Alliance Camp Brings Hope to U.S. AIDS Orphans
by Staff
September 4, 2007
VALLEJO, Calif., (christiansunite.com) -- Adolescent children in California who have lost parents to AIDS are finding hope through a strategic Alliance outreach. Camp Hope hosts children from the Vallejo, California, area, many of whom are in foster care. Terrance Nichols, pastor of the northern California city's New Hope Church Community and president of the Association of African-American Churches of the C&MA, established the program to impact disenfranchised children who may never hear about Jesus.The six-week summer program includes group discussions, Bible stories, and project lessons to help the young people put into practice what they have learned. Recreation is a key ingredient to the recipe of building relationships with the initially reserved youth. Field trips to the San Francisco Zoo, the Vallejo Museum of Naval History, and Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk bring excitement and wonder into their lives.
"It is always amazing to see these youngsters have their eyes opened to possibilities that God may have for them," Nichols says. "We do not view the field trips as just a fun time, but we challenge them to set high goals for themselves in life."
"Camp Hope requires a lot of time and patience," says Nichols, "especially if campers have lost their parents to AIDS or are estranged from them. But the Lord has blessed us with an extremely effective ministry."
After a week or two, some campers feel safe enough to express their feelings of loss. "One girl cried, saying that she misses her dad and wants him back," says Nichols. "Two sisters who recently lost their father shared how the camp has helped them to cope."
The 2007 summer ministry culminated with three young people giving their hearts to the Lord, seven rededicating their lives to Him, and three families joining New Hope Church Community. "Five youth are praying about full-time ministry," says Nichols, "and two of them want to be missionaries. The Lord worked miraculously this year."
For more information about Camp Hope, contact Pastor Nichols at revnich@prodigy.net.
The Alliance is a fellowship of evangelical believers joined together in local churches, dedicated to fulfilling Christ's command to make disciples of all nations. The Alliance has a thoroughly evangelical doctrinal statement and encourages believers from diverse backgrounds and theological traditions to unite to complete Christ's Great Commission.
