The last day of camp three of our female staff made it a point to connect with and spend the evening with about 6 of our older girl campers.
I was ready to go home when camp ended and call it a summer. It was pretty cool to watch these staff spend another 4 hours with campers... just to build relationships and be a Godly example.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Bible over carpetball
A camper was reading his Bible while waiting in line to play carpetball at East Peoria.
When it came to his turn, a staff member offered him the chance to play, to which he responded:
"No thanks, I'm reading my book."
When it came to his turn, a staff member offered him the chance to play, to which he responded:
"No thanks, I'm reading my book."
Family members see the difference
A counselor ran into camper's older cousin.
This cousin told our staff member that the family could tell a definite improvement in behavior when this camper was attending camp.
This cousin told our staff member that the family could tell a definite improvement in behavior when this camper was attending camp.
Family Celebrates the Good News
On the second week of camp a boy at Pekin accepted Christ. It was so encouraging to see his family celebrate with him over the following weeks.
3 JC Good News
One week 3 junior counselors had the chance to lead the Good News with a group of younger girls. The site director followed up with the Bridge illustration. Through this good news presentation a younger girl accepted Christ.
The Good News is still Good
The Thessalonians at Morton Camp insisted that their counselors share the Good News with them using the wordless book.
On week 9.
That's pretty surprising considering they had heard it multiple times over the course of the summer. But the good news is still good.
On week 9.
That's pretty surprising considering they had heard it multiple times over the course of the summer. But the good news is still good.
Staff Growth
Our Staff grow and learn throughout the summer too!
One junior counselor was reminded about God's love and sovereignty as she spent time with campers from difficult situations.
A site director saw God use her because while she does not necessarily feel gifted as a leader, she did grow in her confidence and leadership skills throughout the summer.
For a male junior counselor, God used Camp to help him get into God's word more. He also had the opportunity to share the Good News with campers, something that was very meaningful for him.
Through a "commitment of excellence" made at staff training another counselor improved at daily reading her Bible.
Another counselor grew in his ability to focus on relationships with the campers. He was even able to pray with many of them.
One junior counselor was reminded about God's love and sovereignty as she spent time with campers from difficult situations.
A site director saw God use her because while she does not necessarily feel gifted as a leader, she did grow in her confidence and leadership skills throughout the summer.
For a male junior counselor, God used Camp to help him get into God's word more. He also had the opportunity to share the Good News with campers, something that was very meaningful for him.
Through a "commitment of excellence" made at staff training another counselor improved at daily reading her Bible.
Another counselor grew in his ability to focus on relationships with the campers. He was even able to pray with many of them.
Staff inspired by campers
A staff member was inspired in unconditional love by one of her campers.
She was able to witness this camper showing kindness to a another child, even though this child had been mean to her previously that day.
She was able to witness this camper showing kindness to a another child, even though this child had been mean to her previously that day.
Cabin Time Questions
A junior counselor told me that during CEF week she and the counselor were able to use the Cabin Time each day to answer camper's spiritual questions. They were able to fill this 30 minutes each day solely with questions from the campers.
Progress in Steps
Our staff members are often able to see kids make changes throughout a summer (or even over the course of several summers).
One staff member realized it was a big deal for a camper to understand that sin is a bad thing.
Multiple Pekin staff members commented on an older girl camper who grew throughout the summer. They could see her spiritual growth and her desire to be a good leader. This was especially encouraging because some of the full time staff were less than enthusiastic to see this older camper return for this summer... based on how behavior had been previous summers.
A staff member watched an East Peoria boy grow in his self control over the course of the summer. The camper also asked many deep questions and gave the staff member the opportunity to share personally and honestly about his faith.
Another staff member has watched an older Pekin boy grow spiritually from summer to summer. He noticed that as he spends time at camp his desire to learn and read the Bible increases.
In East Peoria a counselor had the same younger girl camper Week 1 and Week 11. She could tell a difference in this camper's life. While she wasn't perfect, she complained less and participated more at the end of the summer.
A site director was able to see God at work, even with a difficult junior high volunteer. This Tyro showed baby steps of growth and it was evident that God had used camp in her life.
Yet another staff member acknowledged that over the course of summers he has been able to develop a mentoring role at camp as the campers grow to respect him and trust him.
Lastly (for now) a site director was so grateful to see a younger boy improve through the summer. This camper started with no desire to pray. Now his overall attitude is much improved. We've seen him move from daily issues at camp to once-a-week issues.
One staff member realized it was a big deal for a camper to understand that sin is a bad thing.
Multiple Pekin staff members commented on an older girl camper who grew throughout the summer. They could see her spiritual growth and her desire to be a good leader. This was especially encouraging because some of the full time staff were less than enthusiastic to see this older camper return for this summer... based on how behavior had been previous summers.
A staff member watched an East Peoria boy grow in his self control over the course of the summer. The camper also asked many deep questions and gave the staff member the opportunity to share personally and honestly about his faith.
Another staff member has watched an older Pekin boy grow spiritually from summer to summer. He noticed that as he spends time at camp his desire to learn and read the Bible increases.
In East Peoria a counselor had the same younger girl camper Week 1 and Week 11. She could tell a difference in this camper's life. While she wasn't perfect, she complained less and participated more at the end of the summer.
A site director was able to see God at work, even with a difficult junior high volunteer. This Tyro showed baby steps of growth and it was evident that God had used camp in her life.
