Professional Documents
Culture Documents
year
May, 2012
Manila, Philippines
Foreword
Table of Contents
YOUTH CAMP MANUAL
Foreword 5
I. Organizing a Youth Camp
Expanded Outline 48
1 chapter
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Chapter 1
Youth Camp, is the the entry point to the Youth for Christ (YFC), the
youth program of Couples for Christ (CFC). It is a two-day, two-night live-in
camp usually conducted during the summer or semestral break to officially
bring teenagers and/or youth into an experience with Christ through YFC.
To fully appreciate the value of the Youth Camp and to make the most
out of it, it must be seen not just as a three-day experience where the
teenagers can have fun (although this is also important), but in the light of
the overall objectives of the Youth Camp, so that the youth can be joyful,
responsible and fruitful men and women of God.
The Youth Camp is not an end in itself or an annual diversion for
teenagers that will give them something to do during the summer or
semestral break, but it is the beginning of what will, hopefully, be a lifetime
commitment and journey with God.
The Youth Camp is a place where they will hear the Word of God
proclaimed by other youth like them in an environment of fun and
excitement where they do not experience any form of pressure from adults.
It is also a venue for the youth to form and build friendships with one
another through sports and games. It is an opportunity for them to share
their ideas and experiences, and entertain one another in a wholesome
environment, where Christian values are talked about and are actively
practiced.
Moreover, it is the place where they will be stimulated and encouraged
to develop their gifts and potentials for leadership, as they are exposed
to other youth who are actively involved in service. This will give them
opportunities to serve as speakers, facilitators, sports and games
coordinators, etc. This will also provide them opportunities to grow in
other services that are essential to their life as well.
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The Challenges
For the Youth Camp to be successful, it is important for the team
to be aware of the challenges which they might encounter throughout
the preparations.
Many teenagers will come to the camp due to the encouragement
and/or pressure from their parents. Because of this, the challenge to
all the service team is to make the participants enjoy every moment
of the activity and let them feel comfortable and welcomed.
1. The participants will be meeting a lot of people for the first time.
Teenagers act naturally and openly in the company of friends but
take a while to warm up to new faces. Having a Service Team will
help them to be at ease and feel welcomed.
2. Some of the youth are difficult to handle. Some of them may even
have serious addictions to drugs and alcohol. Others will come
with a rebellious spirit, while others may be harboring serious
resentments towards their parents and other people. For these
reasons, the presence of the Couple Coordinators in the Camp
will play a very important role. It is a general rule that there should
always be a Couple Coordinator (both husband and wife) assigned
all throughout the duration of the youth camp. Their pastoral and
spiritual role is significant in ensuring a smooth and successful
camp.
3. Many teenagers will find difficulty in committing to the Lord right
away, to the YFC Community, and to the whole new way of life
that is being offered to them. It will be hard for them to give up
a lot of their attachments, to their established set of friends and
to the regular activities that they are accustomed to. This poses
a real challenge to the team. The team must also come up with
activities that are appealling and challenging to the youth who
are full of energy and spirit. As to their spiritual commitment, we
must remember that the youth camp serves as our way of planting
the seed of Gods love to the participants. It is foretaste of a life
with Christ. The Camp is not the end but the beginning of their
life-long journey with God. This seed will grow in its perfect time
according to the will of God. Let us not be frustrated if we dont
get the expected outcome and commitment we expect from them.
As long as we gave our best to make them experience Gods love
all throughout the camp, God will do the rest.
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Important Conditions
Given the above objectives, both short and long-term, it is important
to make the following conditions in planning and conducting YFC Youth
Camps.
1. The YFC Youth Camp is the entry point to the CFC Youth for
Christ Ministry. It is not conducted unless there is a real intent
to establish YFC and sustain its membership in an area. This will
prevent the possibility of making the youth camp an end in itself
but rather a start to establish the ministry and help the youth in
their journey with the Lord.
2. This activity is open to all Catholic youth ages 12-21 years old.
Children of non-CFC members are also invited to join the Youth
Camp. However, it is an important consideration for the service
team to start evangelizing the children of CFC.
3. The ideal site of a Youth Camp is a retreat area or a campsite
where the youth can stay without disturbances or distractions. The
venue should be strategic and conducive enough for the team to
achieve all the goals and objectives of the camp.
a. It is possible to use school facilities during semestral and
summer breaks, and for the food to be catered by CFC
members if this will significantly reduce the cost of the Youth
Camp.
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Practical Considerations
1. Ideally, the initiative to organize the Youth Camp starts with the
Areas YFC Couple Coordinator. (In starting areas, the area head
will make the initiative in organizing the Youth Camp.) They can
organize just for their area if the number of their prospective
participants is enough. It is recommended that all Youth Camps
are conducted at the chapter level for easier monitoring and
sustainability of our members.
a. Start by getting the approval of the CFC leader in the area.
b. Survey the area and come up with a list of prospective
participants.
c. Work out the dates and details, such as venue of the Youth
Camp.
d. Form the team of YFC members who will serve in the team
- this include the Youth Camp Team Leader and his Assistant,
Speakers, Facilitators, Music Ministry, and Servants.
