In an era of increasing hostility toward Christians and their holding to the biblical teaching that Jesus is the only way to heaven, evangelist and "Exploring the Word" co-host Dr. Alex McFarland takes part in Equip Retreats, apologetics summer camps where middle and high school students are taught how to defend their Christian faith.
"We have people like Wil and Meeke Addison to speak, a lot of colleagues," Dr. McFarland recently said on American Family Radio. "We talk about creation, we talk about the authenticity of the Bible, but we [also] talk about America. Last summer, we had 650 youth, had 125 accept Christ as their savior."
Campers are taught, among other things, about combating wokeness, and they learn about the U.S. Constitution. So secondarily to making disciples of Christ, McFarland says the aim is to help mold upstanding citizens.
"We are in a fight for the soul of our nation, and the gospel is a big part of the answer," McFarland asserts. "We're telling kids why they need to love the United States of America and, as a Christian and as a citizen, how God can use their life to help save our country."
Seven camps, each lasting five days, are planned for this summer and will be held in Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Jersey. The cost is $375 per camper, but money is raised to subsidize them so that in 20 years, McFarland says no teenager has ever been turned away.
