About Us

Word of Life at a Glance

The ministry of Word of Life is unique and has several different avenues in which it ministers as we carry out our purpose of evangelism and discipleship.  The first avenue is the Word of Life Camping Program.  The second is the Word of Life Clubs Program.  The third is the Discipleship training program.  The fourth is the Word of Life  .  We are going to take a look at each of these avenues of ministry and see how they all work together to accomplish the common goal.

The Word of Life Camping Program began back in the late 1940’s when Jack and Harry purchased Word of Life Island.  From the Island Word of Life camps have now spread all around the world in some 60 different countries including here in Uganda.  Word of Life camping philosophy is pretty basic but has two main approaches.  First is bringing in lost young people and preaching a clear and simple gospel message.  Second is teaching these “new converts” and the Christian young people the Word of God and teaching them practical steps to grow closer to God and allowing them the opportunity to commit their lives to God.

Word of Life camping has three major programs that work together and help provide opportunities to minister.  The Summer Institute of Counseling is made up of Unit Leader and Counselors.  The Unit Leaders are responsible for a certain number of counselors and they are to be a source of encouragement as well as a prayer warrior.  They are accoutability for the counselor.  The counselors are the ones that live with the camper for the week.  They have the responsibility to show the camper what a real Christian is supposed to be like.  They teach them how to have a quiet time and the importance of scripture memory.  The counselor is able to get to know the camper and be a friend.  It is through this friendship that the counselor has the opportunity to share and encourage the camper to strive to live their life for God.  The SIC program is a vital part of the Word of Life camping experience. 

The next program is the Summer Training Corps.  This program consist of Unit Leaders, Supervisors and Workers.  The role of the Unit Leader is similar to their role in the SIC program except they are responsible for the supervisors.  The Supervisor is in charge of one of the work areas (which allow the entire camp to run) and they are accountable for a certain number of workers.  What makes the role of the supervisor so different from that of the counselor is that the supervisor spends 8 to 10 weeks with the workers instead of 1 week like the counselor.  The supervisor also lives with the workers and the workers are able to see how they handle every aspect of life.  Then there is the worker who is generally a teenager who workers for very little pay but a great opportunity to grow close to the Lord.  They too are given the chance to make a decision for God and then to commit their lives as well. 

The STC program has there own schedule and meetings as well as activities.  The third program is PROGRAM.  This is the group that plans and runs the activities.  The program is an essential aspect of the entire camping ministry, without it the campers would be bored and the counselors would have to come up with things to do on there own.  The program consists of tournaments, skits, and wild and crazy activities that other wise would not exist.   The program is designed to tear down walls in the camper’s life and provide the counselor with opportunities to share their heart.           

Word of Life Clubs program was continually an idea brought before Jack for approval but continually denied.  Then after much prayer and consideration he agreed and Paul Bubar was brought in to run the Word of Life Clubs ministry.  Paul was not exactly sure where the Club program was going to go but he was convinced God would bless this ministry.

The Word of Life Club’s ministry purpose is to assist the local church in evangelizing and discipline the youth in their area for Christ.  In order to accomplish this there has to be a balanced ministry 1) discipling Christian young people in the church while at the same time 2) reaching and evangelizing the lost young people for Christ and then seeing them come into the church and grow in their faith.  Word of Life’s strategy believes that in order to have a successful biblical youth ministry you must have evangelism, discipleship and trained leaders.

It all starts with having trained leadership.  The success or failure of the youth ministry rises or falls in the leadership.  Word of Life provides training in several different ways.  Planning meetings with youth leaders and Leadership Development conferences which are training sessions we carry out monthly.  As these principles are applied you will see that you are better equipped to help your youth and it will make you a better leader.  This will also help your youth ministry. 

Evangelism will be the life blood of your club.  If a club only disciples saved teens without evangelism it easily develops cold, apathetic teens.  Discipleship is simply getting the Word of God into the lives of the young people, which will help them develop godly habits in their lives.  Word of Life also provides some tools, which will help to develop these habits.  They are quiet time, Scripture memory, Bible study, Christian service and faithfulness to the church.  All of these things will help your young people grow in the Lord and serve in the church.