Some of the talks in the Youth Camp have more than one basic Gospel truth included. These truths sometimes even overlap between two or three talks. The talks are given in this way and order so as to help bring the participants through a process where they can make a real and sincere decision to live a life pleasing to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit. The speaker should be able to realize that each talk, especially the one that he or she will be giving, is part of one message; “God's love reaching out to man and man's choice to respond to this love." (Refer to “The sessions and their Purpose” in Chapter 2 -Team leaders Guide, to see how each talk flows to the next). The speakers and Youth Camp Service Team should understand this flow to be able to place themselves in the proper position where God can work through what they say and do, in order to effectively help the participants make a decision to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. FINAL TIPS 1. Married couples are discouraged from giving the talks in the Youth Camp. We have to recognize the fact that it is easier of young people to be influenced by their peers. No matter how true the message is, and even if the participants thirst for this message, when older people (as in Parent age) speak to the youth, a natural barrier often stands between them and the young people they are speaking to. These speakers represent the parents of the participants -- parents who may have damaged relationships with their children. As a result adult speakers then begin to lose their effectivity in sharing the Gospel to the youth. 2. The speaker should share and not preach. The world needs witnesses not teachers. Most Youth Camp participants have heard the same message we speak time and time again. What will make these talks different is when they realize that what we are saying is true and concrete because we have actually experienced it. 3. Maintain a light atmosphere. Feel free to give jokes from time to time. But never to the point of letting them forget the truth and importance of your message. Often jokes can even be made use of as means to drive at a certain point. In the same way, anecdotes and stories are good means of explaining or stressing certain points in your talk. Make use of stories. The youth like listening to stories. If it is possible to make the points of your outline flow from a story to the next, all the better. Stories keep the interest of young people and allow them to remember points that you made. 4. Speak from the heart with confidence and conviction. You are speaking of a truth which all men thirst for, including the youth. Therefore speak with conviction, because it they who will benefit from what is being spoken in the camp more than anyone. Speak of the joy of knowing Christ. Speak of the gift that God wants to give. The gift that you yourself are beginning to experience, a new life with Christ, knowing that what Saint Augustine mentions is truth for yourself and everyone else, "Our hearts are restless, until we rest in you, Oh God."
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