The young ladies from the Fort Walton Beach Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled to Camp Kolomoki in Blakely, Georgia, this year where they experienced their varied activities and testimony meetings. The theme for this year was More Fit for His Kingdom.

This is an opportunity for them to get to know the young women from the other 10 congregations in the area.

To help with the teaching and monitoring, the older girls, called Laurels, go early and receive training to prepare them to do the duties assigned to them. Also, before their adventure, the guidelines as to dress and behavior are sent to all and talked about in their classes.

Some of the classes offered were yoga by Ashley Liufau and Katie Bingham and also lessons on healthy eating and following the Church’s Word of Wisdom, which cautions against drugs and tobacco and other addictive substances.

Some activities they enjoyed were decorating sunglasses, writing in their journals and drawing scenes on canvas. The Laurels were assigned to supervise classes in water safety, fire and avoiding poisonous plants. There was a lake in which they could kayak and paddle board and also use slides.

Some service projects were arranging flowers for the dining hall, cleaning the trails and relabeling the trees and changing the wood on the benches. All the girls agreed these projects gave them a special feeling of satisfaction.

The lip-sync routines are always a favorite. “ I Don’t Dance” was presented with bats for a baseball routine by one of the groups. Another crowd-pleaser was “ Make a Man of You,” a group line dance; and “ “Living On a Prayer,” complete with 80’s costumes. After the lip-sync routines, they did a glow stick dance.

Zoe Racz felt that the event was a real testimony builder and she appreciated the chance to get closer to the girls in her ward. Her sister, Mia, went for the first time and she expressed how spiritual and fun it was, how much she enjoyed the crafts and how much like a big family it seemed to her.

Karen Jones is the Young Women president for the stake; Lori Stotts, along with assistance, was the director for this camp experience; Ashley Liufau and Merama Divine were the youth leaders; and Emmy Stockman was the kitchen manager.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Latter-day Saints celebrate Girls’ Camp in Georgia

Light is a very important aspect of life. It helps us to see, to find our way when darkness is all around us, provides life, and so much more.

D. L. Moody told the story of a passenger on an Atlantic steamer who lay in his bunk with a severe case of seasickness during a raging storm. Suddenly he heard the cry, “Man overboard!” The ill passenger thought, “May God help that poor fellow, but there’s nothing I can do.”

Then he thought, “I can at least put my lantern in my small window,” and with an effort he did so. The man was finally rescued. In recounting the story the next day, the rescued man said, “I was going down in the darkness for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand, and a sailor in the lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in.”

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world …. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 (NRSV)

The faith of a Christian is to be strong. With Jesus Christ at the center of who we are, we are called upon to provide hope and guidance to a hurting world. The light of the faith we have in him is to shine out.

Far too often people see faith as a private affair. “Jesus and me” is the motto that is heard far too often. But when we keep our faith in Jesus Christ a private matter, we are doing a grave disservice to our Lord and to a hurting world.

The phrase that needs to be put forth is “Jesus and we!” People all around us are hurting, drowning in a sea of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. In Jesus Christ, we have been given the kind of hope, assurance and peace that passes all understanding. Therefore, we can be the beacon of light that helps direct others to the Author of that hope and assurance.

When it may seem as though there is nothing you can do to help someone, simply remember that you can let the light of your faith in Jesus Christ shine forth. You may provide the only illumination in an otherwise seemingly hopeless situation.

As Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Let the light of your faith shine

Last weekend was the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first step on the moon.

It was a historic event. As Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Apollo 11 made history. But so did Apollo 8.

On Christmas Eve 1968, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, the crew of Apollo 8, were orbiting the moon. On the fourth orbit, they looked up and saw something they hadn’t expected to see because they were preoccupied with photographing the cratered lunar surface below. It took their breath away.

What they saw was Earth rising. In awe, they took the historic photo of it.

Frank Borman, the expedition’s commander, later described it this way: “It was the most beautiful, heart-catching sight of my life … It was the only thing in space that had any color to it. Everything else was either black or white, but not the earth.”

Jim Lovell echoed those sentiments, and then added: “It was the most beautiful thing there was to see in all the heavens. People down here don’t realize what they have.”

To look at Earth from afar — it is so small compared to the rest of God’s magnificent universe; it is so inviting, so beautiful.

