Summer Bible Camp
This week 3/6 of my children are going to camp. The two youngest children can't wait to join them some day. I went to camp once as a child, but it wasn't the best experience for me, so I never returned. My children, on the other hand, would go multiple times a year if given the chance.
So far, my kids have never gone with a friend, but they always come home telling stories about all of the friends they met while they were there. While they are gone, I write them notes reminding them to look out for the kids who seem lonely and help them to feel welcome. I encourage them to grow in their faith and to take their Bible lessons seriously. I also plead with them not to wear dirty clothes and to eat fruits and vegetables every day. I fear that sometimes my pleas fall on deaf ears!
All of my children go to Grace Adventures in Mears, Michigan, and I cannot recommend it enough. Their programming and staff are top notch. The facilities are great, and as a bonus, it is close to home. When we get there, the children are anxious for me to leave. My second oldest said during our 2 minute goodbye, "Mom! This is the best day of my life! Do you know why? (He didn't wait for an answer.) Because there are no parents here and I don't have to do chores!" This is the same child who memorizes nearly every child's name he encounters and tells me he's made 10 new best friends! The only problem he routinely has upon pick-up is that he's lost his voice from talking and shouting too much. But that gives my ears a rest for the next few days.
Summer Bible Camp is great for many reasons, but there is one reason that stands out above the rest. It gives my kids an opportunity to make their faith their own. In our home, all expectations are known. We pray, read our Bibles, talk about Jesus, and go to church. The kids have to do all of this because they are with me. At camp they have all those same opportunities but no parent looking over their shoulder insisting they go through the motions. When they pray, they are choosing to pray on their own. When they read their Bibles, it isn't because they have to. And when they worship in chapel, they can choose to fully participate instead of just standing and watching.
And then there are the mean kids. Mean kids are everywhere, so it is no surprise that they show up at camp too. And that is okay, because those mean kids need Jesus. Last year, one of my children decided to talk to the kid who was picking on everyone else, but instead of being mean back, he explained to the bully why people didn't like him and that he could choose to treat people differently. What a mature Christ-like decision for a 4th grader!
James 2:14 reads "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" Going to Bible camp carries with it no guarantee that your child will be saved, but it does give young believers an opportunity to live out their faith in a very real way. It also gives unsaved children an opportunity to wrestle with what it means to be saved and a follower of Christ. It is always my prayer that children will have these opportunities from a young age. I don't want my kids to simply go through the motions. I want them to live authentic lives that please the Lord. Camp gives them a unique opportunity to step out on their own and live for Jesus.
My children's experience with Bible camp is fantastic. My experience with Bible camp was not nearly as good. This is because not all camps are the same. If you know of a good Bible camp within driving distance and your children show interest in attending, I would encourage you to give them the opportunity. It may impact them for the rest of their lives.
So far, my kids have never gone with a friend, but they always come home telling stories about all of the friends they met while they were there. While they are gone, I write them notes reminding them to look out for the kids who seem lonely and help them to feel welcome. I encourage them to grow in their faith and to take their Bible lessons seriously. I also plead with them not to wear dirty clothes and to eat fruits and vegetables every day. I fear that sometimes my pleas fall on deaf ears!
Summer Bible Camp is great for many reasons, but there is one reason that stands out above the rest. It gives my kids an opportunity to make their faith their own. In our home, all expectations are known. We pray, read our Bibles, talk about Jesus, and go to church. The kids have to do all of this because they are with me. At camp they have all those same opportunities but no parent looking over their shoulder insisting they go through the motions. When they pray, they are choosing to pray on their own. When they read their Bibles, it isn't because they have to. And when they worship in chapel, they can choose to fully participate instead of just standing and watching.
And then there are the mean kids. Mean kids are everywhere, so it is no surprise that they show up at camp too. And that is okay, because those mean kids need Jesus. Last year, one of my children decided to talk to the kid who was picking on everyone else, but instead of being mean back, he explained to the bully why people didn't like him and that he could choose to treat people differently. What a mature Christ-like decision for a 4th grader!
James 2:14 reads "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" Going to Bible camp carries with it no guarantee that your child will be saved, but it does give young believers an opportunity to live out their faith in a very real way. It also gives unsaved children an opportunity to wrestle with what it means to be saved and a follower of Christ. It is always my prayer that children will have these opportunities from a young age. I don't want my kids to simply go through the motions. I want them to live authentic lives that please the Lord. Camp gives them a unique opportunity to step out on their own and live for Jesus.
My children's experience with Bible camp is fantastic. My experience with Bible camp was not nearly as good. This is because not all camps are the same. If you know of a good Bible camp within driving distance and your children show interest in attending, I would encourage you to give them the opportunity. It may impact them for the rest of their lives.
Comments
Post a Comment