S.M.I.T.E. New England 2024
July 14-19
Hosted by White Oak Baptist Church
Location: Central Baptist Church, Southington, CT
Register Here
Register Here
July 14-19
Hosted by White Oak Baptist Church
Location: Central Baptist Church, Southington, CT
S.M.I.T.E. stands for Summer Missionary Institute for Training and Evangelism. One week each summer we bring in teenagers who have a heart to serve God and others and train them to conduct "five day clubs" in the community. S.M.I.T.E. New England is a ministry of White Oak Baptist Church in Stratford, CT.
S.M.I.T.E. is an institute for raising up another generation of godly leaders. We endeavor to train teenagers and young adults to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our program takes place one week each summer and takes four years to complete.
This is not "teen camp" in the traditional sense. This is not meant for those looking to "hang out" with friends, go swimming, play ping pong or basketball. This is ministry "boot camp" for teens. S.M.I.T.E. is five days of intense ministry training and red hot preaching.
S.M.I.T.E. began as a CYIA (Christian Youth in Action) camp back in 1978 under the leadership of Jerry Purtell. "Uncle Jerry" as he is known and his wife "Aunt Vicki" are CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) missionaries. Over time they changed up their program enough to be distinct from what a CYIA camp offered. Their multi-level and graduation process set them apart. Over the last forty plus years, several hundred teenagers have graduated from S.M.I.T.E. and are serving God all over the globe. S.M.I.T.E. takes place each year in Louisiana and is a staple for many church youth groups as it creates a godly, soul winning environment year around. Each year several hundred children are led to the Lord at the Louisiana S.M.I.T.E. and then hundreds more as these teenagers go back to their home churches and conduct five day clubs in their own communities.
The first summer missionary of Jerry Purtell was Timothy LeJeune. His son Richard LeJeune, who is now pastor of the White Oak Baptist Church in Connecticut, grew up through this program. God has laid it upon his heart to begin S.M.I.T.E. New England with the hope that this will assist pastors and youth pastors with raising up another generation of godly leaders in the Northeast.
Mark Holmes is a missionary to Nigeria, West Africa. He and his wife Sabrina have worked along side of Jerry Purtell to begin seven of these institutes in five African countries. Each year they have more than 850 teenagers and young adults attend. By conservative estimates these young people lead yearly 4,000 boys, girls, men, and women to Christ through their 5-day club efforts. Bro. Mark Holmes will be coming to help establish and administrate S.M.I.T.E New England in 2024.
Each morning those enrolled will attend classes that are broken up into four levels. At the end of the week a test is taken and those who make a passing grade will advance to the next level the following summer. This is a time of training and learning how to lead a child to Christ and conduct a backyard Bible club. Each afternoon, teams are sent out into neighborhoods to invite children to a "5 day club." Songs, missionary story, Bible story, and fun are had with children who are gathered together. The evening service is filled with heart-felt singing, missionary presentations, special music, and red hot preaching. Spare time is used to prepare for the next days Bible club.