Jóvenes for Christ grows despite founder’s death
ABILENE, TEXAS — More than 240 campers gathered at Abilene Christian University June 16-19 for the first session of Jóvenes for Christ since the tragic death of its founder, JuanRaymon Rubio.
Nineteen campers were baptized in the outdoor baptistery at Jacob’s Dream on the campus.
A camper puts on Christ at Jóvenes for Christ.
The record number of attendees this year included Rubio’s parents, Raymon and Norma Rubio, and his 5-year-old nephew, Elias Zavala, who has attended five years in a row.
Pronounced HO-ven-es, the name means Youths for Christ. Since 2016, with a year off during the pandemic, Jóvenes for Christ has provided a summer camp for English-speaking teens from bilingual and predominantly Hispanic Churches of Christ.
Raymon and Norma Rubio, with their grandson, Elias Zavala.
“My cup has been overflowed,” Ray Rubio said of the first session without his son who died Dec. 14, 2024, in a car accident after visiting ACU to make plans for the first camp session there.
Campers met for worship in the sanctuary of University Church of Christ, across the street from the campus, where J.R., as he was known to his friends, had worshiped the morning before he died.
His favorite Bible verse, James 1:22, was referenced throughout the week in devotionals and Bible studies: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Visibly moved by the week’s events, the elder Rubio acknowledged, “It’s been emotional, but it’s been very good.”
CHERYL MANN BACON is a Christian Chronicle contributing editor who served for 20 years as chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Abilene Christian University. Contact [email protected].
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