2. In the Camp, the couple coordinators allow the team leader and
Assistant, as well as the members of the service team, to lead
the activities. The couple coordinators oversee the activities and
provide pastoral support, direction and protection over the team.
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4. Other members of the team may stay in if they offer to pay for
their accommodations or if there are enough funds to pay for
them. They are expected to be in all the sessions and activities
throughout the youth camp.
5. During the Pray-over Session, the team may ask support from
other YFC members provided that certain rules will be set for the
safety of the YFC members going home after the session.
Note: The CFC Member/Couple Coordinators can help as prayer warriors and in
leading the rosary and prayer vigils during the pray-over sessions.
Chapter 2
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Activity
Person-in-charge
5:00 5:30PM
5:30 6:30
Arrival/ Registration
6:30 - 6:45
Gather/ Teaching of
songs
Sound System,
Guitar, and Song
Sheets
Orientation of
participants
Team leader
Venue
Orientation to parents
Couple Coordinator
7:00 8:00
Dinner
Camp Servant
8:00 8:30
Gathering of
participants/ Teaching
of songs
Venue
Food, Dining
Area
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Opening Prayer
Team Leader
6:45 7:00
8:30 8:35
Team Leader
Logistical
Needs
Venue
Table, chairs
8:50 9:30
Venue and
Sound System
9:30 10:00
Discussion Groups
Venue
10:00 10:30
Break
10:30 10:45
10:45 11:30
8:35 8:45
Energizer/ Games
Team Leader
8:45 9:25
9:25 9:55
Group Discussion
Venue and
chairs
9:55 10:00
Announcements/
Closing song (if desired)
Team Leader
Venue and
Sound System
10:00 11:00
Informal Fellowship
Team Leader
Sound System
11:00
Lights out
Camp Servant
Sleeping Areas
Camp Servant
7:00 7:30
Breakfast
Camp Servant
7:30 8:00
8:00 8:30
8:30 8:50
Gathering participants
Opening Song and
Prayer
Bell
Dining Area and
Food
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
Venue and
Sound System
Dining Area and
Food
Camp Servant
12:30 1:00
1:00 2:00
Team Leader
2:00 5:00
Confession (a must)/
One to Ones Session
5:00 6:30
6:30 7:30
Dinner
Camp Servant
7:30 8:00
8:00 8:45
DAY 2 SCHEDULE
Wake up call
LUNCH
8:45 9:00
6:00 7:00AM
Food
11:30 12:30PM
Sound System
Sound System
and Games
Materials
Venue, Sound
System, and
Diagram
Gathering of
participants/ Opening
Song and Prayer
TALK 3 - REPENTANCE,
FAITH, HEALING,AND
FORGIVENESS
Gathering of
Participants/Opening
Prayers
TALK 4- RECEIVING
GODS GIFT: THE
POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT
Commitment to Christ
Ceremony
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Team Leader
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
Confession Area
and one on one
Area
Venue and
Guitar
Dining Area and
Food
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
Venue and
Sound System
Speaker
9:00 10:00
10:00 10:15
Group Worship
10:15 10:30
Closing Exhortation
Team Leader
10:30 11:00
11:00 12:00AM
Program
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
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InformalFellowship
12:00
DAY 3 SCHEDULE
7:00 8:00AM
Breakfast
Camp Servant
8:00 8:15
Gather/ Teaching of
Songs
8:15 8:45
Worship / Common
Prayer Time
Team Leader
TALK 5- GROWING
IN THE SPIRIT / LIFE
AND MISSION OF YFC
Couple Coordinator
10:00 10:30
Team Leader
10:30 10:45
Couple Coordinator
and Team Leader
10:45 11:15
Dedication Ceremony
Sharing of Participants /
Praisefest
11:15 11:30
Couple Coordinator,
Team Leader and Music
Ministry
11:30 12:30PM
MASS
8:45 10:00
12:30
Team Leader
Dining Area
and Food
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
Dining Area
and Food
1:00 1:15
Gathering of
participants / Teaching
of songs
1:15 1:30
Worship
1:30 2:00
TALK 5- GROWING IN
THE SPIRIT / LIFE AND
MISSION OF YFC
2:00 2:30
Team Leader
2:30 2:45
Couple Coordinator
and Team Leader
2:45 3:15
Dedication Ceremony
Sharing of Participants /
Praisefest
3:15 3:30
Couple Coordinator,
Team Leader and
Music Ministry
3:30 4:30
MASS
4:30 5:00
Pack-up
Camp Servant
5:00
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Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Large area with
sets of 3 chairs
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
Song Sheets
and Mass Kit
(Note to the Service Team: The schedules written in this manual should serve as a guide for
the Youth Camp Service Team to follow. If circumstances call for a different schedule, the team
should adjust to follow the leading of the Spirit as long as the objectives of the camp are not
compromised.)
