Elias Varela
Elias Varela
Elias Varela
Elias Varela
Camp Alamisco’s 2026 summer program, held over five consecutive weeks, June 7 to July 12, centered on the theme “Yes, He Can,” reminding campers that God is able to transform lives, overcome obstacles, answer prayers, and accomplish what often seems impossible.
Throughout the season, volunteer and seasonal staff served as counselors, activity leaders, lifeguards, worship leaders, nurses, support personnel, and mentors, creating an environment where campers could experience Christ through meaningful relationships, Bible-centered programming, and outdoor activities.
The summer included five unique camp experiences: Adventurer/Aquatic Week, Junior Week, Teen Week, Family Week, and Poarch Creek Week. While each session offered activities tailored to its age group, every week shared the same purpose, to help campers deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Days were filled with swimming, boating, nature activities, team-building challenges, and recreational events, while mornings and evenings focused on worship, Bible study, and small-group discussions. Counselors intentionally used each activity as an opportunity to encourage spiritual conversations and model Christian service.
For Michel Rodriguez, Gulf States camp director, the greatest success of the summer was not measured by attendance or activities, but by lives surrendered to Christ. “The most rewarding part of this summer wasn’t simply seeing campers enjoy everything Camp Alamisco has to offer,” said Rodriguez. “It was watching God work through a staff that gave themselves wholeheartedly to ministry. Our volunteers poured countless hours into mentoring, encouraging, and praying with young people. Camp has always been about introducing young people to Christ and helping them begin a lifelong walk with Him. Everything else is simply a tool to accomplish that mission.”
That mission was carried forward by more than 75 staff members who traveled from different parts of the country to serve throughout the summer. Many were college students who chose to spend their summer mentoring the next generation instead of pursuing other opportunities. Among them was Carlo Vazquez, an Andrews University student who volunteered as a member of the summer staff.
“I came to Camp Alamisco because I wanted to give back in the same way others invested in me,” said Vazquez. “What I didn’t expect was how much God would change me in the process. Walking alongside campers, praying with them, and seeing them respond to Jesus strengthened my own faith every day. It reminded me that sometimes the greatest ministry is simply being present, listening and pointing someone to Christ.”
That intentional investment became evident throughout each week as friendships developed between counselors and campers. Whether during cabin worships, prayer walks, campfire meetings, or conversations after activities, staff sought to create spaces where campers felt safe asking questions about faith, and sharing their personal struggles. For many young people, those conversations became defining moments.
Lucas De Moraes, who attended Teen Week, said the experience helped him see God’s work in a new way.
“Before camp, I believed in God, but I didn’t always feel close to Him,” said De Moraes. “The worships, the counselors, and even the conversations with other campers helped me realize that God really can do things that seem impossible. The theme, ‘Yes, He Can,’ became personal for me because I saw that God could change my heart too. I left camp wanting to keep growing with Jesus long after the week ended.”
Stories like De Moraes’ reflected the purpose behind this year’s theme. Throughout the summer, speakers encouraged campers to trust God’s promises, even when facing fear, uncertainty, or personal challenges. Each message reinforced the truth that God’s power is not limited by human circumstances, and that He continues to transform lives today.
By the close of the five-week ministry, those messages had produced an eternal result.
Twenty-nine young people chose to be baptized, publicly declaring their decision to follow Jesus Christ.
The baptisms represented more than a number. Each decision reflected countless conversations, Bible studies, prayers, and moments of encouragement shared by staff members who faithfully invested in the lives of campers throughout the summer.
Camp ministry has long served as one of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s most effective avenues for nurturing faith among children and youth, and this year’s experience at Camp Alamisco demonstrated that its influence extends far beyond a single week in the woods. Relationships formed during camp often continue through local churches, schools, and ongoing mentorship, helping young people remain connected to their faith communities.
As another summer season came to a close, staff members packed away equipment, cleaned cabins, and prepared to return home. Yet, the greatest work of the summer could not be stored in a building or measured by a schedule. It continues in the lives of the 29 young people who chose baptism, and in the many other campers who returned home carrying a renewed understanding of God’s love.
The message proclaimed throughout the summer remains the same: when young people encounter Jesus and faithful mentors are willing to serve, God continues to demonstrate that no life is beyond His reach.
Indeed, yes, He can.
Gulf States | September 2026
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