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CYC is a wonderful camp that inspires children, teens and adults every year.
Read the CYC Testimonies below to learn about others Crusader Youth Camp experiences.
Submit your testimony today! E-mail us about your experience at Crusader Youth Camp and share with others what role CYC has had in your life.
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By Sharon Johnson
-From the March/April 2010 Messenger Publication
The word I would use to describe my camping days at CYC is “wonderful”. It was
my favorite time of the year except for Christmas. Youth camp was the highlight of my summer every summer.
It started on Sunday afternoons with registration. We had sandwiches for supper and then on Sunday night we had time to get introduced to each other and get to know a little bit about each other.
In the mornings we had classes that were very interesting. Some classes were just for girls and some just for boys. In the afternoons there were recreational activities such as volley ball, soft ball, archery, horses, horseshoes, and ping pong. Or, if you liked music, you could learn the camp songs and practice the choir songs. Person- ally, I liked the music better than the sports. The songs were beautiful and meaningful. They really helped create a worshipful atmosphere. We also had time to practice skits for some of the night services.
Banquet night was on Thursday nights. It was usually turkey with all the trimmings, always delicious.
We had canteen breaks in the mornings and afternoons. That was refreshing because it was usually very hot. We had night services every night
and they were great. It was wonderful to be at the altar, after the message, and see kids your own age praying for each other and leading ones that weren’t saved to Christ.
Sometimes, after the night services, we went on hay rides, or walked along behind. That was always fun.
Sometimes cabins would compete with other cabins in contests, sometimes it was girls against boys. It was always lots of fun to everyone. We also had a newspaper. You really had to stay out of trouble. If you didn’t, your name would be in the paper on Saturday mornings.
Saturday mornings were also rodeo time. The wranglers worked hard all week long with the horses and everyone enjoyed the rodeos on Saturday mornings. Also, Saturday mornings were a little sad because we knew that when the rodeo was over, it would
be time to go home, and we probably would not see most of our new friends until the next year at CYC.
One more thing, if it wasn’t for CYC I might not have ever met the Christian young man (Stacy) who became my husband, more than thirty nine years ago.
I highly recommend our Crusader Youth Camp to every young person six years old or older. It’s a “wonderful” way for a young person to see how “wonderful” it is to be a Christian, and to know that they are ready to meet the LORD when the time comes.
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By Amy Murphy
-From the March/April 2010 Messenger Publication
On a hot Sunday afternoon in June, anxious campers patiently wait. Camp registration begins at 3:00 but many of the campers have been waiting since noon. Likely, the caregivers and parents couldn’t persuade them to wait any longer. For months, they have asked “Is it time? When are we going? Did I get my application yet? Is it today?” So, when that day finally arrives, it is a happy time! Despite the drive, the long lines, the paperwork, the heat, and even the gnats, there is antici- pation and excitement in the air. The campers can hardly contain themselves as they sing, dance, laugh, and resume conversations, right where they left off the previous year. There is joy in the camp!
The scene I’ve just described is Opening Day of Camp Friendship. Camp Friendship is the first full week of camp at Crusader Youth Camp each year. Camp Friendship is offered for adults with special needs.
In 1980, Christian Education Director, Dr. Don Sauls, attended a Sunday School Conference in Charlotte. At that seminar, the speaker dealt with expand- ing our horizons and using our talents for God. He focused on reaching leaders and how we might minister to five talent people. During the message, the Lord began to deal with Brother Sauls. He thought “What about the one talent people?” God clearly spoke to him and asked “What are you doing about it? What are you doing to help families with children that have special needs?” Families with special needs children gain much but miss opportunities to do things other families take for granted, especially when the special needs child has siblings. Brother Sauls felt a definite call to do something and this began the vision for Camp Friendship.
There were many things to consider and this was all new territory. At that time Dr. Sauls’ children, Donna and Dale, were very young. How would this affect them? Would it be dangerous for his children to be around these individuals? How would they manage their physi- cal needs? Could they find people to help with the camp? These were very real concerns and there were many ques- tions, but one thing was certain. Something had to be done. So, with a deep conviction that this was God’s will, they began preparations for Camp Friendship. It was difficult to find workers for that first year, but God supplied the need. By Monday all of the workers were thrilled they had come.