Wake up call
Camp Servant
8:00 9:00
Breakfast
Camp Servant
9:00 10:00
Team Leader
10:00 12:00PM
Games
Team Leader
12:00 1:00
Lunch
Camp Servant
Bell
Dining Area and
Food
Venue, Sound
System, Guitar,
and Song
Sheets
Dining Area and
Food
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c. The team leader and the assistant team leader together with
their couple coordinators work in consultation with each other
for unity, and provide focus for the team.
d. The team leader and the assistant team leader should be
prepared to give any of the five talks.
e. Make sure that the camp schedule is followed.
Note: The service team should be the model/ example of following the schedule.
b. Make sure that the team knows what to do and performs their
roles and responsibilities well.
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put order and focus on the goals that the camp should have
for the next day.
1. They must have a close coordination with the team leader and
assistant team before, during, and after the camp.
2. They should coordinate the schedule of the Youth Camp with the
CFC Chapter.
Note: In situations that are highly personal, correction is done one to one,
brother to brother, sister to sister. The couple coordinators should course
their corrections toward the youth through the leaders.
Exhorts
c. Help the speaker in preparing for the talk (i.e. Pointing out
the practical tips in giving talks found in Chapter 3 of this
manual).
5. Make sure that the four Fs (fun, friendship, freedom & faith) are
used, exercised and practiced properly.
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III.
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V. Post Camp
4. The entire session is a time for deep prayer. Prayer is best done in
a bright atmosphere; there is no need for us to turn off the lights.
It is also important that we conduct the pray-over session in a
conducive and well-lighted room.
5. Prayer warriors should pray until the end of the pray-over session.
6. This session is one of the most important parts of the youth camp.
One way of preparing for it is to remind the service team and
participants to dress appropriately. (Although no dress code or
color code is required.)
7. There must be a crucifix inside the session hall throughout the
Camp. This is a reminder that the camp should be focused and
centered on Christ.
8. During pray-over session, facilitators must not leave the place
unattended.
9. The speaker for the 4th talk is a pastorally mature YFC brother,
although exceptions can be made if it is an all girls camp.
10. There should be a full worship to end the session instead of a
praisefest after the pray-over session. (Refer to Talk 4 Expanded
Talk Outline.)
11. Closing exhortation should be given after the worship.
Team Meetings
Good teamwork and proper coordination are essential, allowing each
individual to contribute its strengths and ideas for the success of any
activity. Thus, conduct team meetings before, during, and after the camp
to ensure that our goals in evangelization are achieved with the standards
of Christs excellence.
Team meetings are conducted for:
5. Talk Proper
6. Sharing
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1. Purpose of Mingling
4. Purpose of Humor
a. Makes the sessions lively and more enjoyable.
b. Establishes good rapport/ interaction between the team
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Chapter 3
In this day and age when so many ideas abound and so many different
philosophies are taught, the youth are often placed in confusing situations.
There are a lot of things that influence their decisions as to what to run
after or what to live for. With the budding idealism of their young minds,
the youth search for the truth that they can believe in and live by. However,
young people fall into whatever notion their peers invite them to believe,
be it about drugs, or drinking, or being popular, or living for the moment.
Nevertheless, one thing can ultimately be said about the youth of today,
and it is something that St. Augustine already spoke of: their hearts will
continue to be restless until it rests in the Lord.
Introduces
the
ultimate
expression of Gods love - Jesus
Christ
Mans Response:
Accepting
Gods Invitation and Living as His
People
Some of the talks in the Youth Camp include more than one basic
Gospel truth. These truths sometimes even overlap between two or three
talks. The talks are given in this manner so as to help bring the participants
through a process where they can make a real and sincere decision to live
a life pleasing to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by
the power of His Holy Spirit.
The speaker should be able to realize that each talk, especially the one
that he will be giving, is part of one message, Gods love reaching out to
man and mans choice to respond to this love.
(Refer to The Sessions and their Purpose in Chapter 2 -Team leaders Guide, to see how
each talk flows to the next.)
The speakers and the service team should understand this flow to be
able to place them in the proper position where God can work through
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what they say and do, in order to effectively help the participants make a
decision to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.
Final Tips
1. Married couples are discouraged from giving the talks in the
Youth Camp.
We have to recognize the fact that it is easier for young people
to be influenced by their peers. No matter how true the message
is, and even if the participants thirst for this message, when older
people (as in parent age) speak to the youth, a natural barrier often
stands between them and the young people they are speaking to.
These speakers represent the parents of the participantsparents
who may have an unpleasant relationships with their children.
