Two awesome camps!

This year's youth camps were incredible times in the Heartland. We did just about everything but sleep (as I'm sure parents noticed when their kids got back home). Our morning prayer sessions were a hit. Jenny and David Oxley did an incredible job as cooks for both camps (with only 3 days notice!). Our outings were outstanding, and the services were powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit. We saw an 18% increase in attendance above our 2008 youth camps.

Experience 1

One Voice from Southwestern Christian University was incredible. Not only did they lead us into the presence of the Lord during each service, but they also counseled and worked like crazy. They did everything we asked of them and more! Thank you Heather Pugh for your awesome team!

National IPHC youth pastor, Charles Boyd ministered to us. All of his messages were phenomenal. We had young people "killing the rats" in their lives! In particular, our service at Red Rock Canyon featured a message about Mephibosheth. Charles asked the question "Young person, who in your life has dropped you?" Many chose to forgive people and situations that had caused them great pain!

- who dropped you?

Stats:

• 113 campers
• 8 salvations
• 92 rededications to the Lord
• 9 baptized with the Holy Spirit
• 68 professed a call into the ministry (we checked that stat two times because it almost seemed too good to be true!)

Experience 2

In our second camp Zack Merrill came to the Heartland for the third time, and served up some spectacular worship as always. We also had an outdoor concert at ActiveChurch (Pastors Deral and Michelle Hardy) with local Christian hip-hop artist Cam. His lyrics really made us think! Our campers passed out thousands of flyers for the concert at ActiveChurch. Thank you Deral and Michelle for letting us work with you to do an outreach!

Brian Wise returned from ministering at Extreme Daze 2008. He brought footage on a climbing trip he made at Mount Magazine in Arkansas. He really brought home the elevate theme. On the last night, after an afternoon scavenger hunt in which the campers built tents in the auditorium, Brian preached on "tenting with God," while the campers sat in their tents. At the end of the message he showed the students that all the blankets, pillows, etc. were from their rooms and they could "tent" with God anytime in their bedrooms at home — awesome point!

Stats:

• 69 campers
• 3 salvations
• 20 rededications to the Lord
• 4 baptisms with the Holy Spirit

We are proud of all the entrants in Teen Talent and Junior Talent for 2009. It is exciting to see the up-and-coming ministry of all these young people in our churches. Read more for the results:

Winners —

You must register for with the national CEM office for National Fine Arts by May 1, 2009 to be eligible to compete!

Correction: Registration forms for our conference teen winners have been forwarded to the national CEM office. HOWEVER, you must still fill out the Fine Arts Registration section on the <Youth Quest Registration form> to be entered in nationals. There is an earlybird registration rate through June 18, 2009.

Remember to let CEM director Stuart Sherrill know by May 15, 2009 if you will be unable to compete at National Talent Quest in Greensboro, NC in July. Failure to do so will result in your disqualification from participation next year.

The conference voted in September 2008 to renovate our campgrounds. Part of these renovations called for a new swimming pool. Many do not know that we had a swimming pool in the 1970s. The original was backfilled many years ago and had 15-foot trees growing in it. Unfortunately we didn't snap any pictures before the trees were removed.

We are grateful to Bishop Tunstall, the conference board, and the swimming pool committee for the progress being made. Pastor Richard Goad is the chairman of the pool committee