Chet has to know. Ifhe’s going to take his third trip into the Florida backwoods with a group ofpreteens and teens, he has to hear from God. On the first trip, 13-year-oldZack went missing in the middle of the night. Then a hurricane headed their way!On the second trip, two boys left the trail to explore – even though they knewvery well what happened to Zack. Then a forest fire struck!

Chet’s a city boy.While he is no longer a newbie at camping, he wants to be absolutely sure it isGod’s will for him to return to the backwoods for his most ambitious adventure:A two-night canoe trip.  One of themembers of his youth group, Jeff, loves canoeing and has been begging for thegroup to go. Chet’s lined up a canoeing lesson from a wilderness expert. Now heneeds to know if you want to jointhem (virtually, of course).

We talked with thefictitious youth leader Chet about his wilderness Bible Camps -- and what hehas lined up for the next trip.

Q. Are the boys fromchurch eager to return to the backwoods for another retreat, Chet?

A. I have a core group that’s very interested in thesewilderness retreats. Zack. Jeff. They always rope in Chang, although I suspecthe’d rather have a video party. Then there are the younger boys, Alfonso andSammy. They are ready. The parents, however, have been somewhat of a challenge.No one wants his boy to go missing like Zack did on the first trip. They needto be convinced. I need to take as many precautions as is humanly possible. AndI need to be sure to seek God, to be sure I am in his will. That’s why I’mreaching out, to ascertain the interest in what I’m doing.

Q. What’s the ideabehind the Bible Camps?

A. Camping is an integral part of growing up for some kids.They love it. And it gives me an opportunity to teach them about God, amidsthis creation, and encourage them to surrender their lives to him.

Q. Spirituallyspeaking, it seems your Bible Camps have had an astounding amount of success.Can you tell us what God has done?

A. I am always glad to give glory to God. I owe himeverything. He picked me up out of a New York gang and turned me into a youthfellowship leader. There was a time when I never thought people would trust mewith their kids, at all. Now, I’m wondering if they’ll trust me with their kidin the backwoods. God is so good.

Well, the first year, Zack had a beautiful encounter withGod’s love and mercy when he ignored instructions, and wandered off in themiddle of the night from camp. It was a traumatic experience, I am sure, andZack sought God like he was taught to do. In his desperation, he surrenderedhis life to God, and was born again in the Spirit. This was a major breakthrough, not only for Zack, but forthe group. Zack began praying for others and sharing God’s love with them.

Then, the second year, God demonstrated his ability to healthrough a woman named Sandy.   The boysfound her camping far off the beaten trail to avoid electricity.   She was born again, and healed. The boys gotto pray for her and witness her miraculous recovery from an incurable disease,Environmental Illness. I expect to see great things happen this year – if Goddoes indeed want us to return to the backwoods.

Q. Tell us how youprepare for these trips.

A. Well, a lot goes into them, actually. It’s easier, insome ways, to plan because we’ve been there before. But we still need torecruit and sign up the boys, get the permission slips signed, collect themoney, buy/rent supplies, train them in outdoor skills, and pray. I learnedwith the first trip you can never pray too much.

Q. What aboutcanoeing? Why canoeing this trip? Is the group ready to boat with alligators onthe Crooked River?

A. I don’t think I could ever personally be ready for that.Children are bait for alligators. Our core group of boys, however, are notlittle anymore. If they were, I wouldn’t go.  I would never do anything to jeopardize their welfare. The experts fromFlorida tell me alligators are no problem. We just need to stay clear of themand they will stay clear of us.

Because I don’t believe an overnight canoe trip is advisablefor inexperienced canoers -- including myself, by the way -- I have planned fora canoe lesson prior to the trip. That way everyone who wants to accompany uscan have some real canoe experience beforehand. We also will have our canoeinginstructor, a wilderness expert, accompany us on the trip.

Q. It sounds like youare well prepared. What should our readers who want to accompany you on thetrip know?

A.   Get ready for anadventure! We want everyone to have a great time. Every one of the malecharacters in the book will have a canoeing buddy, and they’ll be plenty oftime to chat and visit, swim in the river, cook over a wood fire, sing andpraise God. As readers, and virtual participants, they’re along for the ride –without actually facing the mosquitoes and bugs, or whatever else we encounter.

Q. Why should theysign up for this retreat?

A. Every one who signs up will be among the very first toread the third Bible Camp Mystery, and they’ll get a free e-copy.   The 50th person to sign up will receive anautographed copy of the upcoming trilogy: The first three Bible Camp mysteries,slated for released in print sometime next year.

Q. Where can peoplelearn more about the Bible Camp Mystery series?

A. Hop over to www.newchristianbooksonlinemagazine.com,which features some exclusive interviews from some of the series’ characters.The magazine is published by Bible Camp Mystery author, Cheryl Rogers.

Q. How do readerssign up?

A. If they’re ready to sign up for my third expedition intothe backwoods, they should visit www.newchristianbooksonlinemagazine.com/signup-for-virtual-bible-camp/  Registrants receive a free copy of Disaster on the River, scheduled for release this November. Remember,you’re not obligating yourself to actually face snakes, alligators, or summerrainstorms in the Central Florida backwoods ... but, you’ll enter their worldthrough the book. Hope you can join us!