That first year Brother Sauls asked Mary Lillie Avery to serve as camp nurse. This was also a challenge for Mary Lillie because her son, Aubrey, was just a baby. She soon found out that she didn’t have any wor- ries. The campers were loving, gentle, and wonderful babysitters! Mrs. Myrtle Holder taught the Bible class that first year. She con- tinued teaching the Bible class through 2003, with the exception of one year. The campers still adore Mrs. Holder today and they refer to her often, with much reverence.
In 1980 there were approximately 30 campers at Camp Friendship. This past year there were 76 campers and 65 staff members. Camp Friendship has flourished and is a tremendous blessing for people that might otherwise be forgotten in ministry.
Caring for 76 handicapped adults for a week is a huge undertaking. There are many specific needs that the aver- age person wouldn’t even consider. There are special diets, medical conditions, physical limitations, and behavioral issues. Many of the campers require a personal Worker. These Workers are willing to spend an entire week at camp, many of them using their own vacation time to come. There are volunteers that return year after year, because once you’ve spent one week at Camp Friendship you are hooked.
When I consider these campers, Matthew 25:40 comes to my mind, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. This scripture applies to them, but not in the way you might think. The world’s perception of people with special needs is that they are the “least” among us, but I’ve come to real- ize that they are the greatest among us in so many ways. If you could picture a world without prejudice, without jeal- ousy, without pride or arrogance, without cruelty then you could see the world the way they see it. That doesn’t mean that these things don’t exist in their world. They probably exist more in their world than ours. They are treated badly at times, they are ridiculed and shunned by others, but they don’t see it. And even if they do see it, it doesn’t matter. Their love is pure and their forgiveness is unconditional.
I thank God for Camp Friendship, not only for the campers’ sake, but for my sake as well. I am a better person for having known these precious people. They have become a part of who I am and what I strive to be. I am convinced that it is I, and not them, with a handicap.
I expect our first day in Heaven to be much like that Opening Day of Camp Friendship; with much singing, dancing, laughing, and praising God for an eternity in per- fect love and peace.
As a side note, Dr. Sauls’ daughter, Donna Mooring, went on to become a Special Education teacher. Without Camp Friendship, she may have never found her true calling.
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My birthday is tomorrow and I was looking back at what all happened this year. The main thing I remember is not going someplace with my parents or hanging out with friends, its going to CYC and having the time of my life. Every year, I look forward to going back to Dunn and staying for a few weeks. Every year, I look forward to eating, sleeping, playing, and hanging out with friends I may only see that one week or so, every year.
Ive learned a lot from CYC, but considering im almost 13, that doesnt mean much, hehe, but i've learned to actually care for someone other than family or myself, and to be cared for back. Ive learned to accept God into my life, and to worship him. Ive learned that even if you just meet somebody at camp, and you play and talk with them, that you can make a lifelong friend just like that. I've been friends with Jay for almost 3 years now, granted thats not long, but for a friendship with someone that I meet once a year, that's pretty long... Ive learned to love people, even if they are a pain sometimes. I've learned to be able to stand up to a girl and say "Umm, Do you want to go to the banquet with me?" and then waiting, -feeling like my heart is about to explode- for an answer. Ive learned all that and more from just 3 years, and hopefully I'll still be learning for the rest of my life, because when I grow up, I want to be able to help out around camp, that is, when i can't be a camper anymore, hehe. But yeah, if I had to pick one place to be for the rest of my life, it would have to be Crusader Youth Camp.
~~~See you in the summer!~~~
Cody Pettus
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By Dale Sauls
-From the May 2007 Messenger Publication
Where did you spend time
as a child? Think of your
home, your grandparents’
home, aunt’s and uncle’s home, friends’ homes, schools, churches, and vacation
spots. You can probably remember
many details about all these places.
How did you feel at those places?
How did the people there make you
feel? Where were some of the most
positive memories made? Where did
you spend time that now brings a smile
to your face?
For me, Crusader
Youth Camp (CYC) fits
that description. CYC
was a regular for my
family. I spent time there
every summer from the age of two to
approximately age nineteen. I spent
six consecutive weeks at CYC most of
those summers. It was my home-away-from-home. One person said, “Dale is
like pollen. He just keeps coming back
every year.” I realize now that probably
wasn’t a compliment. Nevertheless, it
didn’t matter because I loved CYC and
just being there.
