PARON, Ark. – Nearly 200 students from across Arkansas are spending the week putting their faith into action at Engage Camp, a missions-focused summer camp of Arkansas Baptists. 

Held June 15-19 at Camp Paron, the camp combines worship, evangelism, biblical teaching, and hands-on ministry opportunities to help equip students to be engaged full-time in God’s mission.   campus minister  

Throughout the week, students participate in ministry projects designed to meet practical needs in communities surrounding Camp Paron and demonstrate the love of Christ through service. 

"The kids are helping out, being on mission for Christ, and we just are helping the practical needs in our local community here close to camp," said Kenny Lawrence of Marshall Road Church. "And we're just going out and helping others to be the light that Christ wants us to be." 

Lawrence said the camp's emphasis on hands-on ministry is what distinguishes Engage Camp from a traditional church camp experience. 

"It's more missions-focused. Instead of just learning, we're actually applying what we're learning," he said. 

Lawrence said the practical ministry experiences provide students with opportunities to step outside their comfort zones while serving others in Christ's name. 

"Just seeing them apply it and growing out of their comfort zone," he said. "Some of them were very hesitant … but they're actually learning to do it for Christ, and it's just amazing to see them coming out of their shell." 

This year's camp personalities are Kyle McNutt, associate pastor at New Life Baptist Church in Alexander, and Matt Hall, campus minister at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

When asked to describe Engage Camp in three words, Lawrence chose "hands-on fun." 

"Not only are we doing hard work, but we're also having fun and building that brotherhood and sisterhood together and just being the Church," he said. 

Through Engage Camp, Arkansas Baptists are helping students develop a lifestyle of evangelism, discipleship and service that extends beyond a week at camp and into their everyday lives. 

Engage Camp is made possible through the generous giving of Arkansas Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.