This man of God takes the game of basketball and he shares the gospel of Jesus Christ. His name is Jamie Johnson.
You're familiar with Crossfire Ministries. Randy Shepherd is in heaven. But Jamie, you're still here. Spread the good news, brother. Talk to us, man. How you doing?
Yes, Stu. Great to talk to you. You're Mr. Co-host and host of radio all over the country. You do a great job, man, and you're a baller yourself. Thank God for you.
Doing well. Post Randy, who's with the Lord, as you said, my teammate, those listening, Randy Shepherd and I started Crossfire in 1993, and we've been doing this for over 30 years. He passed away just before Hurricane Helene. Sometimes I think, Stu, when he passed away, he calls the hurricane. He was such a hurricane gospel presenter for Jesus.
Of course, that's not what happened. We know that. But we lost Randy, but heaven gained him, and we're pressing on with these camps and everything else, Stu.
Amen. And our listeners, I know that we've been advertising across the Truth Network and all over the country, really, people come in from many different states to get sound basketball training and fundamentals and a good time, and then great Christian emphasis. Talk about the camps, Jamie.
This is really a Crossfire legacy. You got people all over the world that have come in and out of these camps, don't you? We have different countries as far as Egypt and Israel, and then we've had them from the Philippines come, parts of Africa over the years. The things, Stu, for us, whether they come international or stateside, is for parents, grandparents, if you're looking for an environment that teaches basketball, that's wholesome, that's Christ-centered, that's what we do. Now, we know, Stu knows, there are all kinds of church camps, Christian coaches across America.
We know that. We're not out here competing with the gospel of other ministries and other camps, but we do, I think, a wonderful job, Stu, for those listening, of taking your son, your daughter, age six, seven, eight, nine, all the way to 18, take them where they are, athletically move them forward spiritually. If they don't know Christ, give them the gospel. If they know Christ, teach them principles about how to live as a follower of Christ, whatever age they are, and then socially develop teamwork discipline.
Go back home, obey your parents, respect the community, be involved in church. We cover all this at camp, and we think we do a pretty good job. Well, I know you do.
I mean, I talk to all kinds of people. It's interesting that we were talking with Randy last year and you on this radio show about camp, inviting people to come. Even in his poor health, even in his struggle just to get out of bed, Randy showed up and still spun some balls and shared the gospel.
Of course, Jamie, you guys together were just a dynamic duo, but man, thank you for doing this and for keeping this legacy, brother. Tell our listeners, give us a quick breakdown for people listening because I know there's some moms and dads, grandmas and grandpops that want to spend a week in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina while their little champion's going to camp with you and getting all this good stuff. Can you give us a little sketch of what it's like, kind of what's involved, how people can sign up and the options? I guess there's like a day camp and there's a full-time camp, correct?
Yeah, you've got a half day full day overnight. So a few moms and dads, aunts and uncles, whoever are coming, and you're not local and trying to decide if you want to stay in Asheville, it's a great decision. Stay in Asheville. People do that all the time at our camp. They bring their kids to camp at the overnight or even the full day or at the half day.
We've had grandparents come from as far as Florida and they'll come and they'll stay in a hotel, breakfast, a mountain camp and whatever, bring the kid to camp, pick them up or leave them for full day, all day or overnight. To do that, you've got to sign them up. You've got to register.
Our website, crossfireministry.com, crossfireministry.com, you can register, pay online. All the information is there on what to bring, the time slots, the dates, the age requirements, all that's there. You can be assured that if you come to Asheville, you'll love Western North Carolina, plenty of things to do, and your kids are going to learn basketball. I think that's something that I've always said post my child teenage years, I didn't go to camp. Not because my preacher daddy, minister, music mom wouldn't have tried to pave the way. I was the outdoor kid. I was a light bloomer. I got involved in baseball first, but if I'd had a basketball camp to teach me what we will teach your kids, it's a win-win because even if God doesn't want them to play college or professional, and they're going to interact in middle or high school, they need to know how to do it right.
Not only athletically, spiritually. So Stu, hey, you got to sign up online, you got questions, you can email me at Crossfire Ministry, go to the website, all that's there, phone number's there, 828-255-9111. Truthfully, we'd love to see you. I think we're going to have a great time. I know it's going to be a great time, and just go read the testimonies.
