SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Sixteen recruits completed the inaugural Bible Boot Camp at First Waughtown Baptist Church (FWBC) on Friday, July 22. The new soldiers, ranging in age from 5 to 14, celebrated their new assignment in God’s Army with a Saturday trip to see the stage production of “Samson: The Last Judge” at the NarroWay Productions Christian Theater in Fort Mill, S.C.
During the two-week camp, recruits worked in groups of four, each named for a lollipop flavor. Breakfast and lunch served in the FWBC mess hall ensured that the soldiers kept up their strength. Every day offered a rigorous schedule of activities that included lessons on the meaning and organization of the Bible, selected stories from the Bible, role plays of biblical events, and physical activities with questions and agility tasks to earn points. The recruits also visited the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum in Gibsonville, N.C. and wrote a booklet of personal psalms.
The Bible Challenge closing event followed a game-show format similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with parents and other family members in the audience. After a spirited contest, the final scores show that all the recruits competed enthusiastically and learned a lot.
Each new soldier received a Bible, certificate, trophy, medallion, gift card, and a laminated copy of their group’s original psalm.
Operating under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Sergeant Major Dennis W. Bishop, Senior Pastor of FWBC, and Drill Sergeant Tamara Moore, program director, led a core of camp volunteers: Beverly Bishop, Brian Cager, JoCelia Cager, Tonya Canty, Jay Carlton, Molly Cunningham, Barbara Coleman, Gary Garlington, Myrtle Hairston, Rodney Hairston, Dale Martin, and Marilyn Roseboro.