So why do people fight over territory? Why do people fight over natural resources? Some will say it is their God–given right to exploit natural resources for their own gain, to grab as much territory as possible.

I wholeheartedly disagree. This is not a God–given right, but a practice adopted by generations of humanity fallen from God’s grace because they chose to ignore God’s intentions for life. We have simply convinced ourselves this is the way it is supposed to be.

Let me encourage a change of perspective.

For a moment, imagine yourself out in space looking at this tiny blue marble we call Earth. It’s beautiful! God absolutely knew what he was doing when he created it. Land, sea, blue sky, clouds, living creatures.

Humanity was created to live on Earth, to “subdue” – govern, tame – it, not conquer it, not own it, but to care for it and everything in it.

Why? Because, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.” (Psalm 24:1-2, New Revised Standard Version)

I wonder what will happen if and when we realize this, change our ways, and realize we live in God’s world.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The earth belongs to God

Email submissions and photos about special events, musicians, speakers, classes, etc., to faith@crestviewbulletin.com. Send items at least two weeks in advance if possible. Items run on a space-available basis.

UPCOMING

Little Explorers Early Learning Academy accepting applications

CRESTVIEW — The Summit Church is taking applications for one-year-olds through pre-school age children for its Little Explorers Early Learning Academy in North Okaloosa.

The school is described as "healthy, professional, family-oriented, licensed and accredited," according to a spokesperson.

Spots are limited and filling quickly. Visit www.LittleExplorersAcademy.net for more information.

RECURRING

AWANA PROGRAM: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays, Joy Fellowship, 5978 Old Bethel Road, Crestview. Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed is for 4-year-olds through fifth-graders. Call 682-6219 to register.

REFORMERS UNANIMOUS: 6 p.m. Fridays, Central Baptist Church, 951 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview. Faith-based recovery program for people with any addiction. Directed by Wendell Morgan. 682-5525.

RESTORATION AND RECOVERY MINISTRY: 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Kingdom Life Worship and Training Center, 798 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. Weekly outreach ministry for healing, restoration, wellness and wholeness. For people who have struggles with addiction.

BREAD OF LIFE OUTREACH MINISTRY:  Sign up and a brief minstry and prayers at 11 a.m. and box pick-up is 3 p.m.11 a.m. Fridays, Kingdom Life Worship and Training Center, 798 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. The church distributes boxes of once a month per person.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY: 7-8:30 p.m. Fridays, Church of New Covenant, 3191 New Ave. N., Crestview. Faith-based 12-step program for people seeking healing from things that keep them from living healthy balanced lifestyles.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FAITH BRIEFS

When I was a young child, my blond hair was nearly white. My blue eyes seemed bluer when I wore blue shirts. My teeth were a bit crooked. And one ear didn’t have creases like most ears do.

One of my best friends had brown hair. His eyes were brown. His teeth were white and straight. And both his ears looked the same. He also seemed to have a tan year round.

My family went to the congregational church. His went to the Catholic church. His family was a bit better off economically than mine, but mine never lacked for any essentials.

We were very good friends. Yes, we would have our periodic squabbles and impose our childish banishments from each other's yard — at least until we made up. And we always made up.

When my family moved from the North to the South, we were both quite sad. We knew we would probably not see each other again in this lifetime. Tears were shed the day the moving van left our neighborhood.

Jose was born in Puerto Rico. I was born in New Hampshire. He was Hispanic. I was Anglo. Neither of us knew there was a difference. All we knew was there were certain aspects of our lives that were different — like our churches, our diets, the accent his mother had. 

But there were many more aspects that were the same. We laughed at the same jokes. We cried when we got hurt. Our blood flowed red when we scraped our knees.

I was not raised with prejudices. I was never taught that one race was superior or another inferior, or one religion better than another, or one political party was the only true party.

I was raised with the Scripture of Paul’s letter to the Galatians firmly ensconced in my heart and mind: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

James 2:8-9 says, “If you really fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin …”

My encouragement is to not see yourself as better than another, to not see others who are different than you as inferior nor superior, to not see your worth as being any more or less valuable than any other.

We are all created by God and for that reason alone, worthy of respect.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: We are all one in Christ