1.  The Problem

Chase and Zack are young kids. God created them in and calls them to, a sacred, masculine identity in Him. But they don’t fully know what that is, or where to find it. So, they both may tend to ricochet their way through childhood and adolescence without really discovering God and being inspired by who He created them to be. To make it tougher, Chase and Zack have had a hard time finding clear tracks worth following. Then there’s the popular cultural idea that all the real fun exists outside the church, Christianity is boring, and God resembles an angry boss who likes to squash our fun.  During Chase and Zack’s limited exposure to religion, it hasn’t been bad, but they’re starting to look elsewhere for something more.

2.  The Solution

We believe in the power of fun to create inroads for the Gospel. We believe if it’s Christian, it should be better. We believe legitimate fun is God’s idea, and creating it should be our masterpiece. Warrior Camp is passionate about reclaiming the lost territory of legitimate fun that rightly belongs to God. How do we do this? Through designing and hosting the most epic games, challenges, and activities we can imagine, all to give Campers an experience pulsing with unforgettable fun, and that brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ! (BTW, if you love duck-duck-goose or cheesy VBS games, sorry but Warrior Camp isn’t for you!).

Pete and Jake are both unique leaders of integrity, enthusiasm, adventure and passion for God and His Word. They love hanging out with kids and youth, pointing them to the Risen King Jesus Christ, and re-igniting the fire of Biblical Masculinity in the way God intended. They also love competing in epic games, forging rock-solid bonds of brotherhood in Christ, and seeing God inspire a generation of boys and men after His own heart.  As Pete and Jake connect with the Campers at Warrior Camp, the walls start to come down and Chase and Zack get excited about the new thing God wants to do in their lives.

3.  The Reason Something Must Be Done

Wow.  Good question.  But I think the answer is staring us in the face.  Jesus Christ entrusted us with the Great Commission.  This includes discipling others.  And effective discipleship doesn’t happen by accident.  There's almost no injection of authentic Biblical masculinity coming into a boy’s/man’s mind and heart today.  Most apps don’t offer it. Streaming media is clueless about what it is. Good music rarely sings about it. And most friends can’t define it. Godly vision, heroic honor, integrity, Biblical masculinity, purity, a growing relationship with Christ, being a man after God's own heart...many young men want to know, feel and live this stuff out, but don't know where or how to start. And then there’s the toxic lie that gender is malleable, and that there’s nothing sacred, profound, and God-inspired about the distinction between boys and girls. Too often kids and youth are mostly left to figure all this out for themselves, even though this vital area of their life beats at the heart of who God made them to be.  They need vision, encouragement, Biblically grounded camaraderie, and to see it done and modeled in real time. On top of all that, what happens with their future wife and kids if Chase and Zack are never trained in what it means to be a real man of God?  They're gonna suffer too, and the effects ripple out like waves on pond.  Let's be real...God intended fathers to train their sons up into Biblical masculinity.  But some kids don't have a dad, or maybe dad wasn’t trained himself. But the time is now, and the fight is real. And it’s worth it. And how many in our emotionally-steered generation are victoriously fighting for the high ideals God calls us to? How many of us are bold, full of courage, marked by spiritual grit and growing in the Godly qualities that define the heroic, and which are on perfect dauntless display in our Triumphant King Jesus Christ?

Who do we follow when the lights go dim and the feelings start to fade?  In that moment, are we giving up?  Defeated?  What if it doesn't have to be like that? No good thing comes easy, and it’s time to rise up with a spirit that’s ready to fight. As a wise man once declared, ‘You cannot set a tepid Christianity beside a scorching paganism.’  Wherever we come from, Warrior Camp aims to be a white-hot, epic, and unforgettable encounter with our awesome God, who boldly inspires and equips this generation to be fully alive and victorious boys and men after His own heart!

4.  The Reason Something Must Be Done Now

Statistics show that 85% of those who become Christ-followers do so before their 18th birthday.  This doesn't mean we forfeit important ministry to adults. It does mean young generations are super responsive to Jesus, and the massive potential fruit in introducing them to our Awesome God is something that really excites us!  Also, imagine the cultural revolution that would go viral if boys grew up inspired and equipped to be boys and men after God's own heart from a young age...crazy, right?  What difference would this ‘spiritual bonfire’ make in our world?  #gamechanger #mindblown!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20

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Warrior Camp Leadership Team

Derek, President of the Board

     Derek 'grew up' in Idaho catching bugs, tadpoles, and frogs, riding bikes, climbing trees, and renovating his family's spider-infested crawlspace into a boys-only-hideout complete with stellar passwords and ninja turtle vibes.  God blessed Derek with parents who's love and devotion to Christ were clear and contagious.  Even though the highschool environment wasn't easy, God used the public school context in which Derek ascended, to light a fire for bold, uncompromising faith that was passionate to 'give an answer' (1 Peter 3:15) and invite friends to church/youth group.  After highschool, Derek attended and graduated from Liberty University with a BS Degree in Youth Ministry and an MA Degree in Apologetics.  While at Liberty University, and with an unconventional origin, God inspired Derek with a vision to harness the appeal of adventure, brotherhood, and battle as an epic platform from which to point this generation to the Risen King, Jesus Christ, and His Good News!  The vision for Warrior Camp was born!  Derek has served extensively in Christian education, youth ministry, camp ministry, and has been involved in spearheading Warrior Camp in Washington, Idaho, Indiana, Virginia, and Senegal, Africa.  (God willing, there's more to come!)

