Last kids camp of the year

Wow!! Another year of life and ministry is wrapping up for us. We had our last kids camp of the year on Saturaday Sept. 6. This camp was in a town about 30-45 minutes from where we live. We partnered with another organization that runs an orphanage and also does childrens outreach. It was one of the smallest camps we have done with about 60 kids. It was a fun camp though and the staff got to know the kids better than normal because it was smaller groups. The kids learned about knowing Jesus as our friend. They learned that when we accept Christ and the gift of forgiveness then he will be the best friend we could ask for. They also learned that when we have Christ as a friend we have to nourish and grow that friendship. This was a big camp for some of our staff also as it had some of them stepping out of their comfort zone and taking on roles that they may not have been comfortable with. Faith and one of our other staff (LOvely) where the MC's This was a first for Faith and she did a great job with it and had a lot of fun with it. She did so well that we as a staff in full are encouraing her to do it again. We had another of our young ladies that is more quite and reserved that stepped up and led worship for the kids. She also did an amazing job and we are all proud of her for having the courage to do it.

This camp ran similar to all the rest of our camps. We as a staff meet early the day of camp to have breakfast and pray over the venue, kids coming and for our staff. We also use the time for last set up and any last minute things that need to be done. It was nice for this camp being a bit further from our home they had places on site that we could stay so for this camp we went Friday evening and was able to set up that evening which made it nice so we did not have to be there so early. We have registration time set for about one hour. We have the morning part of the camp which is crafts, praise and woship and speakers. We usually have two speakers depending on theme. They only speak for about 5-10 minutes, you know kids attention span, after each speaker we have a discussion time withing our small groups to dive deeper into what the speakers where talking about. We have some review time and Lunch. After lunch is more review, games and awarding and picture taking. It is a full exhausting day for our staff but a day of so much love and Joy that is poured into all the kids that come. looking at the rest of this year we have two more events planned. These are both youth events. The first one is a mini youth camp/retreat. We will host the young people from three churches for and day and a half. We will focus on renewal and spiritual growth. This is going to be a smaller event because we are saving for and planning for the last event of the year which will be a busy huge event for us. December 22 we will have a dedication service to dedicate the new national gathering session hall that has been built this year. after that Decemember 23-25 will be a national youth camp. This youth camp will be open to all the youth of our denomination and is looking to be a huge camp. We are saving up and planning to try and bring as many of our church youth as possible but also trying to raise enough to help off set the cost of registration for as many youth as we can. We are also in the beginging stages of planning for the start of next year but more about that later. Our neeeds for the rest of this years activities.: Pray for the adoption interview to keep its schedule (more about that in the next blog) Pray for the mini camp that the young people will recommitt to God and growing their relationship with him Pray for the national youth camp. Pray for the national officers planning the camp, for the youth that will attend, Pray that God provides for as many youth as possible to attend. Praise for a great start to the school year Praise for the work and ministry God is doing through us Praise for the growth in all of our kids in their faith and charachter. Pray that we can raise the $4,000 to help sponsor and offset the cost of camp for 200 or so young people.