Each summer at Big Lake Youth Camp, more than 200 campers accept Christ as their personal Savior and indicate they would like to be baptized. This summer, more than 30 of those campers were baptized at Big Lake. One of those, a young fellow from Pastor John Griebel’s Corvallis congregation, has been planning for a Big Lake baptism for more than a year. “I could have been baptized at the church, or in a river, but the only real option was having Pastor John baptize me at Big Lake,” Bennett says. It was the highlight of the summer for many in Bennett's church family.

When someone is baptized during camp their entire cabin joins them in the water while the campers and camp staff watch from the shore and dock. It’s a time of joyful singing and celebration. Maybe a lot like when John was baptizing in the Jordan River.

It’s easy to get so busy with our lives “in the valley,” that we forget how summer is an intense time for Christian service and spiritual growth at Big Lake Youth Camp. Camp director, Les Zollbrecht, is right in the middle of it all, especially the baptismal celebrations. Though sometimes local pastors like Pastor John come up to do baptisms in the lake, usually Les, or camp chaplain, Benjamin Lundquist have the privilege!

Enjoy a few shots from this summer's camp baptisms, and keep all of these young people in your prayers!

‍