On January 29, 2011 Ozone Ministries had the opportunity to put on an event called “THE BIG WAMPEE”. What is that? A question that often arose from our students. Well if you were able to partake, you would have found out that The Big Wampee was an event that brought together a number of elements: a narrative, skit, video media, games and a lesson rolled up into one.
The narrative was a live-breaking news story about a man-type monster that was guarding the gates of Camp War Eagle in order to make his voice heard. Our students had to follow the story and participate in games in order to gain understanding of his reasons for not wanting to let kids back into camp. Each element of the event led to another, in order to move forward and convey the Big Wampee’s message.
The Big Wampee, lives at Camp War Eagle, and is the keeper of a special light fueled by the right action of Camp War Eagle campers. The light is fading and the Big Wampee leaves his home to find out why. He discovers that the kids, who come to camp, learn simple but life-giving truths about a relationship with Christ, but unfortunately, some campers tend to go home and forget the life practiced at camp. And because the Big Wampee desires to see the light shine brightly again he has a message that goes something like this...
You see the Big Wampee knows…he remembers what Christ said to His people when he was here:
The questions now remain: Should the Big Wampee let us back in? Are we going to forget what we look like (who we are), as soon as camp ends? Or will we make choices, daily choices, to remain salty and a bright light, so that people who are in need of salvation will see God through us?
The Big Wampee recognizes the pressing importance and call to a consist pursuit of and obedience to Christ.
Will we listen?
I URGE YOU: Help the light shine once again!! The world needs to see people who pursue a relationship with Jesus so that they might know and experience the Truth that brings them freedom and blessedness.
This Ozone event was meant to challenge our students the same way camp hopes to challenge them in the summer. A relationship with Jesus is not just a one-time, one-week deal. Instead, it’s a life-style. It was our hope that by using an interactive story to engage our students, that it would be an event, and therefore a message, that sticks.
The narrative was a live-breaking news story about a man-type monster that was guarding the gates of Camp War Eagle in order to make his voice heard. Our students had to follow the story and participate in games in order to gain understanding of his reasons for not wanting to let kids back into camp. Each element of the event led to another, in order to move forward and convey the Big Wampee’s message.
The Big Wampee, lives at Camp War Eagle, and is the keeper of a special light fueled by the right action of Camp War Eagle campers. The light is fading and the Big Wampee leaves his home to find out why. He discovers that the kids, who come to camp, learn simple but life-giving truths about a relationship with Christ, but unfortunately, some campers tend to go home and forget the life practiced at camp. And because the Big Wampee desires to see the light shine brightly again he has a message that goes something like this...
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
**James 1:22-25**The reality of what camp is meant to do is reveal Truths that move the campers, as well as us, into a freeing, blessed life through obedience to Christ. The Big Wampee wants to make sure the campers understand this before he is going to let them back into camp…because that which he is witnessing of these campers throughout the year is not matching up to this blessed state that shows the world who Jesus is.
You see the Big Wampee knows…he remembers what Christ said to His people when he was here:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
**Matthew 5:13-16**Jesus tells us that we ARE the salt and light of the world. Not that one-day we will be, but NOW, when we come into understanding and relationship with Him. The Big Wampee reminds and challenges us to move from just hearing and learning lessons at camp to applying them in our everyday lives; because if we aren’t acting upon the lessons, then we are not revealing salt or light to a needy world.
The questions now remain: Should the Big Wampee let us back in? Are we going to forget what we look like (who we are), as soon as camp ends? Or will we make choices, daily choices, to remain salty and a bright light, so that people who are in need of salvation will see God through us?
The Big Wampee recognizes the pressing importance and call to a consist pursuit of and obedience to Christ.
Will we listen?
I URGE YOU: Help the light shine once again!! The world needs to see people who pursue a relationship with Jesus so that they might know and experience the Truth that brings them freedom and blessedness.
This Ozone event was meant to challenge our students the same way camp hopes to challenge them in the summer. A relationship with Jesus is not just a one-time, one-week deal. Instead, it’s a life-style. It was our hope that by using an interactive story to engage our students, that it would be an event, and therefore a message, that sticks.
Check out some photos of the event!
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