This feeling was not only true for
me, it was true for many. In fact, a number
of you reading this article had the
same story. Few Pentecostal Free Will
Baptist ministries have a bigger alumni
than CYC. Untold people attended
CYC during its fifty-nine year history.
I learned at CYC how to live with
no sleep, eat cafeteria food (and like it),
ride horses, live without air conditioning,
get into trouble, avoid getting into
trouble, ask girls to the banquet, deal
with rejection, and the list could go on
and on! Some of what I learned I do
not want my son to know about, much
less experience first hand!
Nonetheless, most of what I learned
at CYC is knowledge I want to pass on
to the next generation. In fact, much
of who I am today stems from my experiences
at CYC. Much
of what I do today, the
things I am passionate
about, I learned from
CYC.
I learned to love people
at CYC. Most any chronic CYC alumni
could talk tenderly about the relationships
they built at CYC. By “chronic,”
I mean those who came for more than
one week one year. For most of us “CYC-chronics,” the relationships built
there were like family. We ate together,
played together, fought together, prayed
together, worshiped together, cried together,
laughed together…we did life
together! Undoubtedly, the relationships
I built at CYC are life-long relationships.
When I see those people or
hear their names, I feel an immediate,
positive bond.
After growing up and getting involved in Church leadership,
I became a student of church structures. My favorite
is the cell-based church structure. The cell-based structure
assimilates the larger congregation into smaller units. This
plan insures no one falls through the proverbial “cracks.”
These smaller groupings “do life” together. Together these
smaller units make up a collective whole, much like cabins
make up CYC. Often when I talk to people about the power
of small groups, I use my experiences at CYC to illustrate.
CYC taught me to love people and “do life” with them.
I also learned to love the Church at CYC. I learned there
are reserved churches, wild churches, conservative churches,
aggressive churches. Churches have different styles
of music, preaching, programs, and ways of doing things.
Somehow, even with all that diversity, we were a collective
Church, the Body of Christ, at CYC.
People came from all over. I learned there were some
not-so-nice people in the Church, but there were also some
of the best people in the world in the Church. These people
were “the salt of the earth” kind of folks. Some of my
greatest hurts in life have been connected with church people.
HOWEVER, some of the greatest joys of my life have
been connected to church people as well. Can you relate?
CYC instilled a love for the church so strong in me that
I have given my life to help build the church. In 1986 on
Tuesday night of Campmeeting, I accepted God’s call to
full-time Christian service. That night I dedicated my life to
building the church. My undergraduate education centered
on this commitment. The past fourteen years of my life
have been in full-time ministry. My passion for the church
drove me to get a Master of Arts degree in Organizational
Leadership. Now, much of my time is spent consulting with
other churches as well as leading San-Lee Chapel. I love
the Church and desperately want to see the church thrive!
CYC taught me to love God, without doubt the greatest
value and lesson I learned from CYC. If you polled the vast
alumni, undoubtedly many would say CYC greatly influenced
their Christian pilgrimage. Countless people will not
go to hell, but rather go to heaven, because God used and
anointed CYC’s ministry.
When I think of my “first works” or my formative years
as a Christian, I think of CYC. At CYC, I committed my
life to Christ. There God sanctified me and filled me with
the Holy Spirit. When someone asks me to describe intimate
times with God, occasions at CYC frequently surface.
I still remember those experiences, they are as real to me
today as when I first experienced them. My Christian journey
now builds on those formative experiences as an infant
Christian. Those experiences have impacted and are impacting
my life beyond words.
At CYC I learned to love people, the Church, and God.
Did you notice the operative word? It is love. If I could sum
up what CYC was about for me, I would use the word love.
Why else would people have made the sacrifices they made
for kids like me? Why else would a camp tucked away in
eastern North Carolina impact so many? At CYC I felt
loved.
Thus, the loving people make CYC great. It is not the
horses, the pool, the games, the pranks, or the property.
One winter day a CYC alumnus who had strayed from God
and who wanted to return dropped by the house. He said, “I
am going down to the camp to re-connect with God. I want
to go there because I think God kind of lives there. I know
I will feel different if I get there.” A few minutes later, he
returned disappointed. He said, “Man, without the people
there, it just seems like a deserted old camp. It was kind of
spooky!” Yes, the loving people make CYC great.
Love has a magnetic power that can change lives. I am
grateful for those who demonstrated love towards me at
CYC. But most of all, I will be eternally grateful for all
those who allowed their lives to be a conduit of God’s love.
