WS Chronicle

First Waughtown Baptist Church (FWBC) conducted its annual Bible Boot Camp July 21-23 with 19 campers ages 4-13 in attendance at the church at 838 Moravia Street. This year’s theme was I Live, I Move, I Breathe, based on Acts 17:22-31. 

The three-tier curriculum focused on Christ, culture, and community. Activities included Bible classes, crafts, travel to Greensboro, a community service project, and the closing awards ceremony. Each day included breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Day one of boot camp was devoted to Bible study of “Who is God?” to show the youth how God is involved in their daily lives so they can decide to have a relationship with Him –  to know God (salvation) and make Him known (service). Interactive presentations kept the campers alert and involved in the lessons. Team exercises allowed the participants to show what they learned in fierce but friendly competition.

The group boarded two vans and traveled to Greensboro on Friday to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and The Historic Magnolia House, once listed on The Green Book of places Black celebrities and other travelers could stay during the Jim Crow era. After tours of both facilities and lunch at the Magnolia House, the group ended the excursion with physical fun at Triad Park in Kernersville before returning to the church.

Saturday, the final day of camp, was particularly busy as the campers decorated and helped stuff 200 lunch bags as part of a community service project. One hundred lunch bags containing sandwiches, sweets, treats, and tracts were given to the Bethesda Center for distribution, 40 were given to persons on the FWBC weekly Wednesday meal list, and the remaining 60 were enjoyed by campers and family members at the close-out celebration where all campers received certificates based on years of participation and gift cards based on team competition. All first-year campers also received personal Bibles.

The following awards were presented:

Participants by Rank

SGT (6th Year): Syncere Blackwell, Jocelyn Hayes

CPL (5th Year): L Zedikkyah Mims

PFC (3rd Year): Celiah Cager, DeMarcus King, Jr.

Pvt2 (2nd Year): Brian-Austin Cager, Arianna Goodine-Shore, Isaiah Goodine-Shore, Maxwell Harrison, Nigel McClanahan, Niles McClanahan, Ciara Nelums

Pvt (1st Year): Saeed Cannon, Amina Black, Demariona Frazier, Donovan McCrary, Alexa Nelums, Eden Truesdale

Team Standings (Team names chosen by members)

First Place – Steph Curry – $12 Chick-fil-A gift cards

Brian-Austin Cager

Saeed Cannon

Demariona Frazier

Arianna Goodine-Shore

Jocelyn Hayes

Niles McClanahan

Patrick Small, II

Second Place – Blazers – $10 Chick-fil-A gift cards

Amina Black

DeMarcus King, Jr.

Nigel McClanahan

Ciara Nelums

Eden Truesdale

Third Place – Tune Quad – $8 Chick-fil-A gift cards

Syncere Blackwell

Celiah Cager

Isaiah Goodine-Shore

Maxwell Harrison

Donovan McCrary

Zedikkyah Mims

Alexa Nelums

Operating under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief – The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Camp Sergeant Major Dennis W. Bishop, senior pastor of FWBC,  and Drill Sergeant Tamara Moore, program director, led a troop of camp staff and trip chaperones:  Beverly Bishop, Brian Cager, Jo Celia Cager, Jay Carlton, Vera Carlton, Patrice Drone, Nodia Frazier, Gary Garlington, Myrtle Hairston, Rodney Hairston, Joël Jones, Jeanette Kelley, Dale Martin, Sr., Ashe Mock, Geneva Payne, Anastasia Polk-Bethea, Marilyn Roseboro, and Sandra White. Deja Hood, Nadia McClanahan, Terrell Robinson, Jr., and Kabari Walker served as teen assistants