Story - Sports Plus Camp 2004

It was exciting to be able to run 3 Sports Plus Camp this summer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Below are some reflections from the young people and leaders that came.

I came away knowing God loved me

The atmosphere was FAB. Even the morning run turned out to be a laugh! Being greeted with cheers and chants, and sometimes a tunnel entrance of people to run under!!

We were all so fired up for everything; the new challenges in our sports and in our faiths. It was such an inspiration to see everyone there enjoying themselves and the leaders cared so much for our views and really encouraged us to further our understandings.

I came away (as I’m sure everyone else did) with a lot of things. I’d made new friendships; got better at my sports and even got a tan! But more importantly I came away knowing God loved me and everyone else on that camp and he made Sports Plus Camp Armagh as brilliant as it was.

Sports Plus Camp Armagh 2004 - The Best Week Of My Summer!
We arrived in Armagh at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. We were given our nametags, t-shirts and 'Go for it' bibles. We set our bags down and played a few games with rugby balls and tennis balls until everyone had arrived.

We were all put into teams for the week. I was in team France (which was the best team!) When everyone had arrived we were taken off in our groups and shown to our dorms and around the school. The first few hours were the only hours of the week that things were taken easy!

After our tour we had to go to a short meeting. This was to tell us about times and rules and stuff. It was then into continuous work, sport, eating, and learning more about God non stop for 5 and a half days!

For the first sport you had a choice of hockey, football, tennis or rugby. I choose rugby. We would begin with a run and stretches, then do some drills and finish of with a game or an assault course. Half way through the session we would have a water break. In this time each day one of our coaches would tell us a little bit about how they became a Christian.

There were a few special appearances throughout the week by Chris Jones (Welsh Rugby Development Officer), Ian Humphreys and David Humphreys. The coaching was top class and I would recommend it for any young rugby player.

In the evening meeting the topic was 'Who do we say Jesus is?' We played games and sang songs and had the talk. The talks were very good and interesting. After the evening meeting we had meetings with our groups. We would play a game or two then expand on the evening talk, doing bible studies and just talking more about it. It was very good and I personally learnt a lot
from it.Meal times at camp are something else. I didn't think it was possible for some people to eat so much food and sing at the same time! The craic was brilliant!

I just want to finish by encouraging anyone thinking about coming to a Christian based camp to come to this one. It will be one of the best and most enjoyable weeks of your life ever! I hope to see you all at Sports Plus 2005 . because I will definitely be there!!!
F

Armagh, what a quality week!!! Apart from spending most of it wishing that I was of age to be a camper, I spent my days coaching some highly tuned athletes the finer points of the notorious game of rugby union, under the instruction of the legendary Head Coach - Sir Kirky.

The rugby coaching was great banter and the group of guys we had worked really hard all week, even through the Tower Man Assault Courses. We also had the privilege of being joined through the week by the legendary Chris Jones who not only killed the guys on the pitch with hours of contact but also shared an amazing testimony which all seemed to appreciate and take in. We also had visits from David and Ian Humphrey's and obviously the guys benefited from some handling and kicking coaching but also from informal chats from our two international stars. Another surprise to my week was a girls rugby session which turned out to be very successful.

The meetings throughout the week were top class as they were very informal and the talks seemed to be challenging and beneficial for both kids and leaders. Also the coaches, when they were not indulging themselves in late night Volleyball, or for our injured party, Crutch or Couch Tennis had a Bible study which certainly taught me an awful lot in terms of how to get as much out of reading the Bible as possible.

Stephen Robinson

This was the unofficial anthem of Sports Plus Camp Armagh. From the morning jog, coaching sessions, main meetings and meal times, the whole camp was always in song!

This was the first Sports Plus camp in Ireland and it went superbly well. This was due to the commitment of the coaches, the support staff and the team leaders. But most of all, it was the young people that made the week. We had over forty fantastic young people who showed great enthusiasm, openness and honesty while really responding to the message of Jesus. Some responded instantly while for the others, we pray that the seeds have been planted and will be watered in to God’s own time. One thing was certain – God was definitely at work in Armagh!"

How do you cram into an article, everything which took place at a sportscamp….impossible (..for me anyway)!!! However, if there is one thing that sums up the camp in my mind it was the reminder during an evening’s main meeting after dinner, when we sang ‘Our God is an awesome God.’

He truly is. The fact that the camp took place at all in the Royal School was great and to hear many of the kids, who came from the area I work in, ask me when can we start fundraising for next year’s camp, was amazing! To see so many enthusiastic coaches and team leaders giving up holiday time for Christ’s sake was a tremendous encouragement, and to see approximately 40 campers there ‘having a ball’ from start to finish was fantastic!

In asking a 15 year old what he thought of camp, the instant reply was, “Weaker (i.e good!!), the leaders were amazing, the meetings were fun, everything was so well organised but please put the ages up next year so that I can come back again!”

Undoubtedly camp is about having fun, running around in the open air, learning new sports skills, and meeting new people and more….. but primarily camp is about hearing the truth about Jesus Christ.

Throughout camp, we were constantly referring to a biography of Jesus Christ, Mark’s Gospel. Just as an enlightened reader of this book experiences an increasing awareness of the person and works of Christ, it was great to witness a camper suddenly have it dawn upon his thinking, “…but I had always thought Christianity was only for older white haired women.”

Immediately proceeding the afternoon’s coaching, was ‘Team Challenge,’ a multi-sport event played to the theme of the African Nations Cup. Throughout the week, campers got to meet other young people, they would not otherwise have met nor spoken to. In what was a highly competitive week, most teams were in with a shout for honour right up until the last game. ‘Take the flag,’ ‘rugby netball’ and non-stop cricket were among the favourites.