As a result adult speakers then begin to lose their effectivity in
sharing the Gospel to the youth. Fellow youth shares and speaks
of Gods word to the participants.
2. The speaker should share and not preach.
The world needs witnesses, not teachers. Most Youth Camp
participants have heard the same message consequently. What
will make these talks different is when they realize that what we are
saying is true and concrete because we have actually experienced
it.
3. Maintain a light atmosphere.
Feel free to give jokes from time to timebut never to the
point of forgetting or failing to stress the basic or main point of
the message.
Often jokes can even be used as means to drive a certain
point. In the same way, anecdotes and stories are good means
of explaining or stressing certain points in the talk. Make use of
stories. The youth like listening to stories. It is also possible to
make the points of your outline flow from a story to the next.
Stories keep the interest of young people, making it easier to
remember.
4. Speak from the heart with confidence and conviction.
We speak of a truth which all men thirst for, including the
young. Therefore speak with conviction. Speak of the joy of
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knowing Christ. Speak of the gift that God wants to give, the gift
that we are all called to receive: a renewed life in and with Christ.
5. The presence of scriptural verses in the talk requires the
speaker to prayerfully reflect on the passages before giving
the talk.
It would be better if these verses are narrated in the speakers
own words. Reading scripture verses word-for-word lessens
rapprt.
6. Listen to/ study other speakers.
This may help give us ideas in giving the talk.
7. Undergo the Speakers Workshop, session 4 of Youth Camp
Training Manual.
8. To ensure that we maintain the interest of participants, let us
use creative visual and PowerPoint presentation in giving the
talks.
Visuals help the participants to easily understand the message
of the talks. Strong points are clearly seen and clearly imparted to
the audience.
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3. Talk Proper
4. Just before the conclusion, the speaker will show Diagram 1 and
then Diagram 2 to emphasize more on the role of Jesus Christ.
5. After the conclusion, the speaker calls on the two sharers.
Each sharer will be given 5-7 minutes to share how they have
experienced Gods love.
6. The speaker will lead the participants to a reflection on how they
have felt Gods love while the music ministry plays some songs
softly.
Speakers Profile
1. A YFC leader who can relate well to the youth and can capture the
attention of the participants.
2. Someone who can give it in a lively and exciting way but not losing
the message of the talk.
Sharers Profile
Sharer 1: A YFC member who has experienced the love of God in small
things.
Sharer 2: A YFC member who has experienced the love of God in
extravagant way.
Dynamics
1. After the youth camp orientation and dinner, the team leader
gathers the participants for teaching of songs followed by an
opening prayer and energizer. He will then introduce the speaker.
2. Show the opening AVP presentation, this is optional. A video that
7. Show the closing video presentation. This is optional; the team can
make a video that shows all the beauty of creation and ends it with
a statement: God made all these for you, He truly loves you.
8. The speaker calls the team leader to announce the discussion
groups and the respective facilitator. As soon as the names of the
participants are called the facilitator will gather them and proceed
with the discussion.
9. Group discussion will run for 30 minutes.
Discussion Starter
1. Have a getting to know activity and/or create a name for the
group, a chant or a gesture/clap, etc.
2. Share an experience or area of your life where you felt most loved
by God.
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B. You may have your own reasons for being here (your friends are
here, you want to meet new friends, your parents forced you, you
are truly seeking God).
I believe God brought you here, to hear about His love, and
His plan in your life.
Dynamics:
a. Ask the participants about their greatest ambition or
craziest dream. Give them 30 seconds to do this. Allow
3-5 persons to share.
You may be asking. If God loves us so much, why are our lives and
situations so different from what He says His plans are for us?
Show the disparity between Gods plan (Isaiah 65:17-25) and the
situation around us.
On a local scale (in our country): state local issues relevant in your
area like drug addiction, corruption, street crime, etc.
All of us have our own crazy dreams, but even God has his
own crazy dream. I say this, because like many others, our
dreams may seem far out, hard to believe. But then again, He
is God, and nothing is impossible with Him. Lets see what Gods
crazy dream is. (Illustrate creatively, reflect and share the essence
of Isaiah 65:17-25.)
This is Gods crazy dream, His plan for us, For I know well the
plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare,
not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. (Jeremiah
29:11) This is all because of His great love for us. This is His great
plan for us.
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source of all life. In doing so, they chose death, and suffering.
From the moment this happened, our world that was full of life
and blessing began to experience difficulties, pain, suffering,
and even death.
2. (Romans 6:23)
Even today, whenever we choose to go against God, (or
the authorities He has placed over us, e.g. parents, government
and school authorities), we continue to choose the suffering
and death that our first parents chose. (Mention specific
experiences to bring your point across.)
