A camper cheers as her group enters for lunch on Wednesday, June 25, during Super Summer at OBU. (Mary Alford/ABN)
Arkadelphia, Ark. – Hundreds of students from across the state have converged this week on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia for Super Summer Arkansas.
The annual camp, sponsored by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, made possible because of the cooperative efforts of Arkansas Baptist churches, focuses on evangelism and discipleship for students.
Super Summer Arkansas is split into two camps: Super Summer JV, serving campers who have completed sixth through eighth grade, and Super Summer, serving campers who have completed ninth through 12th grade. Both camps have adult leaders who attend one or both camps as chaperones and college-aged staffers who facilitate small group discussions and recreation.
“We love Super Summer. Getting this number of kids together to love God, worship God, and just be all in is so cool,” said Jason Rogers, interim youth pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot, noting they bring a group to Super Summer each year. “What I really love about Super Summer is the small group. The devotional time these kids are allowed just to dive in with a group of their peers is really amazing. It’s not like any other camp. They have a focus group they can get in and it’s not just worship time. The way they share the gospel in that moment is huge.”
Mount Carmel Worship Pastor Mark Parsley said Super Summer allows their students to interact with others from across the state.
“We cross those barriers of whatever school you go to. We’re all together for one purpose and that is to lift high the name of Jesus,” Parsley said.
Nate Lawrence, youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Rector, touted the impact of Super Summer. He has been attending Super Summer since 2011 and said it is where he met his wife, Allie. The number of lives changed by Super Summer is tremendous. He shared about a friend in high school who was on leadership teams, but it was not until she attended Super Summer and encountered the gospel in that way that “God radically transformed her life.”
“You’ve got situations where students have been confused and have never really had an opportunity to ask questions in a safe place,” he said, but at Super Summer “they finally have those spaces away from family or community that might judge them for asking questions and be able to ask them vulnerably. It’s an opportunity to get away from real life and deal with things that are hard in a safe, encouraging, and loving environment.”
That is exactly what Karrin Henderson, a student from FBC Rector, likes about the camp. She said that Super Summer specifically caters to her age group, making it easier to connect with the gospel.
“It’s easier than going to a regular church service because they have to relate to a wider age … and here it is directed toward teens. I feel like it helps a lot,” she said. One of her favorite parts of Super Summer is worship. “It’s always great.”
Lawrence said this was FBC Rector’s second year bringing a group to Super Summer. Last year, they brought 18 students. This year, they doubled that number.
“Our kids came and then went home and told all their friends about it,” Lawrence said. “I think that the kids really love it, and God is moving in their lives.”
Organizers reported 43 salvations, 21 recommitments and one call to ministry during Super Summer JV, which finished Wednesday, June 24. Super Summer wraps up Saturday, June 28.
A total of 2,642 students registered for this year’s camp.