An interview with the Youth Pastors, Richard & Louisa Evans

Q: Which year did you first attend camp and how many camps have you been to so far?
R: I attended my first Christian camp when I was 8 years old, back in England. My friend had invited me, and i went. But after that, I did not attend any other Camps until I attended FGT's Youth Camp in 2004. This year will be my 5th Youth Camp with FGT.

L: I first attended FGT's Youth Camp in 1989(!) and continued to attend four more Youth Camps until 1993, when I left to study in the UK. I was the (scary) Assistant Camp Commandant for the Camp in 1993.

Q: What are your fond memories about Youth Camp?
R: I felt last year's Youth Camp was really, really good. I really enjoyed all the teaching sessions, the times of ministry, the games and...going for a dip in the sea!

L: For me, Youth Camp is always a time of significant encounter with God. We were "highly spiritual" in those days (hehe) and would wake up at 5am to pray everyday during camp!

Q. What are your hopes for 365 in general in this year's Youth Camp?
(apart from that fire would come down from heaven!!!)
R: That God would 'prime' the new generation. 'Prime' is preparation. It's like when you want to paint a wall you have to 'prime' it first (strip the old paint off and put on an undercoat, or "primer" layer) before actually repainting it. Likewise, I believe there has to be some preparation done amongst us before we will see God really move. I also would like to see a much stronger sense of Community/Fellowship (Koinonia) built up among our young people.

L: I would like everyone to have an encounter with God and hear something from God personally. That God would be real to them, because many have still not had that experience. After an encounter with God, you can't stay the same. People won't give their lives to serve God without a real encounter with God. I believe that God will do something significant for 365 this year.

Q. What do you think of the theme 'Survive, Thrive, Revive'?
R: I love it! It is very appropriate! For the 365, in some sense we have "strived" and "thrived", but we need the spiritual "revival" from God to really take us further. At the end of the day, it's God who is able.

Q. What would you like to tell the campers?
L: People need to come prepared to receive something from God for their spiritual lives. They need to remind themselves that this is 4 solid days with God, and for God, to "allow" Him to do something in their spiritual lives.

R: The camp committee has worked very hard and worked very well this whole year! I particularly like the Camp Blog and I love the Captain Able "cartoons"! Personally I would also love to see many more people sign up for camp over these next couple of weeks...I believe that the camp will be great time and that it would be a great shame for anybody to miss out on what God is about to do!


Samuel

365 Youth Camp 2008 Committee - Part 1

:: Commandant ::

Name: Abel Cheah Sze Wei

Age: 20

Occupation: Student, Monash University

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Band: U2

Favorite Movies: Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, 300, A Beautiful Mind, The Prestige

What kind of songs do I usually like to listen?

Swing, Rock, Easy Listening

What would I do normally with my free time?

If I'm not in university, or writing papers/completing assignments, I'd be teaching at night or reading. I like spending time with friends over a meal/movie too.

How would I describe myself...

Fairly passionate and goal-oriented, but I like having fun too (although less opportunities these days). Thankful I'm in a place to both lead and submit, and be trained to improve on many levels in my life. Hungry for many things (including food).

Youth Camp...

I'm hoping that the youth camp this year will be a historical point in many youths' lives. As commandant, I'm hoping we (the committee) will do a decent job to make the camp conducive. I'm thankful for the team working together and looking forward to a great end to the year.

:: Assistant-Commandants ::

Name: Michelle Chun

Age: 17

Occupation: Student, Taylor's College.

Favorite Color: Bluegreen

Favorite Movies: Movies tat make me think, laugh or cry.

What kind of songs do I usually like to listen? classical, now starting to like indie, and jazz (:

What would I do normally with my free time?
Read!, write, scribble and draw stuff, catch up with all the peoples in the world.

How would I describe myself...
Michelle. Girl. Commie. Arsenal fan (the six-zero win was awesome). Milk-holic. One sister, no brothers. Likes swinging, music and art. Books of all kinds. Can be pretty lame but most of the time attempts to be logical. Loves easily. Hates roaches, lizards and mosquitoes. And wants to be more like Him each day.

