My friend Bernie is a computer fellow. He fixes up old computers and gives them away to people for their use. He and I collected enough equipment to have thirteen computers for camp use. Disposable cameras were used for the week of camp. The campers each had one to use the week before camp started. On Monday morning, when they arrived, the cameras were collected, processed, and photos transferred to a CD.

While this was being done, there was a Bible class. We used videos for three of the days. I spoke on Psalms 139 about how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. A fellow pastor spoke about the pictures of God in the Bible.

After each day’s Bible class there was a photography class, explaining how to use the camera and what to look for through the viewfinder. After snack time the campers went on field trips. They went to Giant Springs on Monday, Rainbow and Black Eagle Dams on Tuesday, a park along the Missouri River, the old Milwaukee Railroad Depot, and Overlook Park with its big flag on Wednesday. On Thursday we went downtown and to a home with a beautiful garden. On the field trips, they were given assignments to help them think about what they were looking for in the pictures they were to take. Back at camp after lunch it was time for a round of recreation.

The computers were the next step in the program. Bernie would give instructions as to what they would be working on that day. The first day was cropping. He had other projects as the week moved on, like changing colors, black and white, and sepia color. They were to modify six of the pictures they took and these were printed out for that day. We did this every day.

After the computer time was craft time where they made picture frames and a collage. The last thing for each day was another Bible class before they went home.

On Friday we worked on the computers. The campers were selecting the pictures they wanted to print into an 8” x 10" format. They also worked on six more of their choices. When they were completed, we lined a room in the basement of the church with tables. Each camper had a table to display their pictures for that evening.

That evening the parents and siblings came for a meal with the campers. At 6:00 p.m. others were welcomed in to look at the photos taken that week. The parents enjoyed the show, as did the visitors who came. It was a very special week, and I am thankful we were able to do it.

Teen Tells How Press on Ministries Affected His Life

In light of the recent school shooting at Virginia Tech, the subject of violence in schools is brought back to life. People start asking themselves, Why does this happen? Who would do this kind of thing? People who usually do this kind of thing are loners. They might have had bad childhoods or have social inadequacies that keep them from fitting in.

What is surprising is that in some ways I have some of these tendencies. I am anti-social and [hardly] fit in anywhere. I bottle up my emotions and then release them all at once. Yet, I do not have a desire to shoot up a campus or have unhealthy thoughts.

There are many reasons why this is so: my upbringing, close friends that I can talk to, and my strong sense of right and wrong are just a few. However, the most significant influence in my life has been Jim Wilson. He runs the Press On Community Youth Center [in Kearney, Nebraska]. The kids who come there are mostly from economically disadvantaged homes and often have social problems. He helps them by creating recreational, educational, emotional, and spiritual opportunities.

The youth center has a weekly Bible study where I used to go every week and even helped out. Jim went through books of the Bible and explained them in a way that was easy to understand. He was easygoing and funny but made us pay attention.

It takes a lot of energy and a huge commitment to run a youth center. It also takes the help of the community and volunteers to keep it running. The kids need to feel welcomed by everyone there; otherwise, they will look for acceptance elsewhere. The number-one goal is to create a safe environment where each will feel love[d], accepted, and secure. I’m where I am today because of Jim, and so are many others.

Seth, the author, is a senior at the University of Kearney, majoring in multi-media.