B. God did not end it at that.
God wants us to experience the fullness of life but we continue
to follow our own preferences. By choosing to turn away from this
promise, God could have just as well chosen to turn away from us,
destroy us as we deserve, and create a more faithful people who
would gladly accept His love and the life that He offers. Instead,
He decided that His love, His mercy should prevail.
1. He began by sending His prophets.
2. John 3:16
Finally, He chose to send His only Son to die for us because He
did not want to see us suffer in our sin and die forever.
Note: Make use of the diagram to illustrate how Christ bridges the gap that sin
creates between God and man.
DIAGRAM 1:
Sin separates God from man.
DIAGRAM 2:
Christ bridges the separation.
JESUS
GOD
MAN
GOD
MAN
SIN
III.
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Conclusion
(Note: One way to challenge the participants to respond is to seek God during the camp, to
participate, but all the more, to receive Gods love and try to respond by desiring to know
about God and to live for Him.)
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3. Just before the conclusion, the speaker calls on the two sharers.
Each sharer will be given 5-7 minutes to share who is Jesus Christ
to them.
4. The speaker continues with the conclusion.
5. The speaker will lead the participants to a reflection while the
music ministry plays the reflection song softly.
Objectives
Speakers Profile
1. A YFC leader who has established a personal relationship with
Christ.
2. Someone who have felt what it means to have a personal
relationship with Christ.
Sharers Profile
(There will be 2 sharers in this talk: One brother and one sister)
Dynamics
1. After the common prayer time, the team leader gathers the
participants for the teaching of songs followed by an opening
6. The team leader will then ask the participants to proceed to their
group discussion.
7. Group discussion will run for 30 minutes.
Discussion Starter
1. Who is Jesus Christ to you?
2. What can you do to respond to Jesus invitation of having a
personal relationship with Him?
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I. Introduction
When we hear of how great Gods love is for us, many of us
genuinely want to respond to Him by loving Him back and living a life
thats pleasing to Him.
However, it is difficult to live a life pleasing to God if it lacks the
most basic factor, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Living the Christian life by our own strength is impossible. Only
the strength we have in Jesus can make this happen.
B. Misconceptions
1. Jesus is strange.
a. Some say He was some freak with new ideas. He said
things like, The first will best... and Love your enemies.
b. He wasnt a freak, because so many were attracted to His
personality that they left everything to follow Him. (Mark
1:16-20)
2. Jesus is a coward.
a. Others perceive him as a coward, a loser who gave in to
all his persecutions.
b. I wouldnt call Him coward or a loser since He was bold
and courageous enough to stand up against known
authorities of His time. (Matthew 23:1-27).
3. Jesus is boring.
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Our Response
The claims that Christ makes concerning Himself are so great and
different from the claims of other great teachers in history (i.e. Buddha,
Confucius, and Mohammed), that we just need to stop and seriously
consider them because our acceptance or rejection of these claims
greatly affect us.
A. If we begin to realize that the claims that Jesus made are false,
then we should forget Christianity altogether and even correct the
great hoax that has deceived men for 2000 years.
B. But if deep down we believe that Jesus claims are true, then we
cannot just leave Him in one corner of our lives like most people
do.
In fact, we will have to begin to find a way to relate to Jesus as the
Mighty God, as the risen Savior that He really is. We will have to follow
Him as Lord, and accept that personal relationship He offers us today.
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V. Conclusion
God loves you. Thats pretty good news. But it gets even better.
Not only does He love you, but He also wants to have a friendship with
you. (John 15:13-15)
Think about it. Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship
with you. He already knows you, and He wants you to know Him. (The
speaker then leads the participants to a reflection)
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1. After the break, the team leader gathers the participants for the
teaching of songs followed by an opening song and prayer. He
will make sure that the participants have pen and paper before
introducing the speaker.
2. Opening activity: This is optional; if the team can come up with a
creative skit or AVP depicting various sins of humanity (global and
local) then they can show it before the speaker enters.
3. Talk Proper
4. Just after Part III-B2 (how healing occurs), the speaker calls on the
two sharers. Each sharer will be given 5-7 minutes to share their
personal stories.
Objectives
Speakers Profile
1. A YFC leader who has integrity and conviction in advocating the
100% Free advocacy.
2. Someone whose story speaks strongly of repentance, faith, healing
and forgiveness.
Sharers Profile
Sharer 1: A YFC member who has gone through the issues of being a
youth and is now victorious with his conversion story.
Sharer 2: Someone who can share about his love story with God from
being good to a better Christian.
Dynamics
Activity 1:
Activity 2:
Team Leader leads the participants to make 2 lists (list of
people who hurt them & list of people whom they hurt). They are
then led to forgive those in the first list, and to ask for forgiveness
for those in the second list. After that, the participants may be
encouraged to write a letter to their parents for the same purpose.
The team leader should make sure that the letters are completed
during the third days prayer time.
7. Reflection Song
a. Song Profile: Song of surrender to the Lord
b. Suggested song: I Give My All
8. The team leader will inform the participants that the session has
not ended yet. The participants are encouraged to continue on
reflecting while having lunch.
