camps & retreats
summer camps
One of the most meaningful ministries that we offer to our young people is through the immersion experience at church camp. Each summer, we offer the opportunity for all young people (2nd – 12th grades) to attend church camp. Our location is in Athens, Texas at Disciples Crossing campground. The cost for each camp ranges anywhere from $200-$300 (scholarships available for active participants). The following camps are available each summer:
- Grand Camp (ages 4-10, accompanied by a Grandparent)
- PYF / Discovery Camp (2nd-3rd grades)
- JYF Camp (4th-5th grades)
- Chi Rho Camp (6th-7th grades)
- Eighter’s Camp (8th grade)
- Niner’s Camp (9th grade)
- CYF Conference (9th-12th grades)
mid-winter retreats
Through our North Texas Area of Disciple churches, we offer mid-winter retreats each year for both junior high and high school ages. Both retreats are located at Disciples Crossing in Athens, TX and begin on a Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon. The high school retreat is typically the last weekend in January and the junior high school retreat is normally the second weekend in February. The cost usually ranges from $60-$75.
fall rally’s
To start out the school year, our area churches offer a Fall Rally to our young people!
High School Youth: This is a lock-in for one evening, including a keynote speaker, a worship service, crazy group games, small group conversations & discussions, and free time! The location of the lock-in changes each year but is always located at a neighboring Disciple church.
Junior High Youth: The rally consists of a Sunday afternoon where there are games, praise and worship music, and then an opportunity to serve others. In the past, it has included singing and serving dessert to those in a nursing home facility.
all-youth retreat
FCC, Garland has the privilege of offering (above and beyond the area retreats and rallies), a weekend retreat each Spring that is for our young people only! This retreat includes all youth from 4th-12th grades and it also takes place at our Disciples Crossing campsite in Athens, TX.
This retreat has a specific theme (decided upon by the Youth Pastor) and also brings in an outside keynoter who offers words of wisdom, guided by scripture and who then leads the group through exercises that move us beyond our understanding and into an action that we can take home! This retreat also offers awesome opportunities for the youth to lead worship each day and for each youth group to dig deeper within their own struggles, hearts, and passions as well as to develop their relationships with one another!
This past year, our theme was “Us vs Them” and discussed the “dangerous” topic of racism!
jyf retreat
Each year in March, the JYF youth group (4th & 5th graders) load up and head off to a special lake house on Lake Texoma where they have their weekend retreat! Throughout the weekend, the young people help to cook their own meals, including “famous” hamburgers (come and find out), and they also go horse-back riding along the lake and through the beautiful trails!
Of course there is lots of laughing, story-telling and good, gooey s’mores; but there are also moments to reflect in God’s creation through devotionals and times of worship! This is one of the highlights of our youth ministry’s year, so if you are able, you will not want to miss out!
mission opportunities
“…So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do,
I’m bankrupt without love.” I Corinthians 13:3
We were created with a purpose to serve one another, and it is our prayer that at FCC Garland, we would offer opportunities to fulfill this calling and purpose! Although we have ample ways to serve and fulfill our mission to love throughout the year, we set aside one week during the summer months where our young people (6th-12th grades) travel toward people in need and offer all that we can to help rebuild the spirit, the body, and the mind of God’s children!
In the past, our high school group has traveled to inner-city Los Angeles, CA where we spent our days at a community outreach center. We not only helped to physically rebuild their facility, but we also spent time in classes and working face-to-face with the people of L.A.! We have also been to the border of Texas and Mexico where we spent our moments creating and cleaning classrooms and sanctuaries, as well as offering help to one of the orphanages in Mexico.
The past two summers, we have gone to the greater New Orleans area where we have given our hearts to the people who have been ignored and unloved. The relationships that we have gained within the New Orleans community are one that will last!
Our earnest prayer for the function of these trips is two-fold: 1) that our hands will glorify God, will reach out to God’s children, will literally begin to rebuild all that has been broken (heart, body, city, etc.) and 2) that the experience would begin to instill within each of us a servant-heart that lasts far beyond one week!
music ministries
In addition to this we offer a Music Camp every summer for youth and children who have completed grades 1st – 8th. The camp is held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. During the week children are exposed to a variety of musical experiences (singing, playing instruments and games). They also rehearse a children’s musical which is then presented to the congregation the following Sunday.
New Orleans Retreat 2008
Chi Rho Retreat
Music Camp
JYF Retreat
Music Camp
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