His Reign in our lives.
We can’t wait to see you at camp… and bring a friend!
The famous scene from the Lion King goes like this.
After seeing his reflection in a pool of water, Simba is discouraged. Rafiki persists that Mufasa is alive.
Rafiki: No, look harder.
[touches the water, as it ripples Simba's reflection changes to that of his father]
Rafiki: You see? He lives in you.
Mufasa’s ghost: [from above] Simba.
Adult Simba: Father?
Mufasa’s ghost: [appears among the stars] Simba, you have forgotten me.
Adult Simba: No. How could I?
Mufasa’s ghost: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me.
Like Simba, we human beings are plagued with forgetfulness. Sometimes our forgetfulness is trivial, but sometimes it’s fatal. Nothing impacts our life more than our identity. When we forget who we are then everything else in life is in jeopardy. But our own failures, relationships that go sour, and painful life circumstances conspire against us creating a false identity for us. This lie about our identity confuses us and causes us to forget who we are. So, who are you? Do you know? Have you forgotten? Maybe Musfasa’s message to Simba is the same message God wants us to hear from Him.
Mufasa: You are more than you have become. You are MY SON!!!!. . . . Remember. . . .
Identity is the theme for Kadesh 2012. It’s a quest to answer the question, “Who am I?” with the truth that God provides. Jason Gray’s amazing video will help us launch our quest this summer at Kadesh, the quest to remember.
KidQuest 2012 is just a few weeks away! Get ready for meeting new friends, playing fun games, sharing in worship times, and mornings with Willy the Wildcat!
This year’s KidQuest theme is All-Stars for Jesus! Think about it… What makes someone an All-Star? Is it…how fast you can run? Or… how far you can throw a ball? Is it being a graceful dancer? Or being great at gymnastics? These are all good skills to have. But…Jesus shows us that what’s most important is to love him and to love others around us. Serving God and serving other people is what really makes us All-Stars!
There are two sessions of KidQuest this summer: KidQuest June (June 18th-22) and KidQuest July (July 9th-13th). If you came last year, bring a new friend this year! We can’t wait to see you!
So much of life is timing, isn’t it? As we settle into celebrating the 30th season of ACU
Leadership Camps, it’s a great time to reflect and thank God for the ways He has
blessed our growth. What began as one session of Kadesh in the summer of 1982
has become 12 sessions of 5 different camps in the summer of 2012. Thousands
of young people have spent a week of their summer on the ACU campus being
challenged to follow Jesus…to spend time alone with their God…and to love people
like Jesus did. Nine different directors have led this camp ministry over the past 30
years….
When we began to prepare for this year of celebration, we did not plan to include
saying good-bye to our two camp directors! But…timing, right? For Casey McCollum,
the time is right to make a move as he builds his career and his family. We’re so
excited to see what this next step will hold for him!
For Bob Strader, the time is right as well. If you know Bob, you know his passion to
teach the Bible, to connect with University students in their spiritual development,
and his desire to serve and minister to the community. His new position as Director
of Ministry and Service in ACU’s Center for Christian Service and Leadership will
enable him to dream and influence in these directions, while still being close enough
to Leadership Camps to offer some wisdom and encouragement.
ACU Leadership Camps will maintain its strong commitment to leading youth
to Jesus…one camper at a time! But the time is right…and that means a great
opportunity for those who will join our staff as the next ACU Leadership Camps
Directors. Opportunity…to help cast a vision for the next decade of Leadership
Camps, to influence another generation of campers and staff, and to be a part of
living out the mission of ACU as dedicated staff members.
“Aslan is on the move.” For those in the ACU Leadership Camps family, we understand this to mean that God is at work among us, moving and shaping us to accomplish His purposes. We’re entering an exciting period of transition in Abilene! The summer of 2012 will be the final summer for Casey McCollum and Bob Strader to serve ACU as full-time camp directors.
In August, Bob will begin his new position ACU’s Director of Ministry and Service in the Center for Christian Service and Leadership. While he will remain in the same Student Life area that oversees Leadership Camps, he will shift his focus from campers to university students…and maybe even get to enjoy a summer vacation after countless years of summer camp.
Casey will also transition at summer’s end with his plan to pursue a doctoral degree or other ministry opportunities. He and his wife Kasey are also excited about welcoming their newest addition to the family in July.
We are blessed to share one more summer with each of these talented directors, and anticipate that God is already at work to provide for the needs of Leadership Camps just as He has provided next steps for these faithful disciples.
Dr. Jan Meyer, Executive Director, will lead the search for our next Camp Directors. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for one of these positions, you may review the job descriptions and submit your application and resume at http://acu.hrmdirect.com/employment/openings.php
Open to all campers, parents, volunteers and ACU Leadership Camps fans!
STEP 1. Watch our I Love ACU Leadership Camps Video on our blog (see below) or on our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/leadershipcamps.
