SBTC partners with ‘Go Tell’ camps for summer student event in Nacogdoches

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is partnering for the first time with Rick Gage Ministries to offer an SBTC “Go Tell” Student Camp June 27-July 1 at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

More than 50,000 students have attended “Go Tell” Student Camps since the camps began in 1989.

Last year, Go Tell Student Camps were held in Georgia, Virginia and at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, drawing a total of 4,000 students from 20 states. More than 600 of those students participated in community outreach during the camp, leading more than 100 people to Christ.

It’s that kind of experience Brad Bunting, SBTC youth evangelism associate, hopes to offer as well for SBTC students this summer.

“We were attracted to Rick Gages’ Go Tell camps because of their strong evangelistic emphasis. Every student that goes through that camp will hear the gospel repeatedly and will be given an opportunity to respond. And everyone will leave motivated and equipped to share their faith. I’m also very excited about the fact that the camp not only teaches students how to share their faith and why they need to share their faith, but also gives them opportunities to actually begin to do it.”

The Texas camp will include First Baptist Colleyville Pastor Frank Harber, Olympic swimming gold medalist Josh Davis, evangelists Ronnie Hill, and Gage, Austin pastor Kie Bowman and Liberty University professor Ergun Caner. The camp will also feature the Commonground Band plus Christian pop musician Tait of dc Talk.

The camp will include campus-wide services in the mornings and evenings, with breakout groups for both students and adults, Gage said.

During the week, students also participate in regional outreach, performing public services such as free car washes and other projects for a springboard to share the gospel.

“They get a taste of it at Go Tell, and then they get home to their towns and they want to continue it,” Gage remarked.

Go Tell Student Camps have hosted speakers such as Christian apologist Josh McDowell and Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt.

In a camp video on the ministry’s website, McDowell endorses the camp for its clear gospel presentation, “in-depth discipleship” and its vision for preparing students to reach their friends when they return home.

“I believe the youth of America need to hear from godly men, preachers, who are committed to reaching the younger generation,” Gage said in an interview with the TEXAN during the Empower Evangelism Conference in February. “We create an environment where adult leaders who come will be challenged, equipped and inspired as well. ? We hear of complacent churches where students and adults have returned to share their testimonies on Sunday night and revival breaks out.”

Each SBTC church should have received in February a camp information packet that included one adult and one student scholarship.

Registration is limited, Bunting said. For camp costs and registration information, visit www.planetstudents.org.