Let's Celebrate Kids Camp
A few weeks ago we sent out a request for people to sponsor our Homework Club kids to go to a Christian Summer Camp. The response was amazing - within a few days all the kids had been sponsored!
The seven kids we sent are ages 8-11, live on our block, and are Homework Club students. They just got back and we want to share with you what they learned and how this camp impacted them for Christ.
While there they got to be outside in nature, going swimming, zip-lining, playing sports, and most importantly learning about God. One of the kids said “I learned that Jesus is our Savior and Lord.” The most essential thing that they can learn and they are hearing it not just from us but also from this camp!
At the camp there is a bell that the kids can ring if they have decided to commit their lives for Jesus. While ringing a bell has no power in and of itself it is a public testament to the child’s decision to follow Christ. All of the kids that we sent to camp rang the bell!
One of the boys said, “This week I rang the bell…and it was the best thing I ever did.”
And he’s right! Becoming a Christian is the best and most important decision anyone can make at any age.
Another of the kids called themselves “one of His disciples” and that is exactly what we want to hear. That is our longing and desire to not just meet physical needs of Chester but to proclaim the gospel which changes the whole direction of a person’s life. We want to make followers of Christ and this camp was a wonderful tool to impact these kids.
The reality is most of our students rarely go outside Chester and most have never been to a sleepover camp.
Now that they are back in Chester we want to continue to support them as they face the everyday challenges so common in this area. This is why we have the Homework Club in the first place. To provide a safe space for the kids and an opportunity for them to learn and grow while hearing about Jesus.
Rachelle Martin had the opportunity to be one of the drivers for the kids. She says, “It’s so cool to partner with this camp so that these kids have a place to go and be out in the woods and hear about God in a fun way. We’ve already seen some fruit since they’ve been back!”
At the community BBQ we had recently there was a homemade slip and slide. One of the kids who went to camp was using the hose to spray the tarp down. Rachelle asked for the hose back, and he gave it right back saying, "the old me would have tried to keep it from you, but the new me gave it back! I'm a new man!" then flung himself down the slide for some fun.
On behalf of the children on our block, thank you for your support and prayers! You really help us make a difference in their lives.
We are going to run another “back to school” backpack drive in a few weeks to get this year’s Homework Club and the kids in our community off to a great start. Keep an eye out for that upcoming email.
If you would like to volunteer at our Homework Club we’d love to have you join us. Not only could you get to meet these kids but you would also have the opportunity to continue to positively impact them with their decision to follow Jesus. We’re starting up again in September every Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:30 PM. See you there!
Read about the Homework Club HERE.