Summer Camp

So this year I changed up our summer camp at the church I am currently serving in. For the past several years the kids group has gone to a "big" camp. Now before I continue please understand I am not in any way bashing these big camps. In the right in the right situation, with God's leading, they can be very helpful to a church. Instead though I felt God leading us to go on our own camp. It was definitely a great decision. We doubled our attendance for camp from the previous year. All the kids had fun. We got to do a shaving cream/water balloon war, giant soap and slide, and much more. But these aren't the benefits of doing your own camp. Rather the benefits are so much more. Below are just a few reason I believe God led me to choosing our own camp this year.

1) Your own camp allows you and your adults to connect with the kids.

By being the only church there it allows your kids to focus on you and you to focus solely on your kids. This is a great time to build and strengthen relationships with them. Because you are going from a couple hours a week to being around the kids 24/7 for several days.

2) Your own camp allows for the speaker to connect with the kids more.

This past week at camp, one thing that blessed my heart, was seeing our camp speaker interact with the kids. Now yes this was done during the service, as he spoke and called kids up to help. But he also was there during meals, games, crafts, and more. The kids actually got to know our speaker. He wasn't just someone, who preached to them, but was real and his walk with Christ was evident outside of the pulpit.

3) Your own camp allows you to tailor the week for your group.

By having your own camp you, their children's minister, can tailor the camp to help fit exactly where your children's group is. Do you have a lot of unchurched kids? kids who haven't made a profession of faith? Kids, who are already on their walk with Christ? Younger kids? Older Kids? Of course the answer, is different for every group and could even change from year to year. By knowing where your group is overall, the camp can be tailored to their stage of life. If you have a lot of kids, who haven't accepted Christ, then the gospel should be a constant focus in crafts, services, and more. Perhaps this means also doing more group Bible study so that an adult is clearly relaying the Bible message. If you have kids, who have already accepted Christ, then perhaps doing more small group discussion or personal devotion time would be a good choice. But its your choice, and responsibility to tailor the camp.

Of course, I would urge any children's minister to consider taking your kids to a camp of their own. There are so many positives to it in my mind. But ultimately there is really only one thing that matters and I was reminded of that this week. Are we reaching kids for Christ through the camp. Whether it is your own camp or a big commercial camp, if the gospel isn't being presented, if kids aren't growing deeper in their walk with Christ. Then something needs to change and a serious evaluation should be made. Yes, camp should be packed with fun, but even more so camp should be packed with Christ!