For eight sunny days, nearly 900 students, pastors, teachers and parents intentionally focused on this year’s theme, “ENGAGE,” and leaned into engaging with God, each other and church at Junior High Bible Camp and High School Bible Camp. 

The camps strategically helped students start the 2024–2025 school year focused on Jesus and their personal relationships with Him. In September 2024, the Oregon Conference youth ministries department led its second-ever Junior High Bible Camp. 

This spiritual event creates space for all seventh- and eighth-graders — homeschool, public school and private school students — to get away from the chaos of life to focus, pray, discuss, worship, learn and listen to God’s voice. 

When Junior High Bible Camp launched in 2023, 212 attended. In 2024, nearly 270 youth worshiped, shared life in small groups, laughed, played and prayed together. Approximately 40 decided to give their lives to Jesus.

Four days later, more than 600 students arrived for High School Bible Camp. Eight Adventist academies along with several church youth groups came together to connect with each other and Christ. Through corporate worship, morning devotions, activities and life groups — student-led small groups — lives were changed for eternity. “Bible camp is always the spiritual highlight of the year,” shared Mechelle Peinado, Portland Adventist Academy principal, after the event.

This year, three students were baptized while another 25 decided to get baptized, 40 chose to connect with a local church and pastor for the first time, and 30 wanted to start consistent Bible studies. While many lament how youth are leaving our churches, the truth is that God is at work and moving in Oregon Conference. September 2024 proved it. Nearly 900 Oregon youth love Jesus and choose to intentionally ENGAGE with God, their community and their churches. That’s engagement culture!

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