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First Baptist Church Arcadia Returns to FUGE Camp at Mississippi College


Funny pose at FUGE camp at Mississippi College by First Baptist Church Arcadia (La.) campers and parents in mid-June.

Awesome worship services, a deeper understanding of the Bible and a marathon of fun games were all part of the agenda during FUGE camp at Mississippi College.

Sizzling temperatures on the Clinton campus in mid-June went with the experience for 42 kids and adult chaperones from First Baptist Church Arcadia. The 157-mile journey from their hometown between Shreveport and Monroe to the Baptist-affiliated university was well worth it, students say.

“Not only do you grow closer to our Lord, but you also have the opportunity to encourage others in their faith at different sites around the area,” says Madison Hoffman, 18, of Arcadia, Louisiana. “God is evident and moving!”

Connecting with the spiritual environment at America’s second oldest Baptist college (founded in 1826) impacted Kaelyn Sherman, 18, of Quitman, Louisiana. “Thank you for allowing me to come to Mississippi College and learn more about Jesus.”

On the tree-lined campus showcasing sculptures by nationally celebrated Christian artist Sam Gore of Clinton, FUGE campers from Baptist churches across the South encountered God’s blessings.

“We love FUGE so much,” said Kara Thompson, youth pastor at First Baptist Church Arcadia. “It is phenomenal worship.”

For five days, Southern Baptist Convention LifeWay camps like FUGE give kids a deeper understanding of the truth of the Gospel. It’s something that teens continue to talk about once they pile into the van and return to their home church more than two hours away. “We try to bring the concepts back that we walked through at camp,” Thompson said.

For the bunch from the Bienville Parish, it was the second visit to Mississippi College in five years for the group of 7th through 12th graders. Expect the Bayou State visitors to return and again wave their huge FUGE flags as they march from one activity to the next. “We feel a sense of community here,” Kara said.

The Arcadia group’s visit to Central Mississippi ends Saturday June 18.

With the heat index making mid-90s temperatures climb feel like 100 degrees or more, hundreds of youngsters kept hydrated on the Clinton campus with bottles of water and Gatorade. Whether they traveled from Baptist churches in Natchez, Mississippi, Pensacola, Florida, Mobile, Alabama or Dry Prong, Louisiana, visitors leave MC refreshed.

“I love being surrounded by new people in my Bible study class,” says Sydney Moore, 18, of Arcadia, La. “Even though we are all different, we can come together with our common love for Jesus! It is such an encouraging time to be surrounded by so many kids my age who are unashamed to admit their faith.”

In June and July, more than 6,000 children from 15 states invade Mississippi College for a blitz of camps to sharpen their sports skills and step up their Christian walk.