9. The service team should be discreet to avoid distration during the
session.
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10. After having lunch, the team leader gathers the participants for
the teaching of songs (preferably a slow song).
11. The Team Leader exhorts the participants for the letter-writing
activity.
12. The participants will not be pressured to finish the letter right
away; they have until the next days common prayer time to finish
it.
13. The team leader will remind them of the importance of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation and will tell them that a priest is
coming and is available for Confession.
14. While the participants are waiting for their turn to confess, their
facilitators will now conduct one-to-one sessions with them.
ptional opening activity: Creative Skit or AVP depicting various sins of humanity (global and
O
local)
I. Introduction
We have just heard of Gods love for us, and how it brings us to
the point where we just have to decide for ourselves how we should
respond to Him.
We have heard how He himself invites us into a personal
relationship with Him. In this talk, we will learn how we can begin to
do this.
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sinner.
b. Feeling regret
Repentance brought about only because of the
consequence of what was done, and the regret that comes
with it.
There is no repentance because the sin was evil, but
because of the punishment that will be received because
of it. (e.g. Feeling sorry you were caught cheating in an
exam. If you werent caught you wouldnt have been as
sorry.)
c. Getting rid of all tendencies to sin
Some people think that true repentance can only
happen when we are able to rid ourselves of that tendency
to sin. But that will never happen. What we can do,
however, is to say no to that temptation.
This is the reason why many Catholics dont go to
Confession, saying, Why will I confess when Im just
going to sin again?
All of these may be effects of repentance but are not
repentance in itself. All of these focus on feelings; repentance is
much more objective and concrete.
2. What is Repentance?
a. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia which
literally means change of mind.
b. It is an act of the will, a decision. Repentance should be
desired by the person and not pressured by any other
reason. It is a determination of the person to change.
c. In this case, it is deciding to turn away from sin and look
towards God. Repentance will always lead us to a deeper
relationship with God. We look upon God and live in
presence.
d. Refer to Luke 15:17-21
3. Some sins to repent from:
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Note: The Speaker can read The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 1-17 as a
reference.This section does not focus on the chief sources of sins (7 Capital Sins)
but on the common sins committed by youth and what made it a sin. The Seven
Capital Sins are just a reference for the speaker.
superstition,
spiritualism,
non-Christian
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IV. Conclusion
God wants us to experience the fullness of life in His love by
knowing Him. However, our sins and hurts block much of His blessings
to us.
Christ wants to remove these hindrances and extend His mercy
towards us, but we have to do our part and repent from these sins.
We need to believe that He will forgive and strengthen us and bring
us healing.
Then we can fully receive Gods blessing, His Holy Spirit which
strengthens us and allows us to live our lives as truly pleasing to God.
We will hear more about this in the next talk.
(The Team Leader conducts Activity 1 and 2. Refer to Team Leaders Handbook - The
Sessions and their Purpose for the activity after this talk.)
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Objectives
For the participants:
1. To have a basic understanding of the Holy Spirit and to allow them
to appreciate Its power and gifts.
2. To know how to receive and experience the power of the Holy
Spirit.
3. To be guided in receiving the power of the Holy Spirit through the
pray-over session.
4. To be taught how to praise and worship God.
Speakers Profile
The speaker should be a brother YFC leader. However, if it is an all girls
youth camp, a sister YFC leader can give the talk.
Dynamics
1. After dinner, the team leader gathers the participants and reminds
them to dress properly for the next session. He will lead the
opening prayer with a song before introducing the speaker.
2. Talk proper
3. After the conclusion, the speaker will explain and give some tips
on the pray-over ceremony.
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A. Misconceptions:
1. Gods messenger.
2. The dove in Christs baptism.
B. The Holy Spirit is God, the 3rd Person in the Blessed Trinity
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is
equal to the Father and the Son because He is God.
Note: The duration of the talk will be 30-40 minutes. The Goal of the speaker is to make the
participants willing to receive the Holy Spirit and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
It would be better if the speaker can illustrate the Bible verses of the talk. (Refer to the main
points of the talk outline.)
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IV. Conclusion
(Recall Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Living the Christian life seems almost impossible. But we have
a hope, a hope in Gods promiseHis Holy Spirit which strengthens
us and gives us the gifts we need in order to live as true sons and
daughters of God.
Note: Our next activity will be the commitment ceremony and pray over session. Give the
participant a general view of what they can expect. The Speaker must ask the participants
to stretch and exercise a bit to avoid people sleeping while the session is ongoing.
Our purpose tonight is to ask the Lord for the power of His Holy
spirit that enables us to live as true Christians. To do this, we will first
have to come before our Lord, believe and accept Him as our personal
Lord and Savior and commit our lives to Him. After this, we will pray
with one another for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
A. Explain the Session
1. This is not a new baptism. We were all baptized when we
became Catholics. What we want to do now is to pray for one
another so that we can immerse ourselves in Gods Spirit and
be empowered as Christians.
