THE BIG SUMMER BREAK

The major characteristics of summer youth camp is the excitement and anticipation expressed by the youth. This year’s was no exception as the church’s youth groups from all the districts converged for the COP traditional summer social and spiritual bonding expedition. The event took place at Massabielle in Saint-Prix, outside Paris, where COP volunteers spent hours upon hours behind the scenes creating an exploratory atmosphere for campers, offering a wide range of activities such as football tournaments, athletics, basketball games, workout sessions, workshops and debates to suit the group’s interest.  Saint-Prix has been the ideal place for the church's summer youth programs consequently creating the perfect setting for the youth to kick back, relax and regenerate after a grueling academic year.

The mission of this year’s Youth Camp program, as always, is to support parents and the Church in teaching youth to develop their potential while learning that God's values are practical. The entire program surrounds this concept, giving it a beneficial design. Every program was designed with a mission statement in mind, drawing its guidance and inspiration from the Bible. Within this mission is contained a strong message to our youth. God's ways always work.
Enjoy some snapshots from the camp:

Here is an account from the perspective of one of the participants:
“We were, I believe, 73 in number  with the active participation of the National Head, Apostle  Osei Owusu Afriyie and the first lady Elizabeth, Pastors Martin Awuku, Obeng Asante and Owusu, Elders Birikorang and Sarfo, Deaconesses Sylvia (Troyes), Charlotte Nortey,  Gifty (National Youth Leader) and Sister Leticia Obeng Asante ( local youth leader Strasbourg) 
The creativity displayed at this meeting was just awesome. We had workshops and had to do studies on different characters of the Bible. Each group had to choose either a PowerPoint presentation or a play. It's amazing how several groups put together different plays, which added lots of laughter to the "ambiance". National Head commended Tracy for the good presentation she did with her group.   
We were really encouraged to be more passionate about our relationship with Christ. On a practical level this means we must give Him all in total surrender in order to reflect His character. We were also taught that in order to accomplish our mission on this earth (personally and also where others are concerned) we need to take good care of our health. We will reap whatever we sow, so if we continue with the sodas and junk food, a time will come when we won’t be fit enough to continue what God has called us to do. In short we have to make good investments.

Is that it's only when we really become passionate for Christ (Theme for the year - Youth ministry) that we'll be able to affect people with our lives. That's when they will be attracted to what we have, and we will be able to influence them. Just as the book of proverbs says " The end of a matter is better than its beginning". Therefore we must forget about how well or how badly we've done things in the past and just aim at pleasing Christ each day.

With a capital YES I’ll say that it was more than fulfilling!!!!
We saw our pastors jogging and doing pushups (cool). There was however less enthusiasm at table since the majority has more of an Afro-culinary fondness. (I guess there was no fufu & yam etc) The National Head shared a lot about his youthful days with us.  And of course, Paris District won the quiz for the 2nd time in a row, against 4 other districts, and brought the trophy back home!!! …Unforgettable experience”

More photos of the event..

Source: copfrance.com