New Lifers Made Alive at Student Camp 2026
It was four days of learning, bonding, and being made alive in the Lord for the 443 delegates of MGC New Life Christian Academy’s (MGCNLCA) LifeCamp: Student Edition 2026 held at the CCT Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center last March 4 to 7.
Guided by the theme verse Ephesians 2:4-5, Student Camp 2026 aimed to strengthen the campers’ faith in Christ and remind the students of His merciful act of salvation.
Pastor Steven Dime, Leader of the Lighthouse Faith Tabernacle since 2011, spoke to the Grades 7 to 9 students, while Pastor Arthur Yap, Volunteer Pulpit Pastor at Davao Evangelical Church since 2004, spoke to the Grades 10 to 12 students. Anchored on the theme “WANTED: Dead Made Alive,” the messages throughout the camp explored how campers can honor God’s gift of salvation by being Christlike and discipling others.
Meanwhile, special workshops were held, providing insights on the campers’ questions on the topics of apologetics, mental health, relationships, and vocation, with campers choosing two out of four sessions to attend.
The camp also featured a sportsfest that promoted teamwork and camaraderie, as well as a film showing of “The Case for Christ,” a 2017 film based on the true story of the life of journalist Lee Strobel, who in his attempt to disprove the Christian faith came to believe in God.
The camp concluded with Dedication Night, where participants committed to continue exploring their faith, accepted Jesus for the first time, recommitted their lives to Christ, or committed to full-time ministry. This was followed by a bonfire activity as campers worshiped together and burned pieces of paper with their sins to symbolize surrendering and confessing to God. The students then shared their testimonies and lessons learned in camp the following morning.
Meanwhile, students who were unable to attend the off-campus camp joined the in-campus LifeCamp: Student Edition 2026 held at the MGCNLCA auditorium from March 4 to 6, guided by the same theme and theme verse.
Former MGCNLCA teacher Danny Ching spoke to the delegates about sin and God’s grace. Ching explained that while people often try to fix their sins on their own, true restoration only comes through repentance and accepting God’s mercy, adding that systems without God eventually crumble. However, those centered on Him can become sustainable.
Afterwards, delegates took part in a sportsfest at the gymnasium, which featured a four-station obstacle course.
The camp concluded with the students committing to one of the same four paths as the off-campus Student Camp. In a personal response to reflect on their faith journey, they later shared their testimonies in groups.
School Principal Evangeline Co shared, “Through the messages, devotion times, mentoring, and fellowship, many students [moved] beyond simply knowing about Jesus to truly recognizing their need for Him. We saw students grow in their understanding of God’s grace, renew their commitment to live for Christ, and develop a deeper desire to walk with Him daily.”