I am better because of their loving Christian obedience and
sacrifice.
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By by Clara & Errett Marshburn
-From the May 2007 Messenger Publication
CLARA-
It all began in the summer of 1973 for me......But let’s
take a moment to look back to what brought me to my decision.
I was born and raised in the family of Rev. Bobby
Penny in the little town of Beulaville, NC. My dad was a
minister of the gospel, so all of us kids spent many a day,
all day long, in the church. We would travel to many various
churches with our Dad as he ministered the Word of
God. I can remember some of those churches very well. I
remember going to New Light in Bladenboro. I remember
well the first time my Dad preached in
a black church. We had to sit on the
front row so Dad could keep an eye
on us. It was amazing to watch the
people worship God there. My home
church was Piney Grove church in
Beulaville. Watching those wonderful
saints worship God and hearing their
testimonies of what God had done in
their lives were the experiences that
shaped my life and prepared me
for my ministry.
During my teen years and
early adult life, I chose to go my
own way--until the summer of
1969. God revealed Himself
to me and showed me I would
be lost completely if I didn’t
choose to follow Him. I made
my choice in July of that year to follow
God by repenting of my sins and asking for forgiveness.
I was baptized in December of that same year. Upon making
my decision, I began to seek God, asking where He
wanted me to work for Him. Learning about the need for
counselors at Youth Camp, I decided to be a counselor in
the summer of 1973 to see if this was where God wanted
to use me. I was completely hooked. My heart was caught
in ministering to the children. I believe the greatest ministry
anyone can do is to teach children the Word of God. I
didn’t want to be just an ordinary Christian as I told God
many times. God put a strong desire in my heart to make a difference in other people’s lives. So, I have continued
to attend camp because God ordered my steps and placed
me there to make a difference. I am committed to continue
for as long as I have strength, because I love my Lord Jesus
Christ. I tried to stop a couple of years ago, but I was
not content. I felt like something was missing in my life. I
went back the very next year.
Even now, I am amazed at the love God showed me. He
loved me when I didn’t love Him. He came to me when I
was not seeking Him; and I want to show that love to others.
Because our children are our inheritance from God,
we must value them and show them how important they
are to us and to God. God instructed His people to teach
their children. In Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 God said: “And
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words,
which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and
when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.” Thus God has commanded us to
teach the children in our
homes as well as in the
streets. Crusader Youth
Camp is a great opportunity
to minister unto our
Lord by teaching His
Word to the children.
My husband, Rev.
Errett Marshburn, was
saved in 1970. In 1976,
we went to camp as a family. That
became a ministry for us. We took our family
with us and continued that ministry through
the years. Our children grew up at the camp,
and later became ministers themselves. Errett
Marshburn Jr., Angela Marshburn Buchanan
and Jeff Marshburn worked as assistant directors
for several years. I said that, to show that
we passed the torch down to our kids by taking
them with us to camp every year. There they grew
in their relationship with God, were filled with the Holy
Spirit, and learned to be servants. It is vital to set an example
before your children and all other children that God
puts in your path.
ERRETT-
My first year as a counselor at CYC was one of the
hardest weeks I have ever experienced. I had a cabin of
fourteen boys by myself. I also took the responsibility of
organizing and implementing all the outside activities,
softball, basketball, horseshoes, etc. I was so exhausted by
the end of the week that I kept falling asleep while driving
home. I declared to my wife that I would never return
to camp again. But as the following camp season approached,
I felt a stirring in my spirit to get away from the
general hubbub of life and to minister to the kids at camp
again. That year I learned how to say no and pace myself.
It was a wonderful week, and I returned each year for approximately
thirty years.
CYC, in my opinion is the greatest ministry of the Pentecostal
Free Will Baptist Church.
There is always a heavy anointing of God’s Holy Spirit
on the camp. Some weeks several days will go by with no
outward evidence of anything spiritual taking place. Then
as in Acts 2:2 “suddenly” there will be a mighty outpouring
of God’s Spirit. Kids and counselors gather at the altar,
weeping and crying out to God in life changing experiences.
It would be inspiring to know how many ministers
received their call, how many married couples met, how
many drug addicts delivered, how many souls saved, how
many believers sanctified, how many camp counselors
filled with the Holy Spirit during all the camp seasons so
far?
