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Christian Boot Camp for teen girls puts faith first
SAN ANTONIO -- They came thinking they'd spend a month swimming, sleeping late, hanging out -- all without parents nearby to nag.

They didn't know that by 5 a.m., their young hearts would be racing from pre-dawn calisthenics; that their biceps would bulk up from hitting the ground and doing 50 every time they messed up; that being a leader would mean taking the heat for those out of line; and that aching muscles and tired bones would yearn for lights out at 11 p.m.

And they hadn't counted on counting on God to get them through 32 tough days of physical training, manual labor and studying....

...The camp, which Flowers believes is the only one of its kind in the country, grew from 26 boys the first summer to 120 this year. The girls' camp, which ended July 4, is in its second year. The boys' camp, now held at a local Bible college, will wrap up Aug. 7.

A couple days before the girls went home, Flowers, called "Commandant" by campers, spoke of his dream to reach teen-agers who need direction.

"There's a crisis in America, and you don't have to look far to see that people have written off kids," he said softly, sitting in his fatigues in a log cabin cafeteria....