2. Explain the process of Baptism / praying over session
a. First, we will be having a Commitment to Christ Ceremony
where you will be encouraged to accept the Holy Spirit
because receiving the Holy Spirit is receiving Christ.
b. After this, your discussion group leaders will approach you
and bring you somewhere more conducive and private for
the pray-over.
c. Process of praying over.
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first syllables that comes into your mind and use this for
worship.
C. Commitment Ceremony
B. Final Tips
1. Relax.
Our pray over session, and your decision to follow the
Lord, is very important, but dont let this make you anxious.
Relax and be at peace, this will make it easier for you to open
up to the Lord.
2. Dont expect a particular experience.
Expecting one particular type of experience might keep
you from recognizing Gods work in you. God knows you
more than you know yourself. He knows exactly how He
should touch you.
3. Dont analyze the sounds you make.
In speaking or praying in tongues, just focus on the Lord
and praise Him. What comes out of your mouth and how you
praise God is up to Him.
4. Initiate.
God respects you, and wont force you to praise Him in
tongues. You have to initiate praying in a language you dont
know, and then God will inspire you and give you the words
to say.
(e.g. Even if God has already inspired you to write a song, the song will never
be heard unless you actually pick up a guitar, play the tune and write the words.
In the same way, you have to begin praying in tongues by first initiating it.)
3. After the song is sung, the speaker asks those who want to
make a commitment to Christ to stand up. Then, the Prayer of
Commitment is recited together.
Note: There may be instances that the youth might not be comfortable in
standing up to make a commitment. It is important that the Facilitator be ready
to quietly take the youth aside, and talk to him/her privately, in order to further
understand any issues that might be hindering the youth from committing to
Christ.
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Commitment to Christ
SESSION 4 - YOUTH CAMP
Pray Over Session/ Baptism
Leader:
Participant:
Yes, I do.
Leader:
Participant:
Yes, I do.
Leader:
Participant:
Yes, I do.
Prayer of Commitment
(Ask participants to repeat after you.)
Lord Jesus Christ,/ I want to belong to You from now on./ I want to
be free / from the dominion of darkness/ and the rule of Satan,/ and I
want to enter into Your kingdom/ and be part of Your people./ I will turn
away from all wrong doing,/ and I will avoid everything/ that leads me to
wrongdoing./ I ask You to forgive/ all the sins that I have committed/ I
offer my life to You,/ and I promise to obey You as my Lord.
Everyone is then asked to be seated, and wait for their turn to be
prayed over.
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3. Have a daily prayer time where you can experience and get to
know God and where He can slowly but surely work in your
life.
III.
Conclusion
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power
and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem in all of Judea and Samaria
and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
(Note: Encourage the participants to be faithful in their commitment to the Lord. God has
begun a powerful work in their lives today, He will always be faithful to us, and by His Spirit we
can be faithful to Him.)
Objectives
For the participants:
1. To be assisted in sustaining and deepening their personal
relationship with God through the tools for christian growth.
2. To be welcomed in the YFC Community.
3. To be presented with an introduction of the YFC covenant.
Speakers Profile
1. A YFC leader who is well-immersed in the community.
2. His growth in YFC should be very evident in his service and life.
3. He should be a person who walks his talk.
Sharers Profile
(1 brother and 1 sister; one of them should have recently graduated in a Youth Camp)
A YFC member who really used the tools for Christian growth towards
holiness.
Dynamics
1. After the common prayer time, the team leader gathers the
participants and collects the letter. He will lead the opening prayer
with a song before introducing the speaker.
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2. Talk proper.
3. While the talk is going on, the parents are gathered in a separate
room where they cannot be seen by their children. They will be
briefed of what is going to happen next.
4. Just before the conclusion, the speaker calls on the two sharers.
Each sharer will be given 2-5 minutes to share how they have used
the tools in their Christian growth.
I. Introduction
We have heard a lot of good things in this camp (e.g. Gods love,
and His salvation) and received His Holy Spirit. All of us in one way or
another have experienced Gods goodness this weekend. But after all
these, what do we do next?
In this talk, wed like to share with you what we can do to sustain
our new found relationship with God.
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otherwise.
2. We have Gods Spirit.
We now have Gods Spirit in us to strengthen us, to protect
us and to help us overcome obstacles with our decision as
growing men and women of God.
3. We need to grow.
We need to realize that we have to invest time and effort
learning the tools to growth and support pillars to preserve
what we have and to receive much more.
B. Tools for Christian Growth: The Four Spokes
All the tools to Christian Growth are available when you join
Youth for Christ.