STEP 2. Make your own video promoting your favorite ACU Leadership Camp (Kadesh, Cross Training, MPulse, Learning to Lead, or KidQuest). See the rules below to make sure your video fits the requirements!
STEP 3. Upload your video to YouTube and include in the title; “I Love ACU Leadership Camps”.
After you upload your video, be sure to subscribe to our channel (http://www.youtube.com/leadershipcamps). Leave a Video Response on our I Love ACU Leadership Camps video. This comment will serve as your official entry in to the I Love ACU Leadership Campsvideo contest.
STEP 4. Invite as many friends and family to view it as possible!
STEP 5. Check back often to see other videos!
STEP 6. Watch for Contest Winners to be announced on Facebook on Monday March 5! Only videos that meet all qualifications outlined in the Video Contest Rules will be eligible to win a prize. Read Video Contest Rules below.
Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook page so you can find out who wins! www.facebook.com/leadershipcamps
Prize Categories
Staff Favorite- the video that is voted as the overall Favorite by full-time Camp Staff and 2012 Leadership team members.
Best of Camp in each Camp category- the video that is determined to best promote each camp wins $100 off of their 2012 camp session plus a 30th Anniversary t-shirt.
Kadesh
Cross Training
MPulse
Learning to Lead
KidQuest
Grand Prize- all qualified submissions will automatically be entered into a drawing for a free iPad (16GB, WI-FI only, valued at $499). The drawing for the iPad will take place on Monday March 5, 2012 and announced later that day on the ACU Leadership Camps Facebook page.
Video Contest Rules
1. The contest is open to all campers, parents of campers, volunteers, and ACU Leadership Camps supporters between February 1 and February 29, 2012. All video entries must provide a completed Video Contest waiver (found at www.acucamps.com/blog) for any person appearing in the video. The waiver must be faxed or mailed to the Camp Office by February 29, 2012 to maintain eligibility.
2. All videos must be between 30-60 seconds in length.
3. The overall camp name “ACU Leadership Camps” along with the specific camp name (Kadesh, Cross Training, MPulse, Learning to Lead, or KidQuest) must be displayed or spoken in the video.
4. The camp web address “www.acucamps.com” must be displayed or spoken in the video.
5. Share why you love this camp, a story about how this camp has changed your life, or why you want to go to this camp (even if it’s your first time!)
6. Have fun and be creative!
7. Videos may not contain any profanity or promote tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Clothing worn must not promote tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
8. Only videos that meet the qualifications listed above (items 1-7) will be eligible to win a prize. All prizes may not be awarded if eligible entries are not received for each category.
9. Prizes do not have to be used by the winner, but may be transferred to a friend or family member of the winner’s choice. Any “Free camp session” prizes must be used to pay for a space already secured or a space available (as of March 5) in a 2012 session. Prizes may be applied to the summer of 2012 only.
10. By submitting your video and entering the I Love ACU Leadership Camps Video Contest, you are giving permission for ACU Leadership Camps to use the video for promotional purposes. ACU Leadership Camps reserves the right to remove any response video deemed inappropriate from our YouTube channel.
Do YOU qualify for the Henderson Multi-Camper Discount?
To honor more than 20 years of significant contributions to Leadership Camps, we are happy to announce the Henderson Multi-Camper Discount, named for our beloved Tim and Denise Henderson family from Shiloh Road Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas. Tim and Denise have sent all 5 of their children through every year of Leadership Camps as well as attending for more than 20 years as volunteer group leaders. Additionally, 4 out of their 5 children (Rachel, Caleb, Sarah and Hannah) have attended ACU and worked at least one summer as a member of our camp staff. We hope to make it 100% when the youngest family member, Noah, reaches college!
The Henderson Multi-Camper Discount is for any family who sends more than one sibling to Leadership Camps in one summer. The second sibling will receive a $25 discount off of the registration fee, so will the third, the fourth…
On Sunday, November 13, we announced the discount to the Hendersons via video at Shiloh Road Church of Christ. Click play below to view this video.
We love you, Henderson family! Thank you for your lifelong commitment to ACU Leadership Camps!
Registration for the 2012 camp season will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd, at noon CST. Before registration begins, we wanted to let you know of a few changes. Beginning this year, you no longer need an ID number to register. You will be able to request a password using your email address.
Scroll down for step-by-step instructions on how to login for registration.
Visit acucamps.com and click the 2012 Registration button in the bottom right-hand corner. (If you are not redirected to the Sign In page, click on the Login link in the upper right-hand corner.)
All returning parents, campers and volunteers will need to request a new password by clicking on the Forgot your password? link underneath the Existing Account sign in block.
3. Enter your email address as requested.
4. You will then receive an email containing your login and password information. Return to the Sign in page (by selecting the My Account tab at the top) and enter the sign in information from the email.
5. Congratulations! You are now logged into your family account. From this page, referred to as the Dashboard, you may now register your camper for camp or register yourself as a volunteer by selecting the Register Online option.
