Faithful Together

OKLAHOMA CITY –From April 24-26, over 160 families with over 600 participants across Oklahoma, other parts of the United States, and even Beijing, China, participated in a virtual camporee in their own homes. 

Since Pathfinder and Adventurer events had to be cancelled, the Youth Ministry team decided to have an online/virtual Family Camporee instead. The camporee theme was “Faithful Together,” and focused on being intentional about being faithful together as families, especially as the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic affected family life. 

Desiring for families to take advantage of the shelter-in-place mandate by the state, each family was encouraged to camp in their backyard, living room or garage. Families were challenged to complete certain tasks, such as have family worship morning and evening, participate in an honor/award, cook a meal together, memorize two Bible verses, wear their Pathfinder, Adventurer or Master Guide scarf, do a craft together as a family and send camping pictures to the Youth department. 

Daniel Ortega, Oklahoma Conference youth director, put together an easy-to-navigate website with a weekend schedule and ideas for different family activities. 

These included the “virus” honor taught by Donald Adams, M.D.; the “talents” award taught by Claudia Andujo, Oklahoma Conference Adventurer director, and Alex Seery. The “Sign Language” honor was taught by Gabi Simpson. Morning and evening messages were provided online as well. Craft ideas and a scavenger hunt were also included on the webpage along with other resources. 

If the pictures that were sent into the Youth department were any indication, the Family Camporee was a huge blessing to all who participated. 

Thank you to the families who participated and the staff who made it possible. May we all stay faithful together until the Lord’s soon return. 

By Norma Shepherd