Youth Camp...
Youth Camp is always awesome. Do come. (:

---------------
Name: Paul Leong Zi Xin

Age: 18

Occupation: Student, Life College.

Favorite Color: Black & Blue

Favorite Movies: Action movies...movies that don't requires any thinking =P

What kind of songs do I usually like to listen? rock... classic rock... jazz

What would I do normally with my free time?
most of the time i'll be in front of my computer =)

How would I describe myself...
A guy who always gets himself stressed up and busy. But at the same time, loving the feel of satisfaction when a thing is accomplished. =)

Youth Camp...
is like a event that you can't miss it man! It would be a blast!!! COME AND JOIN!!!

:: Secretary & Treasurer ::

Name: Jamie Koo Hui Leng

Age: 19
Occupation: Student, Taylor's Business School - Accounting & Finance
Favorite Color: White
Favorite Band: If you have one. Nah, none in particular.. as long as the song sounds good.I am kinda into oldies as well=)
Favorite Movies: Inspiring ones, tear-jerking ones, thrillers

What kind of songs do I usually like to listen?
Country, classic, sentimental

What would I do normally with my free time?
hmm..I like journaling about my thoughts and things i think worth remembering.

How would I describe myself...

Myself? I like living life with simplicity. I guess people around me knows me better than I do. They said I am lame and I had to admit to that fact but not all the time! Love sharing my thoughts and listening to people. Also, like spending some time alone to think about random stuff. Enjoy meeting new people. Love clothes with combination of black, white and red. Love beaches and sound of the waves but not so much of the water. Easily satisfied and would like to get myself tanned.

Youth Camp...

...is something you just have to experience it yourself at least once, and you will look forward for the next one! it is not so much of just going there to have fun, but a few days set aside totally for God and experience the most of God together with your friends.Every camp has it's significance in within and so much more to gain such as friendship and games with nothing to lose! =)

:: Head of Games Dept. & Adviser ::

Name: Samuel John Chandran
Age: 25
Occupation: Working- Full Gospel Tabernacle
Favorite Color: Any colour will do, except pink!
Favorite Band: Lots of rock bands.
Favorite Movies: Lord of the Rings, Matrix, The Green Mile

What kind of songs do I usually like to listen?
Rock, alternative rock..

What would I do normally with my free time?
Rest a lot, play games, just hang out.

How would I describe myself...

From the 'land of trees, lakes and exotic apes' called Taiping. Happy go lucky in nature. Am a person who needs to have a bit of fun in everything i do.

A neat freak, which can sometimes be annoying. Love to eat, which explains my tummy.:-)

...to be continued...

And here, the 2nd episode of the 2nd season of "The Adventures of Captain Able"

Please enjoy =)

Great news to all!!


Remember Captain Able?

HE IS BACK!!

Now, Season 2 of "The Adventures of Captain Able"

Interview with the Seniors (Part 1)

(From left: Uncle Mun Leong and Uncle Kim Hong, in their youth)

The FGT youth camp has been ongoing for many years and it has changed in different ways, yet people remember it for the same reasons. Having been in a few youth camps and now, heading this one, I decided to ask two 'veteran' youth campers about their own personal experiences in all their past years of camp before us. The result was an insightful, interesting reply from them. The following (Part 1) is Uncle Mun Leong's response to the questions we posed them.

1) When was the first youth camp that you went to (year)?

If there is a reward for the most camps that an FGT member has attended, I must say that I would be one of the top few recipients (that would say much about my age - although I'm just a few years older than Grace Eu). My first camp was our first Fgt camp back in 1981 (I know some of you reading this were not even born yet - time flies.) During those times our favourite campsite was in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands. My last Youth Camp was in 1998 and it was held at STM Rahang, Negri Sembilan

2) From all the years that you went to youth camp, what can you remember most clearly that has probably changed your life?

Camps were like altars in my life, altars not meaning idols, but landmarks in my life that changed me. Each camp was like an altar to me, I have "stones' that I keep in remembrance of what God has done in my life. The first camp would probably be the camp that changed my life in terms of my attitude towards God and service to Him, as God challenged me to serve Him faithfully.

