Brandon Green, defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks, cannot stay away from Abilene Christian University Leadership Camps. From high school, when he attended the camps himself, to this summer when he came for a week to serve as a group leader, his relationship with ACU's camps is longstanding.Green's first experience with ACU's Leadership Camps came in 1996, when his youth group in Victoria, Texas, came to Camp Kadesh, a camp designed for high school students. He returned each summer for the next three years, attending sessions on grace, hope and seeing himself through God's eyes.
"I remember back when I was a camper, and for the first time in my life I dedicated a week to studying in-depth the scriptures which I claimed to believe, doing acts of service in the name of Christ and spending substantial amounts of time in prayer," said Green. "It had an enormous effect on the relationship I had with my Savior, Jesus Christ."
Because of his positive experiences at camp, Green came back as a counselor for the summer in 2000, following his freshman year at Rice University. Being a full-time counselor was difficult to fit into Green's schedule, making it hard for him to train for the next football season. He decided to return the next year as a volunteer group leader for one of the weeklong sessions.
"I felt that if my schedule allowed it and there was a need, I should be there to help," said Green. "I just believe in the camps and, more importantly, the message that the camp allows its campers to discover."
Even while he helps the campers through their own studies of the Bible, Green says he gets a lot out of the camps himself.
"The thing that I learned both as a counselor and group leader is that the way in which things I've read, studied, heard and seen for years, seem to have a deeper meaning every time I spend time trying to better understand them," Green said, "This is especially true when I am trying to understand something well enough to teach or lead a study."
One of his favorite parts of the camps, he says, is the worship time. "Playing in the NFL, we have chapel and Bible studies, but we never have a time of singing," said Green. "I love standing next to my fellow leader as we both pour out our hearts to our God."
Participating in Leadership Camps has also given Green an appreciation for the dedication of camp organizers.
"From the outpouring of love and the countless hours of prayer behind the scenes, to the praise sessions in the amphitheater and everything in between, all of these things makes me have a great respect and passion for these camps," said Green. "I have a great respect for those that have dedicated their lives to making ACU Leadership Camps a place where lives are transformed and/or changed so that campers may find true life, and find it in abundance."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office .
