By Cody Kargus – An Article from the Camp Connection Volume 2, Issue I
The first phase of the discipleship programs at Arrowhead Bible Camp is called b.a.s.i.c. discipleship, which stands for Believing And Serving In Christ. As the residential week-long camps are one week long, b.a.s.i.c. discipleship is a two week program. Each day we concentrate on 3 areas with the students; building relationships, teaching, and modeling the Christian life. Here is what a day would look like.
As breakfast begins each morning for camp the students then gather for morning devotions. Here the staff will begin with a Bible passage that focuses on the theme of the day and then lead into what we call the “family documents”. These written documents are from the saints of old, men and women who have wrestled with the same issues we look at in b.a.s.i.c. It is a very encouraging time to see how God used these people in their times to bring people near to Himself. These times in the mornings can be very stretching and hopeful. Each student has some good time to be alone and digest some of the deep things we’ve covered. Then we head out to the sports field and play games. Many of our games are high energy and also highly relational. Our goal is to spend about a third of our time in the day building relationships with the students. In this aspect we are able to come alongside each student and see where they are at in their journey with God and then push them deeper. Building relationships is a core aspect to our program, and it is an easy thing to do when you are playing active games.
Next we go into our teaching time. In a day of b.a.s.i.c. we have three main note taking times in a classroom setting. The topics we cover are; Servant-hood, Discipleship, and Spiritual Disciplines. Each day we have a topic that builds upon the past day’s theme. Much of the teaching is looking at the way in which Jesus lived out his life in His relationship with His Father and with His disciples. These are some of the greatest moments in our time together for students begin to see how the Christian life is to be lived in our world today.
At times after a teaching period we break off into small groups and the counselors are able to go deeper with the students. Each year we are blessed with counselors who model these teachings to the students. We truly get the highest caliber counselors for the students.
After lunch we give the students time to study or rest, we call this time, “book reading”. During the day we spend much energy physically, emotionally and cognitively thus a rest time is always appreciated by the students and staff.
The afternoon is filled with a group game, teaching and free time. Again the staff is using even the free time to build relationships and look for ways to strengthen and encourage the students to go deeper.
After supper we usually head outside to enjoy the great outdoors here in Wisconsin offered to us by the Lord. Worshiping out on the lake in the canoes is one of my favorite times. There is nothing like having our voices joining together and echoing off the lake with our hearts before God. It is worship at full volume.
As a student in one of the first Discipleship groups (D2) it has been really interesting for me to see how the program has continued to evolve and become refined. Discipleship was incredibly life changing for me. Truly, I would not be the person I am without the influence of this program. Everything–from book reading to American Eagle to D.L. Moody and Grudem’s Systematic Theology–has and continues to shape me. I have amazing memories from that summer and God radically changed my life. The Lord is so saturated in this program. Praise God for the work He has done!
As a parent of not one but two students the have gone throught B.A.S.I.C, I can tell you it has changed my daughters lives. they both grew up in a church family but I can truely say that it does not compare to the love and accountablity that come from this program. I won’t say it was easy for me as a parent to let them leave my comfort zone and be gone for two weeks but God has plans for them and I know in my heart that this is were he wants them. I know that they are great kids and now because of this program they are even better because they have a loving relationship with God the Father. They understand him more and are hungry for his wisdom and the paths he has chosen for them. What a great foundation for life serventhood this program gives these kids. I know it was time to let go and see how far God wants to take my girls. I know this summer they are following God overseas and I am ok with that. How proud can a mother be to have her daughters listen to God and following. I know they are in good hands between God and this program they are safe and well loved just like their dad and I love them. God Bless you Cody and your staff for loving these kids like we do.
As a former student at B.A.S.I.C I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to go. I wasent so sure about it at first, in fact I had put if off the summer before, because camp just did not seem like it was something for me. However i finally decided my senior year in high school to go, and see what God would do. I have to say that when I first got there I wanted to turn around and go home, but as the night went on I got to know some of the other kids, and make friends. The first few days were rough for me because I consider myself shy around people I dont know. However half way through the week I was having the best time ever. Between the games, quiet times, teaching times, relational building times, and of course the food I didnt want to leave. I got a chance to see God move, not just in me, but in and through others. Everyday when we got up, we had no idea what God or Cody had planned for us today, but what ever it was we all knew it would be great. The relationships that I had the opportunity to build during BASIC were not only friendships, but it was like having a completely different family. I would strongly recommend this camp to anyone who is looking to go deeper, to experiance God, or to beat down Cody :) just kidding. This camp has so blessed my life and I feel like I look back on the memories very often and I can say with out a doubt that the two weeks I had the priviledge to spend in BASIC were the best two weeks of my life.
I can truly say that BASIC discipleship has changed my life. I recently got to talk with a fellow BASIC student and they were sharing about frustration with a luke-warm Christian. God reminded me through that conversation all the work he did through Arrowhead to “deliver” me out of being luke-warm. Now I really do see it as being delivered. I look back and read through my old journals I kept during BASIC and praise God for all he did and is still doing in me. I met my absolute best friends in BASIC, people I would no longer consider friends but family. Praise the Lord!!!!
Now, as I read Cody’s description of a typical day, I want to go back and play Bolivian Rugby and get beat up.(dont tell him that) I also long to worship with my dear BASIC family in the presence of God. God has blessed me so much with BASIC and I pray that he would continue to bless BASIC and use Cody and the counselors for His glory.
oh, I almost forgot. Nice picture Cody, you look a little like your reletives on the Schwarzenegger side, and there are no spelling errors. :)