3) Any funny/interesting moments? (Any particular incident)

I would say one of the most interesting moments of any camp was the "Banquet Night". Banquet Night was the night when the guys dated the girls out - under the watchful eyes of the leaders! Each couple was determined by drawing lots. How anxious everyone was to find out who their dates were. When we were informed of our dates about an hour before the function, the first shouts were heard from the girls chalet! (Huh talk about boys not controlling themselves). Before we went to the girls' dorm to"date" them out we were coached by our dorm leaders on what to say and do. The aim was exposing our young people to simple etiquette and manners.

For me my highlight would be my very first camp. When we arrived at the campsite and my friends and I were told that we were going to be in the same dorm as Ps Hong Seng, Hock Huat & Yuen Woh, we thought it was going to be a "terrible" camp for us. We thought we needed to be prim and proper but I tell you that we had the most enjoyable time in the dorm as they were the ones who were the jokers, teasers and making a lot of noise in the dorm that makes the whole place fun to be. Even when the lights were out we were talking in whispers, sharing our "deepest secrets". I remember that there was one year when we had no hot water and we had to shower in icy cold water and that was an experience.

4) What were the conditions of the campsites that you went to, and how were the physical environments like?

I must say that in those days the campsite especially Ringlet in Camerons would be about 3-4 star. We stayed in a cosy 3 room chalet - 1 bath & 1 toilet. The meeting hall could easily accommodate up to 90 people. They also had a field where we had our games & telematches. One of the events that we had each year was a picnic at a nearby lake. It is a lovely spot with mountains rising up quite high, a cool, strong breeze, cottages scattered over the hillsides and trees beside the lake swaying with the breeze. The campsite is also a place where we could go for our walks and spend time with God.

5) What would be the highlight of a youth camp, as you knew it back then?

We had fun, good food, and most of all the spiritual food. One highlight for me was that during those times we had to take turns as a group to assist in preparing the meals. (not cooking lah - they have a cook). It fostered better unity among the groups as each group did its best during meal times. We had to also wash up after each meal.

The most important highlight of the camp was listening and studying the Word of God together. We had workshops that helped us to know the Word of God better. Many were challenged afresh to rededicate their lives to God. Many were touched by the presence of God and experiencing tremendous breakthrough in their lives.

6) Why would you encourage the youth today to come to camp?

To build a stronger relationship horizontally (manward) and vertically (Godward). 'Horizontally', because by staying together for the couple of days you not only discover the true colours of your fellow campers but you are able to get to know each other better and develop good friendships and 'Vertically', because through the few days in camp you are able to "concentrate" only on God and allow Him to speak into your life.

7) What makes a good camp?

A good camp planning committee, a heart that is prepared to receive and get ministered, prayer and not forgetting God who is the Lord of every camp.

Thank you, Uncle Mun Leong.

Part 2 (Uncle Kim Hong) will be posted soon.

Abel Cheah

Camp Prayer

Dear 365 Campers,

As of last week, as the Early-Bird Discount ended, our registration list hit 95 sign-ups! Continue to invite your friends to join us, there's still plenty of room and remember, it is a great opportunity to bond with your fellow 365 members.

This Friday, the 7th of Nov will be our first Youth Camp Prayer Meeting. It will be at 7.45 p.m. at the Tung Ling pantry. Much prayer is needed for a successful camp, and our committee would greatly appreciate the support as well...

We will also have a T-Shirt Fitting session on Saturday, after the 365 meeting for those who have ordered their T-Shirts. This will help give the ones interested in buying the T-shirts an idea of the sizes, as they try out the samples.

It's an exciting time, and we're gearing towards the big event. Let's expect great things this December :>

Abel

FINALLY!!



The moment all you people have been waiting for....


PRESENTING....

THE ADVENTURES OF...
CAPTAIN ABLE!!

And that is all people.

Credits to all actors, the church bench, the road...

And last but not least, GOD for being able. Yes, God is Able.
(not Abel)