Shooting rifles, eating wild hog, reading the Bible, throwing tomahawks, and hanging out by the San Antonio River. It’s man stuff. It’s God stuff.

Trying to make a positive impact on the young boys of Runge and its surrounding area, men from several local churches there spent the last week in June teaching a group of youngsters everything from Biblical morality to how to hit something dead on with a throwing axe.

The goal was to get as many Runge area boys age 12 to 18 out of the house, away from the television, and off the streets for a week while nurturing their growth physically and spiritually.

The Runge Youth Camp project brought together many elders and leaders from the local Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Rock of Salvation churches.

"We had it tailored just for young men between the ages of 12 and 18. The boys are too young to get a job and too old for vacation Bible school," project coordinator Milton Slaughter explained. "The purpose was not to convert anyone over to protestant beliefs or anything like that. We didn’t care what denomination they were."

The camp project was an experimental idea that brought together several heads from local churches organized toward a single goal. Plans are in the works to keep it going next summer, too.

"They used to have a ministerial alliance and it kind of evaporated, so I think this is going to help strengthen the community as far as bringing the churches together," Slaughter said.

Each of the churches shared in parts of funding and providing for the camp, including food, an outdoor premises, and mentors.

Several of the men brought their own skills to the camp to teach the kids how to shoot rifles or draw a hunting bow. Other men like Corpus Christi prison minister Bobby Brooks were brought in to help with spiritual learning.

The focus wasn’t on church or denominations, though. The men agreed to stay dedicated to teaching the boys about the Bible and how God works in their lives.

"This is a good thing because it shows the kids people care about their welfare and their well being. We had a good group of men mentoring and I think it’s important that all the churches were involved in this process. These kids need father figures in their life," Runge Mayor and Methodist church member Homer Lott said. "A lot of these kids have a void in their life and without that spiritual being, you’re lost. It serves as a foundation. It shows them that you need a solid foundation that starts with God."

After this year’s experimental run, camp coordinators and sponsors are hoping for a larger turnout next year.

They’ve already been tossing around the idea of running another camp for girls alongside the one for young men.

"I think it’s a start. We’d like to expand this beyond this number," Lott said.