This past weekend we wrapped up a great year of programs in 2016 for our Georgia Chapter.  Even though the ongoing burn ban kept us from having our usual Bonfire on Friday night, we took advantage of the warmth from our huge grill after the burgers came off for dinner. It was great to have most of our boys back together after our smaller Deer Hunts.  After a great hamburger and all the trimming dinner, Jamie Mason shared his powerful testimony of a past full of pain, depression and destruction and the life change that happened when he finally chose to give his heart and his life to Christ. He had our full attention and his story certainly made an impact on all of us.   After a few rounds of manhunt, cards and dessert, we hit the bunks.  Saturday morning was relaxed, as we all slept in later than usual.  After a hot breakfast, everyone chipped in for a final camp clean and then headed to West Ridge Church for our End of the Year Banquet.

The banquet is a time where boys, moms, mentors, sponsors, ministry partners, and others come together to celebrate all God has done over the year of programs.  We recognized mentors, moms, and sponsors.  We announced Isaiah Maldonado, Brandon Jones and Manny Maldonado as the winners of our Spring Leadership Trip. They were chosen for their overall leadership qualities, initiative, doing well at school and at home. There was laughter and some tears as we celebrated all that God has done in 2016 with our boys, families, mentors, sponsors and community supporters. We are in awe as we look back at the way God has answered so many prayers in ways we could not imagine and brought boys to know Christ through this ministry. We are so humbled by God’s love and generosity. We are so honored that families entrust their young men to our care and guidance. We are so appreciative of our mentors who give of their time to pour their hearts into loving and leading our young men to be men of God. We are so grateful to all of our sponsors and community supporters. None of what we do would even be possible without you. We cannot imagine that 2017 could possibly be better than 2016, but God’s plans are always bigger than ours, so we look forward with great anticipation, knowing He is faithful to do all that He has promised and so much more than we could ever dream of.

We now begin all the backend work to line up our 2017 year of programs and offerings.  We ask that you continue to keep this ministry in your prayers as we complete our planning.  Thank you for being a part of our family.  Hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Check out all the pictures from our End of Year Nonfire and Banquet below.

2016 End of Year Georgia