Talk to Crossfire alum. It's funny when we've had you guys on the show live before, people that call in that thank you profusely for the amazing investment that you guys have made in them over the years. We're just so grateful to be able to invite people who knows who responds to these messages on the air and shows up at camp and comes to know Christ. There could be a future youth pastor in the mix, there could be a future missionary to India, there could be a future NBA hall of famer, who knows, and Jamie, that's really neat about your ministry, not to drop names, but goodness gracious, the Lord has opened doors for y'all to witness to all kinds of people through basketball. Oh yes, Stu, we've had plenty of opportunities from the early days when Michael Jordan was playing for the Bulls after Carolina to share with him the chapel services for the Chicago Bulls when he played there, to LeBron James, to Steph Curry, you name it, all these pros, some of the current ones, and college players. We've got players right now, Stu, that are playing overseas. We've got one Ben Beaker, 6'8", he's playing in Europe. I talked to him about two weeks ago, he wants to come help with our summer camps. He's a great baller inside, great footwork. We've got Jalen Crowder, who played local high school, college, just got through playing with the Dominican Republic, he's back, he's going to go with us to the Philippines pretty soon, help with camp, on and on I can go.
Sam Smithson, 6'10", played at Western Carolina, now in ministry in South Carolina. So we've got some ballers that have played the next level, and they came when they were the tater tots, 6'7", 8", 9 years old, then french fries, they had limbs, and then now their baked potatoes are filled out, and they're serving the Lord. I love it, man. I just, what a blessing. You know, for people to see the game of basketball, or whatever they do, someone that works in a shop, someone that's a welder, someone that's maybe a sewing professional, someone that's an educator, whatever you're doing, wherever you are, God's got you there to be a light, to share the good news of Jesus, right? Jamie and y'all are just taking this basketball, and there's kids that may never set foot in a church, but they'll come to camp, and you guys give them the best in basketball. I mean, it's excellence all around your camp. Your counselors love the Lord and all that, but you also give them the Lord. You're inviting people to take that next step, and then to grow in Christ and to be a missionary themselves to this lost world, right?
Well, sure. I mean, I was on the phone this morning, Stu, with Al Wood, for those of you that are Carolina fans, and Al Wood, back in the days of MJ, and all those great players, he was talking about how our camp is just incredible, what it gives, because he's been around all the pros, he's been around all the college stars, and ACC conference, and he said the key is that in today's world, kids need discipline, and they don't always get that at AAU, and I'm not here to beat up AAU, not at all. But we have a disciplined format at camp that teaches fundamentals about life, not just sports, and then here's the deal. I'm headed to Hennersonville, North Carolina right now. I've been in contact the last few days with all these principals at about 15 different elementary schools. Next will be my middle schools I'll hit, and I'm taking crossfire camp signs to all these schools where moms and grandmoms, dads and granddads will see them when they pick up their kids. Well, I've had several principals tell me, the last few days, they came to camp.
This is crazy. They came to camp when we first started. They're young adults, they're now principals, two have their doctorates, and they said camp was a game changer.
They didn't play college basketball, they played high school, that was it, male and female. They had their principals influencing kids by the thousands over the last so many years. It's incredible. So encouraging. Well, listen, our prayers are with you. Your mom recently went to heaven. Both Randy and your mom just in the last season have both gone to heaven, and man, Jamie, we've been praying for you, and we just know how much your mom prayed for you. God's answering her prayers from decades ago when you were just a little tater, right?
She said, hey, Lord, raise this boy up to spread the gospel and change lives, and look what he's done through you, what he's doing through you. So friends, send your kid to this camp, basketball camp. It'll be a game changer, it'll be a life changer. They probably aren't going to play to the next level. We want them to, but send them for the spiritual impact and also to sharpen their game and support Crossfire Ministry. Send a check to help another kid go to camp. Maybe you're like, I can't go to camp, I can't send a kid, I'm listening to this program somewhere in Hawaii on the Truth App. Well, maybe you can sponsor a kid to send a gift. You guys are a non-profit ministry, Jamie Johnson. I'm going to encourage everyone to pray for y'all, to send you guys gifts, and also go to camp if you can. Jamie, give us one more call with a website so they can sign up.
Yeah, before I give you that website, one more thing. Listen, Stu said if you're in Hawaii, look, we don't care where you are in the country around the world, don't hesitate to email me, go to the website, crossfireministry.com. That's where you go to sign up your child or teenager for camp.
Go there, email me. We will come, if we can, on our schedule. We'll come bring a camp to you. We'll bring a clinic to you. That way we can reach your community, your kids, your grandkids for Christ. Don't forget that. Think outside the box.
Don't think it's got to be in Asheville, North Carolina. If we can do it, we pray through it, we will show up, crossfireministry.com. Jamie Johnson, we love you. Thank you, brother. We're praying, and we'll be talking to you again real soon, my friend. All right, love you, man.