Note: You can illustrate this portion by likening the tools of Christian growth to the
four spokes of the wheel. The wheel represents our Christian life which draws power
from the center of the wheel, or the hub, which represents Christ. The power is
transmitted through the four spokes of the wheel. If any one of the four spokes is
missing, the wheel will not function.
PRAYER
SERVICE
JESUS
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SACRAMENTS
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Note: The speaker should give focus on the sacraments that the youth can receive.
The speaker should also mention other sacraments. The explanation below is just
a reference for the speaker on the Seven Sacraments.
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III.
Conclusion
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Parents Dialogue
Ask the parents to spend 30 minutes alone with their children. Ask
them to begin the dialogue by giving / reading to each other the letters
that they prepared.
Discussion Starter:
1. Read the letters
2. Verbalize what is in the letter
3. Ask forgiveness from each other
4. Express gratitude to each other
Note: It is advisable to insert a time where the participants will be able to share their
experiences in the camp.
Pray Over
1. After the dialogue, the team leader explains the pray over session.
Ask parents to go to their children and pray over them using this
prayer.
Note: Choose a parent and a child from the participants to lead the pray over.
(You may ask the parents to first say their own prayers for their children and then
repeat after the prayer below).
a. (To the participants) We believe that the people who love you
the most are your parents. But as they have striven in their
own way, to express this love they may have made mistakes.
Often, our resentments stem from this.
b. If we are to live a Christian life, we must first ask the Lord to
heal these hurts between our parents and ourselves.
c. Ask the participants to pray over their parents. (Follow the
same format that was done when the parents prayed over
their children.)
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I. Living out the Christian life is not easy. We need an environment that
can support us in this. It is into this that YFC would like to help.
II. Many of us through Gods grace, and with the help of the brothers
and sisters, have been helped in our commitment to Christ because of
the environment we have in YFC. We would like to invite you to join us
where we can continue supporting one another.
I will learn and grow in living out the ideals and principles of
my Lord Jesus.
C. The Music Ministry will play one reflection song while the
participants go through the YFC Statement of Commitment.
D. After they read the entire Commitment once, the team leader will
ask the participants to recite the Commitment (this can be done
by reading a line at a time and asking them to repeat after the
speaker).
III. Some participants may feel discouraged to join YFC upon hearing the
difficult demands of the Statement of Commitment. This happens when
living out this commitment perfectly is perceived to be a prerequisite
in becoming a member. It should be made clear that the Statement of
Commitment is simply a goal. To agree with this Commitment means
supporting one another as we try to achieve this goal.
I will relate in love and loyalty to the brothers and sisters from
other schools, cities, provinces, states and countries.
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Household Groupings
Chapter 4
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Reply Sheet
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Information Sheet
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V. Follow-up
Parents Orientation
ANNEXES
Note: The Parents Orientation talk is preferably conducted one (1) two (2) weeks before the
camp. By giving an earlier understanding of what their children will get into, the camp would be
able to ensure the number of participants joining the camp. Presence of the parents/guardian
should be checked and confirmed by the Couple Coordinator assigned in the camp.
Objectives
III. Share
what
their
child/children
experience during the camp
will
The parents are asked to write a letter to their children which they
will bring on the last day of the camp.
VI.
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III.
Tounges Workshop
ANNEXES
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Note: The Team Leader/ Fulltime Worker/ Mission Volunteer / active leader can give the tongues
workshop. This should be conducted before the 4th session.
Bible Verses
IV. Worship
Acts 2 - Pentecost
Suggested Flow:
Dynamics
I. Introduction
Share the Story of The Upper Room Experience in Acts 2. The
apostles prayed in Tongues and received the power of the Holy Spirit.
After that holy experience, the rest was history. The apostles started
making a difference in this world. With the leading of the Holy Spirit
and through the apostles, the whole world began to know about
Christ. Do you want to make a difference with the power of the Holy
Spirit? In this Workshop may we just humble ourselves like a child
open to receive a Gift. Its up to you!
V. Processing
1. You can ask the participants (tongues workshop) to share after.
You might already open it or you might not. In His time, God
will allow you to pray and use it.
2. After this, just like what the apostles did, its now time to celebrate
and make a difference.
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On the last day of the camp, the parents of the participants are advised
to come. While the last talk is given in the session hall, the parents are also
gathered in a separate room, preferably in a room where they will not be
seen by their children. The following will be done in the briefing.
Note:
As the parents arrive, the facilitators will have to collect from them the letters for
their children. If the parents forgot to write, be ready to provide some pen and papers.
Before starting, the team leader should have collected all the letters of the participants
to their parents.
I. Opening Prayer
II. Review of what happened since the start of
the Youth Camp
(Cite significant observation and sharing in the camp.)
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Chapter Area
Name
Contact Numbers
Address
Officiating Priest:
Name
Contact Numbers
Address
preparations
general services
Facilitators
Prayer Warrior
Areas to Improve on
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