Despite the busyness of camp, time was given to consider those in Africa less privileged than ourselves, by raising much needed funds for sports equipment through a sponsored run. Somehow a ‘run’ sounds quite leisurely, however the ‘bleep test,’ which involves continuously running and turning over short distances before a bleep is heard, does actually get quite exhausting after a while…believe me!

A BIG thank you to all who came on camp and made it the camp it was, lets join to together and ask the Lord to build the house, lest the builders labour in vain.

Armagh camp 2004 – we had all been waiting for the first Christians in Sport camp in Northern Ireland and we were not disappointed. Armagh Royal School provided excellent facilities, there was a great mix of leaders from all parts of the UK and even the weather was good for N Ireland!

From the moment the campers arrived the atmosphere was fantastic and the singing continued from start to finish. It was good to see young people from all social backgrounds and those who had come from England all joining together and entering into the spirit of the camp. Without exception they were keen to participate and improve in their chosen sport, try new ones and play team challenge. During the week they played competitively and it was pleasing to see them respond so positively to coaches emphasising fair play and the behaviour that would be expected of Christians on the pitch.

Team leaders were enthusiastic, worked hard and were often encouraged by the young people’s questions and response to the evening meetings and Bible studies. They formed good relationships with their teams, and this was obvious in many ways from encouragement at the early morning run, to the team songs and support at team challenge.

We had lots of visitors during the week and many commented on the atmosphere at Armagh. There were many highlights from camp - the entertaining morning warm ups, the funky chicken song, the evening meetings, even the camp bleep test! However, throughout the week of sport and fun the young people were taught clearly who Jesus is and their need of a personal relationship with Him.

The feedback post camp has been very positive on many different levels, from not only parents and campers, but also coaches and team leaders. It was a great experience and hopefully this Sports Plus camp will become established in Northern Ireland and the work will continue to grow and develop to God’s glory.

"Just went to Sports Plus at Repton this year it was amazing. It was my first time too and I've never experienced Christ in my sport like I did at Repton. It's given me a new vision in sport and Christ.....Just wanted to ask for a New Year Conference form and when the Repton 2005 forms come out if you could please send me one because I want to be one of the first there - can't wait!!!"

Sports Plus Camp really is a must if you love playing sport and want to find out more about Jesus.

Sports Plus Camp 04 – What an experience! 5 days of fun were shared by everyone there. The week combined excellent coaching in a wide range of sports with getting to know who Jesus is and the amazing effect he can have on your life.

For us, the highlight had to be team challenge. Sharing our love for sport and for Christ, whether we were playing ultimate frisbee or everyone’s favourite – take the flag. The atmosphere was simply awesome.

As well as this, there were 2 sessions of sport per day, and an evening meeting for the whole camp which included games, music, inspiring talks and a time for prayer.

Sports Plus Camp really is a must if you love playing sport and want to find out more about Jesus.

It gave me a great deal of confidence about ways of spreading the good news of Jesus

I arrived at Repton very excited and maybe a little apprehensive because I had never done anything like it before and didn't know anyone else going!

However, by the end of the first evening lots of people had made me really welcome, and by the end of the training weekend I had a whole group of new friends who I was look

ing forward to spending the week with!! The teaching and training we received was amazing and I had never experienced anything like it! The fact that I was surrounded by hundreds of people who were all sports freaks with a passion for the gospel was so encouraging! As trainee leaders we got extra training throughout the week which was really useful and gave me a great deal of confidence about ways of spreading the good news of Jesus without sounding like a nutcase!!

My experience at Repton gave me a new passion for spreading the gospel and definitely gave me the tools and confidence to try to do so much more than I had previously in my Christian life. And just as an added bonus I met loads of great people who have similar ideas and passions to me which is ace! Cheryl Lawson

In the end, not even the traditional Welsh weather could dampen the enthusiasm of the young people at the Sports Plus Camp at Brecon. This year saw a mixture of rain, some sunny spells and plenty of sporting talent at this years’ ‘Camp of Unity’!

The young people not only started the week off with more specialist coaching options than ever before but they were also able to benefit from some fantastic new sports facilities, including cricket nets and a newly built astro-turf, which certainly came in handy when the weather turned! The athletes were also able to go off site to visit the local track and stadium and practise their events. The standard of ability was excellent and many of the coaches spoke about the ‘highest standard ever’ and ‘superb sporting practice’ amongst the young people in their groups.

Team challenge again was many young peoples’ favourite part of camp. The chants and team songs were tuneful and imaginative. Teamwork was key, with the young people all battling for first place. Particular victories were won on the football pitch, with the girls finally beating the boys’ teams on three occasions for the first time this year!

Meetings were another high point, with chanting and banter helping build the atmosphere and old favourites, like the ‘Secret Smile’ proving popular once again. Coaches, leaders and young people battled it out in the new challenge ‘Jumping In The House’, where the young people proved that youth and vitality were a winning combination – they won every time! The main theme of the week was ‘Who Do You Say Jesus Is?’ and every single young person was challenged with this question each day. We at Christians In Sport pray that those who have been made alive in Christ would strive to know him more closely after camp and that those who do not yet know him would think seriously about who Jesus is to them.

This year saw the first ever presentation of the ‘Jennie Marsh Trophy for the Most Improved Sportsperson’. This award remembers Jennie and celebrates the work that she has done for Christians In Sport and her commitment and love for Jesus. This year, it was awarded to Becky Woolley from team Uganda for her improved performance and her serving attitude towards the other young people in her group.

Lastly, Brecon waves a sad and sorry goodbye to Bryan Mason and thank him for all his hard work. This was his last year at Brecon and the face of discipline will be greatly missed. There’s also an opening for somebody to lead the morning run next year………