HOPE PHILIPPINES CAMP 2015: WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Lives will never be the same again for members of Hope Philippines as they trooped to Sitio Lucia Resort in Bulacan, Philippines for their Annual Summer Camp last April 2 to 4, 2015. Bannering the theme “Walk in the Spirit”, this year’s Camp focused on equipping the local church to walk closer with the Holy Spirit as we endeavor to become the glorious end-time church we were meant to be. 



The guest speaker this year was Pastor Mayette Alkuino of Hope Bangkok – Oasis Church, a powerful intercessor and Spirit-filled leader herself. She, along with Pastor Soradej and Sister Eunice Meesaengtham, blessed the church with their anointed teachings and insights on how to walk in the Spirit.



A total of 275 adult campers and 48 kid campers joined the three-day activity, with delegates from the main Hope Manila church in San Juan and its daughter churches and centers, such as Hope Cebu, Hope Cavite, Hope Cabuyao, Hope San Pedro, Hope Sta. Rosa, Hope Pasig, Hope Taft, and Hope Quezon City. A delegation from Hope Bangkok-Oasis church also participated.

The delegation was larger this year compared to the last. In spite of the extremely hot weather, the campers immediately felt “at home” at the venue given that this was the second time the camp was held there. Campers arrived at the campsite on the evening of Wednesday, April 1, where dinner and sleeping quarters were already waiting for them. This allowed everyone to get some much-needed rest after the short but traffic-laden trip from Manila, and wake up ready and refreshed for the opening of camp the next day.



How did each day look like for the campers? Each day officially starts when campers are roused by energetic members of the Ushering Team who visits all the rooms at exactly 5:30 a.m. for the wake-up call. When ready, campers then meet with their respective Life Groups at designated areas to have their morning devotion. Breakfast follows shortly thereafter. Then it’s off to the conference hall for Praise and Worship, Prayer, and Teachings, interrupted only by short breaks and lunch.

Camp is not just about teaching, of course. So, in the afternoon, campers (organized into different teams) get to compete with each other in various sports during Hope Games. Events included the Cheering Competition, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Table Tennis, Women’s Table Tennis, Chess, an Obstacle Course, and other games. Competitions were held for two days, all in the afternoon after the morning teaching sessions.

But physical competition was not all that was in store for the campers, as there was also an Interchurch Bible Quiz on the second day, with representatives from all churches and centers represented. Winners of the Hope Games and Interchurch Bible Quiz were announced during the “Best of the Best" on the last day.

The evening sessions afforded some time for campers to meet God as they responded to the teachings on how to walk in the Spirit, and as the Holy Spirit ministered to each and every individual present. While several campers were baptized in water during the second day of camp, still more received the baptism of the Holy Spirit during the evening encounters.

Who says faith and fun don’t match? During the “Walk in the Spirit” Camp, campers got to learn more about who the Spirit is, exercise their faith, be filled with the Spirit’s power, respond to the stirring of the Spirit in their hearts, and then walk in the Spirit even as they fellowshipped and had fun in the various camp activities. Walking in the Spirit can be exciting and fun, and the campers experienced it themselves, even as they went home physically tired but still spiritually refreshed from Camp 2015.




By Jeanne Marie Bernardo