Brant, Treasurer and Member of the Board

     Brant grew up a farmboy surrounded by hundreds of acres of grain fields near the small town of Pomeroy, Washington.  (You haven't heard of it :).  With 3 sisters and 1 brother, Brant would drive trucks, tractors, and combines, and help his dad run the family farm...not to mention the irresistible attraction to dirtbike stunts!  After graduating from highschool, Brant attended a Christian college where he studied and graduated with a Degree in Business Administration.  While in college, he met a special girl who looked so exotic, he took her for an exchange student, unaware that she too was actually from his home state, and grew up only 300 miles west of him.  She inspired his chase, and yep!...they got married!  A hardworking provider, Brant was hired by a local bank, where his diligence and capability paid off and were eventually rewarded with promotion to upper level positions, including that of Vice President of Loan Servicing.  Brant currently serves as a Sunday School Teacher, Board Member, and Music Director at his church, where he has attended faithfully.  He continues to be integrally involved as an enduring, strong, and Godly example of consistent Christian leadership.  He and his Italian wife have 4 adult children, each of whom love Jesus, and with whom they continue to enjoy family camping trips, outings, and vacations.

Greg, Member of the Board

     Greg has served both in senior pastoral ministry and as a notable construction guru.  His commitment to Godly integrity and keeping his word run deep, even though these convictions have come at a steep price prior to his recent success in construction.  Greg is an adrenaline junkie with an unforgettable testimony and seemingly bottomless Godly wisdom.  He is a winsome example of an uncompromising man of God, and his passion for Jesus Christ is contagious!  After relocating from Washington, Greg, his wife, and their 4 kids now call Idaho home.  (Some may theorize Greg's DNA naturally secretes its own nos, which is why he built a dirtbike track in his yard and flies around it like a banshee!).

Nate, Warrior Camp Worship Leader & Speaker

Nate has served as a youth pastor and worship leader from 2000 to the present.  He loves watching teens and families grow in their understanding, discipleship, and love for our Lord Jesus Christ.  In Nate's words, 'God has given me a passion for speaking and relational teaching with teens and children.' After attending community college and graduating with a degree in Aviation Science, Nate went on to become a flight instructor and work in Aerial Photography as well as in youth ministry and construction. Following this, Nate spent 2 years at a Christian college where he finished his business degree, and later had the wonderful opportunity to attend Moody Bible institute in Chicago for a degree in Biblical studies. God has opened doors in camp ministry, outdoor adventure ministry, and local and overseas missions. In Nate's words, 'Each day I thank God for the challenges, trials, relationships and opportunities in which the Holy Spirit allows me to walk with Him."

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“And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order,

the chief aim of of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”

- G.K. Chesterton

“You cannot set a tepid Christianity beside a scorching paganism.”

- Ravi Zacharias

"Without Vision, The People Perish."

- King Solomon

"The soul never thinks without a picture." 

- Aristotle

"A vision we give to others of who and what they could become has power when it echoes what the spirit has already spoken into their souls." 

- Larry Crabb

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." 

- Goethe

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WARRIOR CAMP SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Example Date: Saturday, June 24, 2028

Example City: Roanoke, Virginia

Example Venue: Edge Church

Version:  Day Camp, 1-Full-Day.  (Other Version: Weekend Retreat, customizable for each church)

Age Range:  Boys and Girls in Grades 3-6 and their Dads and/or Moms (Other ages: Grades 6-8, 9-12, Young Adult, customizable for each church, etc...)

Start Time:  10:00 a.m.

End Time:  9:00 p.m.

Admission:  $60-$90 (Depending on travel, weapon workshop theme, camp enrollment, etc. Subject to change).

8:30              Leaders Arrive for Prayer, Orientation, Final Prep, Playing Catch w/ Early Campers

9:30              Welcome, Late Registration, Free Time

10:00             WARRIOR CAMP BEGINS!  Race, Teams, Name Tags, Opening Ceremonies: Parade of the Clans, Clan                                  Chant, National Anthem, Competitor’s Creed, Prayer

10:30              Rally #1 (i.e. Chapel)

11:15                Weapon Workshop (All Weapons, Ammo, etc... are tested, approved, and non-lethal.  Accuracy Training and                         Practice and Free Time If Time Allows.  All Warriors will get to keep their Weapon).

12:45              Lunch (w/ Pics and Go Pro Video)

1:15                 Warrior Camp Group Photo and ShoutOut (Volume) Challenge

1:30                *Team vs. Team Game #1*

                        *(Exact Games aren’t published in order to maximize the surprise for each Warrior Camper)

2:00                Team vs. Team Game #2

2:15                 Rally #2 (i.e. Chapel)

3:00                Team vs. Team Game #3

3:30                Team vs. Team Game #4

4:00                Team vs. Team Game #5

6:15                 Dinner and Dinner Activity

7:00                Rally #3, Rally Grand Finale

8:00                Final Game/Battles: Leaders vs. Warriors

8:30                Finale: Winners Announced, Leader Challenge, Prayer, Prizes, Surveys, WC Warehouse Open, Free Battle                            Time!

9:00                See Ya Next Year!

                        Optional: Free time, collect your stuff, & Optional Bonus Battles: Leaders vs. Warriors!  Thank you                                      parents for letting your son or daughter come to WARRIOR CAMP! See you next time & God bless!

                        - Derek

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