With a record attendance of more than 100 participants, the three-day annual GSCC Family Camp faithfully carried out its theme “Return, Restore, Renew,” which is lifted from Matthew 11:8 : “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Held August 27-30 at Forrest Hills, California, the camp was brought to a successful conclusion by Jeff Nazaire, this years camp director, assisted by members of the J-YA.
Planned to give GSCC members the opportunity to temporarily escape life’s daily grind, seek the presence of God and be in fellowship with Him and with fellow church members, the camp culminated in a challenge night campfire wheremajority of the members responded by approaching the pastors for prayers as they renewed their commitment to serve God. Earlier on the second day, Pastors Oyette Fernando, Jun Caruz, Dani Castillo and Eric Faustino presided over the baptism of some 11 new members, namely: Mike Kearney, Nenita Anderson, Frank del Rosario, Mary Ann Santa Ana, Maritz Casimiro, Carlos Chavez, Rachelle Vo, Jing Cordero, Cecile Lindsey, Domingo Eminiano,and Eric Olivar.
During the 3-day camp the pastors held services focused on the event’s 3R -theme. Pastor Oyette emphasized the need to Return to God who, he said, put us on this journey, wants to join us in the journey and calls us to a new journey. “It’s time to walk with Him to experience the rhythm of life,” he said.
Pastor Jun Caruz spoke on the need to Restore the God image in us and our intimacy with Him. “Repentance where there is a desire to turn away from sin,” he said, “is the key to the restoration process.” Skimming on Peter’s flawed commitment to Jesus, Pastor Dani Castillo laid down the principles of Renewal, namely: God is pleased with my commitment to Him; God knows I will have problems with my commitment; God’s love and grace never changes even if my commitment fails; and God always initiates the first move so I can renew my commitment to Him. “I always need to return to the Lord to be restored and to be renewed so that I will again be ready to serve Him effectively,” he concluded.
Spicing up the camp were a friendly sports competition and the much anticipated rivalry in skit presentation for which members, divided into the red, yellow, green and blue teams, gamely conceptualized and presented Glee-inspired skits based on the camp theme. The Yellow Team, which was led by Pastor Eric and which topped the Olympic and placed second in the skit competitions, emerged this year’s general champion. Tied as first runners-up were Pastor Dani’s Blue Team, which got the nod of the judges in the skit presentation, and Pastor Oyette’s Green Team. Pastor Jun’s Red Team came in third.
Subsidized with funds from a series of fund raising supported by members, the camp was light on the pocket of campers who enjoyed comfortable accommodations and good food. Meanwhile, next year’s family camp is already on the BOE’s drawing board with Camanche Lake as the likely camp site.
