• ....-__Uplift expands to include families: rOWIll For 16 years, the campus has been utilized during the summer by Uplift, a camp for more than 2,000 students £Jam grades seven through 12. In)uly, students could bring their parents to Bible camp. The Institute for Church and Fam– ilybegan a summer program for the entire family called Uplift Family Encampment. The program, con– ducted July 4-7, fea tured Christian speakers from across the na tion in– cluding Don McLaughlin, Howard Norton,jeffMorgan, BruceMcLarty Nathan Mellor and Karl and Shan– non Wendt. It fea tured a performance by the singing group AcappeUa and a fire– works display to kick off the holiday weekend. After morning classes and chapel, Marriage and FamilyTherapy students Jeremy Cochran and Rachel Connors listen intently as Dr. Van Rackley, assis– tant professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, teaches a systems and commu– nications disorders class. In its 10th year, the MFT program continued its emphasis on the family. (Photo by Russ Phillips) Dr. Jimmy Allen, professor Emeritus of Bible, speaks about patriotism July 4 at the Uplift Family Encampment. Allen spoke in the Benson Auditorium before the fire– works display. (Photo by Jeff Montgom– ery) _ . 164 academics fam ilies were encouraged to partici– pate in area activities such as golf– ing, fishing, canoeing, antique shop– ping, swimming, Baker, events coordinator for the Institute for Church and Family sa id . Uplift Fam il y Encampment basketball and football. The families re– turned in the eve– nings for worship, de'vo ti on als and fa mil y prayer time. To conclude the evenings, en– tertainment was provided. "There was a desire by the ad– mini st ration t o "There was a desire by the administration to provide an event that would bring families to the Harding commu– nity. " -Andrew Baker, ICF events coordinator a imed at b rin ging graduates back to the campus wj.th their families. "We hope next year it w ill be double the s ize and reach out to more rece nt Harding graduates," Baker said. provide an event that would bring fami lies to the Harding commu nity," Andrew Sopho– more Ad am Bledsoe, who wo rked for the ICF, sa id all three sessions Sophomores Adam Bledsoe and Bert Hernandez lead Uplift campers in songs in a Mclnteer building stairwell. A singing class was held daily in the stairwell be– cause of the acoustics. (Photo by Jeff Montgomery) of Uplift were successfuL " [I saw] an overall renewal of the Spirit and in the level of their respect for themselves and God .. an experience that is indescribable," he said. One of the things that made Up– lift unique was that it lasted for three weeks with all ages of stu– dents coming together for th e en– tire time. "Uplift is one of the only camps that does that," Bledsoe said. "That's why it's so special." University students were also invited to become involved with Uplift and Family Encampment. Students were hired to help teach classes, counsel and supervise events. -Ma rina Shannon
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==