Tiangco is a University of the Philippines graduate of library and information science, earning his bachelor's degree on April 22, 2001.
His parents, Mr and Mrs Renato Tiangco (nee Brenda Gutierrez),named him for his godfather, writer statesman Blas Ople the senator from Bulacan.
The Tiangcos publish Batangan, the weekly newspaper of Batangas.
Batangan has a World Wide Web site of the same name at the address http://www2.mozcom.com/~batangan (Alternate site:http://www.geocities.com/batangan2002)
Blas Ople Tiangco's Introduction says his book "was originally intended for youth workers planning for a youth camp. Nevertheless,the principles here can be applied to a church family camp, an organizational retreat, or a full-blown student summer camp."
Cover design was by Berlin Bondoc, illustrations were by Alex Tan, and layout and preface were by Joy Solina, the project director for the book.
The Tiangcos of Batangas are born-again Christians belonging to the New Life Christian Church, a Baptist congregation which has a place of worship in Bolbok village.
Young Blas Ople Tiangco is an experienced camp staffer and organizer of the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Philippines.
He has been a leader in the Dormitories Christian Fellowship of the University of the Philippines (Diliman, Quezon City) and has been involved in several missions and outreach projects. (0425993)
This book was originally intended for youth workers planning for a youth camp. Nevertheless, the principles here can be applied to a church family camp, an organizational retreat, or a full-blown student summer camp."
There is no direct example of an organized camp in the Bible. But the Israelites's exodus from Egypt and their wanderings in the desert for 40 years can be likened to a camp setting.
As I studied the Israelites's journey through the desert, I couldn't help but notice that they were not really far from the land promised by God. I then realized that God was preparing His people before they would enter into the Promised Land. In each camp setting, there is an overall theme that guides the camp's activities. In four decades God taught His people how to trust and obey him.
Nowadays our cabins reflect the tents the Israelites used in the desert. Our Camp cell groups are like small units of families and friends. The camp staff act as elders leading and directing the entire camp of people entrusted to them in groups of 10, 50, 100 or more depending on their leadership abilities. The task of delegating is from the camp director. The exodus of the Israelites had Moses as the camp director aided by the elders of the different tribes. This lesson was learned well by Moses when his father-in-law Jethro visited him and reminded him that he could not do the job alone (see Exodus 18:14-23).
In the same way, we cannot do all things by ourselves. There are tasks that are made for a group. And a camp's goal is to train individuals to be a part of the work that we are doing -- whether it be for the ministry in the church or office work, the goal should always be to teach people how to become servants. For Jesus was a servant leader and His example should always be an encouragement and a challenge for us.
This book is an answer to several people's requests for a youth camp manual that would benefit and help local Southern Baptist churches and youth organizations. The Luzon Convention of Southern Baptists Churches (LCSBC) Youth Committee compiled handouts, articles, and write-ups through the years from the Convention's youth camp staff, writers, and speakers. Repeated browsing of these material served as the impetus to the writing of this book. Some have been used for this book. The compilation can form a separate book by itself.
Special thanks therefore go to these youth ministers: Dr Lizette Firmantes, Pastors Grace and Keith Jainga, Pastor Dong Adriano, Pastor Garvic Garcia, Ruby Garcia, Abigail Dolliente-Redor, Pastor Nathan Montenegro, and Scott Drawe.
Not to be overlooked are the non-writing Youth Committee "barkada" who stuck it out with the Committee writers in planning and leading the summer youth camps every year. They are Tootsie Escandor-Sobremisana, Pastor Richie Tiamson, Pastor Richard "Cha" Lee, and Chit Panizales. They left behind a legacy of visionary leadership evidenced in the past two National Congresses for Youth Ministry in Baguio and in Iloilo. Out of this rising breed of bright, dedicated youth comes the writer of this book, how about that? And what more fitting occasion to launch such a book than at the first Youth Leadership Camp of the LCSBC to reach prospective camp organizers? The contents of this book, even before it went to press, served as reference for the organizers of this historical leadership camp.
This book will accomplish many times over what the Youth Committee invested in blood, sweat, tears, and precious pesos. May this book pave the way for more books on the valuable contributions of the camp to the spiritual growth of a believer.
