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Super Summer 2016 Wraps up at Mississippi College


Pictured are Super Summer campers: Charlsie Wilson of Bogue Chitto, Liza Kate Gregory of Tupelo, Kaitlyn Smith of West Point, Delaney Brister of Hernando, Maggie Shaw of Richton and Anna Marie Palmer of Rienzi.

Super Summer camps at Mississippi College focused on worship, community service and building leadership skills for 1,387 teens from scores of Baptist churches across the state.

“I’ve grown in my faith so much,” said Anna Grace Ricks, 16, of Brandon as activities were winding down on the Clinton campus. “Super Summer is a life-changing camp,” added the Rankin County teen from First Baptist Church-Fannin.

The final hours of their mid-July stay were capped off by a lightning strike damaging MC’s iconic clock tower on July 14.

Heavy thunderstorms Thursday night knocked out the electricity in Nelson Hall. But the storms of summer in Central Mississippi didn’t stop the powerful worship services in Swor Auditorium for 600 teens.

Teens continued singing hymns like “How Great Thou Art” despite the rare lightning bolt hitting the clock tower sitting atop the roof of the three-story building. There were no injuries.

As Super Summer 2016 neared an end, teens from cities stretching from Tupelo to the Gulf Coast took the message from guest speaker Bryant Bush to heart. “I tell them to find out what they are supposed to do and do it for the Lord,” said the Atlanta-based evangelist.

Whether they were saved, broken or in need of a stronger relationship with Christ, the teens left refreshed on July 15 from their five-day Super Summer visit at the Baptist-affiliated university.

Campers like William Nabholz, 18, of Clinton traveled only a few miles, but took away valuable lessons to contemplate as a Mississippi College freshman this fall.

The camps strengthened his resolve to help others once the Clinton High graduate finishes his medical studies. “I was on a mission trip to the Philippines and noticed there is a big need for doctors,” William said. The son of MC Singers conductor Mark Nabholz and voice teacher Fran Nabholz, the pre-med major is determined to make a difference in this world.

Members of Super Summer’s Purple School also arrived with a mission to serve. They’ve reached out to “We Will Go Ministries” in downtown Jackson in mid-July. The Christian ministry extends its arms in love to poor people through a clothes closet, food pantry, community garden and kids camp at “The Fountain” along Farish Street.

Purple Schoolers are committed teens who’ve attended Super Summer Camps since they were 8th graders. Red, yellow, blue and green schools signify the numbers of years that kids attended Super Summer.

Tupelo High graduate Lauren Kate Carter said the time spent at Super Summer was incredible, far exceeding expectations.

“Purple School prepared me to face the messy world we live in,” says Carter, who will attend MC this fall. “It prompted me to understand God’s presence, to understand how significant prayer is, to understand that a servant’s heart is required while following Jesus.”

Purple Schoolers and others prayed on campus, but also took time to kick soccer balls, and fellowship in the cafeteria. During a moment of patriotism, students hoisted USA flags and sang “America.”

A youth pastor at Tupelo’s West Jackson Street Baptist Church, Chris O’Daniel believes Super Summer differs from other camps.

“Super Summer challenges our youth to live out their faith,” O’Daniel said. “The challenge is made to live it every day, not just on Sunday and Wednesday, or special events, such as camp, where it’s easy to act like a Christian.”

Mississippi College’s 2016 camp season concludes July 22. This week, there are more than 300 teens here from Birmingham-based Student Life Camps. They arrived Monday from states including Texas, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

Overall, MC hosted more than 6,000 youngsters from 14 states for sports and church camps in June and July.