I encourage men and women to pray and to seek God’s
direction about giving a week of the summer to minister
to young people. It will not only make a difference in their
lives, it will make a difference in your life.
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By by Lynette & Danny Taylor
-From the May 2007 Messenger Publication
LYNETTE-
Danny and I believe that Crusader Youth Camp is a vital
ministry. We have both been involved in camp for years
in some way or another. I started attending camp when
I was eight years old and attended as a camper for eight
years after that. When I was between fifteen and sixteen
years old, I met Danny at camp and we became friends. At
the time we met, I was dating someone else. I guess you
could call it dating since I was only fifteen. I believe the
correct term these days is “talking to someone else.” As a
matter of fact, during camp meeting
that year we double-dated, I with this
other fellow and Danny with a friend
of mine. About a year later, he became
more than a friend, and we began dating.
Danny just happened to show up
at the New Zealand Church in Benson
where my father was pastoring. Daddy
invited him to speak that morning, and
I invited him to stay for lunch. Afterwards,
he played softball with our youth group; and believe
it or not, so did I. For those of you at camp who never see
me participate in sports, I did play softball at one time. Our
first date was the next Friday night and we attended the
banquet at camp since Danny was a counselor that week.
And, of course, we have attended many banquets since then.
I truly believe God’s divine purpose for us was to bring
Danny and me together. He used the ministry at camp to
accomplish that purpose. Since Danny lived in Angier and
I lived in Beulaville, it is likely we would not have met otherwise.
Danny continues to attend camp and has throughout our
marriage. Both he and our son, Jonathan, work at the camp
every summer. Some folks wonder how I can deal with
their being gone all summer; but because we all believe in
the ministry of camp so strongly, it is not really a problem
for us. Some say I enjoy it because I have the house all to
myself. That is not a bad thing, but the truth is that I see
how much of a ministry this is to Danny and to Jonathan.
I would not do anything to stop them from being involved.
In fact, I enjoy visiting with them. I have often said there is
nothing more relaxing after a long day at work than to drive
to camp, to listen to the praise band play during the altar
services, and watch the young people and the camp staff
pray. Jennifer, our daughter, and I have always enjoyed this
part of camp thoroughly. Although she is married now and
cannot go with me as often, it is still a blessing to both of
us. You can see how God is working in these young lives,
and I can see how God is using my family along with the
other CYC staff to minister to them. It is truly one of the
most rewarding ministries there is.
I see camp as a wonderful place to build
relationships, not only the kind of relationship
we found, but many others too. I have
many friends that I met at camp as a camper
and as “Danny’s wife.” These people have
had a great impact on my life. There is
a sort of “family feeling” at camp that is
spiritually encouraging and uplifting. Even
though we do not see each other throughout
the year, it is exciting to see each other every summer. It
builds a support system that encourages the campers and
the staff members as they return home to continue God’s
work. I would not trade this part of my life, and I am genuinely
thankful that this is the direction God has sent my
family in.
DANNY–
I first met my wife at camp. The odd thing is that she
was seeing someone else at the time. It was not until later
that we seemed to connect. As we all know, relationships
have their ups and downs. Ours was no different. We have
always tried to work through every hardship together. I
think that camp can be a place to meet people who become
friends for life. My wife and I have always tried to put God
first in all that we do. As a pastor’s family, we have experienced
that many battles have made us better people and
parents. Lynette and I feel that the ministry we do at camp
is just the ministry God has placed in our lives at this time.
At camp you build relationships when you are playing
basketball, ping pong, or around the altars at nightly
services. I have met innumerable people, young and old
alike, that have had an impact on my life. We have shared
so much. Some of the relationships have happened just
because I would listen to the campers or staff. Often people
just need someone to listen to all their problems and not
complain. God has blessed me with knowing and sharing
with hundreds of people that I might not otherwise have
met. A lot of these people have become friends for life.
What a blessing it has been to see young people blessed
by God, called into a ministry and adults who have been
blessed so greatly.
I could not have done anything in my ministry here at
camp without the support of my wife. She has been my
rock. We sometimes jokingly say, “Lynette has six weeks
of single life.” I am so blessed to have someone who
always understands and accepts my ministry at camp. She
has gladly given up some summer vacations and family
times so I could work there.
Through my relationships and friendships at camp
and beyond, I have been made a better person. My wife
and I have been blessed by these many friendships and
relationships that have been formed over the years. It has
made us stronger in our own relationship.
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