It was a fair day on 29 November 2006 when he reported with some 35 campers at the Wesley Methodist Church to board a bus to take them to Pusat Rekreasi Felcra, Tebing Tinggi, located about 15km from Segamat. More than half of the campers were non-believers. It was a breezy ride along narrow asphalt roads surrounded by mostly rubber plantations as campers chatted with their own friends. Soh, 14, from a non-Christian family only wondered what was in store for him in this camp.

 

“It is so mind boggling to think that I have come to know the Lord Jesus as my personal savior,” quipped Soh speaking to me in Mandarin a week after the camp. ”My only concern then was how my parents were going to react and accept my decision. I struggled with such thoughts. But my heart is open to receive Him. I decided to go forward to accept Him and to experience abundant life in Jesus Christ,” he added.

 

Abundant life (John 10:10) was the theme of the camp and in Bahasa Malaysia reads Hidup Yang Berkelimpahan. This blared loudly in large bold prints on all campers’ T-shirts. Indeed, the Holy Spirit was moving in the hearts of the young people. Many learnt about God and His purpose for mankind for the first time through the various sessions of discussion and activities they engaged in.

 

Alan Seow, the field director of Scripture Union (SU) Camping Ministry and Runa Wan Eng, the camp speaker, a field staff of SU Youth Ministry, led the youths in the four days and three nights’ camp. Runa’s fluency in Bahasa Malaysia was phenomenal. From the Kayan tribe in Sarawak, her sharp and detailed illustrations on the discussion topics gave much insights to those who were curious to find out more about God.

 

The workshop and activities were gamely written by Seow and revolved around the study of God-Man-Sin-Redemption. All participants took turns to present their thoughts and opinions in the assignment, regardless of their fluency in the national language and everyone gave their listening ear.

 

In the afternoon, the campers played obstacle games and did many physical workouts with their camp commander, Foo Yuen Chow and an officer from the Pusat. To rekindle their sense of rural living, they were all divided into five groups bearing names from the indigenous groups in Malaysia namely, Bajau, Iban, Kadazan, Penan and Semai.

 

“God is good. We experienced good weather through out the four days,” said Foo with a deep sense of gratitude. “Although it drizzled a little on the first evening it did not disrupt the planned activities at all. Praise God!” he exclaimed.

 

“Many sacrificed their time and put in a lot of effort in organizing and preparing for this event,” said Jason Low, the chairman of this year’s camp. In the midst of preparing for a mission trip to Myanmar, Rev. Christopher Rao (TRAC National Youth Director) and his wife, Rhema, came to Segamat a week before to conduct training for all facilitators. Thereafter, they joined as camp facilitators for two groups and ministered to the youths.

 

Ling Kay Teck, a pre-medical student, had to defer his university placement interview to a later date in order to sit in as a facilitator and play the role of a photographer. Ling also won the hearts of the youths with his hilarious rendition of action songs.

 

Elizabeth, another facilitator from an Anglican church in Segamat, gave her testimony. “It is a valuable experience to work together with so many young people,” she said happily.

 

“Bringing the gospel to the youth is always the motivating force behind the efforts in organizing the camp. We also want the Christian youths to grow in their walk with the Lord when their lives are touched” said Low.

 

“We will see you again next year!” affirmed Seow energetically before he rushed off to another camp in Tapah.