CJ Gets Visitors at Teen Missions

CJ was excited to get visitors at Boot Camp. Here is Roz Jones, an Aunt living in Titusville, Florida. Although Roz and her family have lived in Titusville for years, she had never visited Merritt Island, Teen Missions International. She said she enjoyed attending the Commissioning Ceremony on Sunday night. She returned with her son on Wednesday, CJ's last day before the long trip to Zambia. Here she is with CJ. In the car seat is her son. Thanks, Roz for the visit! CJ will return home on his 16th birthday, August 16th.

CJ Works BootCamp

About | Boot Camp Training
THE LORD’S BOOT CAMP

On the move...Our rugged 250-acre training facility in Merritt Island, FL, is not “pamper camp”. This two-week primitive camp (modified in length for Preteens, (ages 10 – 13), Peanuts (ages 7 -9) and Mustard Seeds (ages 4-6), acquaints youth and their leaders with realistic conditions of the mission field. Young missionaries learn teamwork and unity on the daily timed Obstacle Course and experiences each training activity as a team. Classes in Bible, drama, music, basic construction, evangelism, spiritual and practical survival skills, and music are required. Specialty teams receive focused instruction including choir, clowning, motorcycle, video/film, backpacking and TESL (Teaching English as Second Language). Trained adult leaders maintain strong discipline at Boot Camp and on the field. Boot Camp climaxes with a candlelight Commissioning Service under the Big Top, when youth and leaders depart for their particular projects.
Obstacle Course Descriptions

Each aspect of Boot Camp training is designed to develop character traits necessary to handle the rigors and challenges of missionary life. Each obstacle course develops and tests a team’s ability to follow instructions, work within boundaries, and cooperate as a cohesive unit lifting up any member who might struggle or become discouraged.
MOSES

The Wall!The ‘granddaddy’ of them all… This course requires teamwork, endurance and courage. Team members learn to rely on the Lord for strength and to lift up their fellow team member to achieve a common goal. They also learn that one member who oversteps a boundary can adversely affect the entire team. Featured obstacles include the Children of Israel’s Luggage (stacking the 66 books of the Bible written on wooden boxes), Mount Sinai (scaling a tire mountain), Slough of Despond (rope swing over a moat), the Maze, Jacob’s Ladder (scaling a 30’ cargo net), and the Wall .

* NOTE : Preteens use the Moses Obstacle Course with some changes in rules and procedure. Peanuts (& Mustard Seeds) have a completely separate ‘mini-Moses’ Obstacle Course.

wateroc
JONAH (aka Water OC)

Seafarers Rejoice! You have not been forgotten! The classic obstacles (luggage, slough, tunnel, ladder and wall) return in watery form. A refreshing seascape cools each team as they navigate this course. You’ll do swimmingly!
THE OBSTACLE COURSE

"Whew... I I think I made it!"The Obstacle Course is an activity that emphasizes teamwork. Some of the obstacles include climbing over a pile of tires, swinging over a canal, maneuvering through a life-sized maze, climbing a 30-foot rope ladder and scaling a 12-foot wall. All the obstacles are based on Biblical themes. Hint: learn the Beatitudes, the Ten Plagues, the Ten Commandments and the names of the 12 disciples!
DEBRIEF

Debrief, held at the end of each summer project, equips young people to return to their homes and churches, putting into practice the things God has taught them throughout the summer.

Boot Camp and Debrief are essential aspects of Teen Missions training. All teens and adults involved in summer trips are required to participate for the entire length of Boot Camp, the project and Debrief.

Teen Missions International 40 years old

History

Teen Missions was founded in 1970 by a group of men and women who were passionate about getting youth involved in missions. The founder and director, Robert M. Bland, spent many years as a Youth For Christ director in Chillicothe, Ohio and recruitment director for the Christian Service Corps. The years he spent in ministry made him aware of several things that birthed the idea of Teen Missions:

* There were many young people who wanted to serve the Lord in missions, but were not extremely talented and did not have the required skills.
* A young girl once said that everyone had explained to her, “Come back when you have finished college and then you can get involved in the Lord’s work.” She stated, “I want to do something for the Lord now, not five years from now.”
* In many mission conferences there were no teenagers present at all. They evidently felt that missions were for older people. Mr. Bland felt there was an obvious need to get teenagers involved since they are the next generation of missionaries and leaders.The innovative idea of involving teenagers in missions continued to develop and that summer the first Teen Missions team embarked to the country of Mexico. Though it was a meager beginning, the program took off and now boasts of over 40 teams that travel to 30 some countries each year. The goal of Teen Missions is to awaken teenagers to the needs in missions, acquaint them with the reality of life on the mission field and give them an opportunity to serve the Lord through work projects and evangelism. Each team member is required to raise their own support to cover the cost of their summer team, which gives them practical experience in raising finances, similar to what other missionaries must do before they go overseas. The money the teens raise goes towards building costs, plane tickets, food and any other supplies needed for their time overseas.

Letter and Brochure sent our to Request Donations and Prayers

This is the letter and the brochure we sent out to over 100 friends and family requesting donations. And didn't they respond. Donations came from church members, church, friends, and family. Thank you. It would never had happened without these donations.

CJ Accepts Summer Trip to Teen Missions!

Hi. My name is Christian James Walker. They call me CJ, etc. I have been accepted to go with Teen Missions International to Zambia. Our team will be a precisions step team. We will spend our day teaching the orphans how to practice
step. Opportunities are available for evangelism through music, puppets, and drama.

We will meet in Florida for two weeks of intensive training at Teen Missions primitive Boot Camp. Classes in Spiritual growth, Bible Study, evangelism, music, drama, puppets and construction will help prepare us for our ministry.

On the field, in addition to our work project, we will also be involved with evangelism ministry, as well as Bible memory, Bible studies and special classes for us to develop goals and spiritual maturity. On Sundays we will share the Gospel through personal testimonies, music and puppetry in local churches and the surrounding areas.

At the conclusion of our ministry, we will join other teams for Debrief--several days set aside for fun, rest and relaxation to prepare us for returning to family, church and friends. We will also attend classes designed to help us readjust to life at home and to get more involved in ministries at our school and home church. After this special time, we will return home to share our summer ministry experience.

This Teen Mission to Zambia cost $4000+. My grandmother, Cynthia Calloway, my mom, Cheryl Walker, and I sent out letters and asked friends, family and church members for donations. Thanks to all of their generous supports--some giving on the spot--we raised the money and I was able to attend. This Blog is dedicated to those who contributed and want to
follow my progress... Thank you for your gifts, donations and prayers!