Yet another staff member acknowledged that over the course of summers he has been able to develop a mentoring role at camp as the campers grow to respect him and trust him.
Lastly (for now) a site director was so grateful to see a younger boy improve through the summer. This camper started with no desire to pray. Now his overall attitude is much improved. We've seen him move from daily issues at camp to once-a-week issues.
Year-to-year Memory Verses
The last week of the summer our memory verse was the same as the 2010's theme verse. Many of the returning campers were able to recite the verse from memory for the previous year.
Memory Verse Challenge Accepted
A 6 year old girl participated in our memory verse challenge at the end of the summer. She was able to recite all 10 memory verses from the summer nearly word perfect.
That's better than I did.
That's better than I did.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Guatemala is Calling
One of our staff members was doing a lot of praying about potentially spending a semester of her college career in Guatemala. She was weighing the pros and cons and not sure where she should go.
On the last day of camp at Morton, she was walking a camper to a bathroom. The hallway that we regularly use there is lined with flags. While she and the camper were still far off, a flag fell to the floor on its own, without being touched.
While she was waiting on the camper, she prayed: "Ok God, if you want me to go to Guatemala then have that be the flag."
And it was.
On the last day of camp at Morton, she was walking a camper to a bathroom. The hallway that we regularly use there is lined with flags. While she and the camper were still far off, a flag fell to the floor on its own, without being touched.
While she was waiting on the camper, she prayed: "Ok God, if you want me to go to Guatemala then have that be the flag."
And it was.
Older Campers praying for counselor
One of our counselors shared a prayer request with her group involving her mom.
The whole group of oldest girls was praying for this staff member's mom... and specifically one of them continued to ask this staff member about her mom several times over the following weeks.
The whole group of oldest girls was praying for this staff member's mom... and specifically one of them continued to ask this staff member about her mom several times over the following weeks.
Deep questions from EP campers
One counselor noticed kids at East Peoria regularly asking deep questions.
"How could Adam's sin affect us?"
"What if my mom isn't walking with God?"
"How could Adam's sin affect us?"
"What if my mom isn't walking with God?"
Camper using the Bible
A camper at Morton camp received a Bible from us. He began to bring it with him to everything... even in the midst of dodgeball games.
Each day at Cabin Time at the end of the day he would want to read a passage of scripture out loud to his group.
Each day at Cabin Time at the end of the day he would want to read a passage of scripture out loud to his group.
Naughty but theologically correct
An East Peoria camper, when threatened with a timeout, always responds: "Jesus gives us all a second chance."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Excited about the Bible
While on a field trip I asked a camper how his day was going and if anything exciting had happened.
He responded that on the bus ride to the field trip he got to read from his counselor's Bible.
I followed up with the counselor and he responded that this camper and his friend were so excited to borrow his Bible that they could hardly get in their seats fast enough. The counselor also noticed other campers joining this first camper in reading the Bible.
Scripture is exciting! Pass it on!
He responded that on the bus ride to the field trip he got to read from his counselor's Bible.
I followed up with the counselor and he responded that this camper and his friend were so excited to borrow his Bible that they could hardly get in their seats fast enough. The counselor also noticed other campers joining this first camper in reading the Bible.
Scripture is exciting! Pass it on!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
We had a staff member that spent the majority of her time at one location. She openly admitted to not looking forward to visiting another location. (This could be slightly understandable as she would not know many of the staff or any of the kids.)
But after the week was over she was excited to tell me about specific spiritual conversations she had with two campers. And she had a good time at the different location as well!
But after the week was over she was excited to tell me about specific spiritual conversations she had with two campers. And she had a good time at the different location as well!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Greater Things Than Me
This was a humbling reminder of John 14:12- I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.
One Friday I led a devotion during a morning meeting at Pekin camp. We brainstormed questions and conversation starters to point our conversations with campers toward spiritual things. One idea from a counselor named Nathan was to point-blank ask: "Have you accepted Christ as your personal savior?"
That week Nathan had been specifically praying for visible fruit from the summer. He had also had the previous day of camp off, which gave him more energy and focus on this day.
At the end of the day, I overheard Nathan using that reminder from the meeting to ask a younger camper about his relationship with Jesus. A longer conversation ensured, and ended with the boy saying that he would like to pray with his mom that evening.
At this point, I was elated and if I had been Nathan, would have commenced with patting myself on the back. But Nathan made a point to talk to this boys mom, explaining their conversation and the camper's desire to pray with his mom that evening. Mom was excited and exclaimed "That's why I love this camp."
So here's to staff doing more than I myself would do, but mainly to Jesus working in all of our lives.
One Friday I led a devotion during a morning meeting at Pekin camp. We brainstormed questions and conversation starters to point our conversations with campers toward spiritual things. One idea from a counselor named Nathan was to point-blank ask: "Have you accepted Christ as your personal savior?"
That week Nathan had been specifically praying for visible fruit from the summer. He had also had the previous day of camp off, which gave him more energy and focus on this day.
At the end of the day, I overheard Nathan using that reminder from the meeting to ask a younger camper about his relationship with Jesus. A longer conversation ensured, and ended with the boy saying that he would like to pray with his mom that evening.
At this point, I was elated and if I had been Nathan, would have commenced with patting myself on the back. But Nathan made a point to talk to this boys mom, explaining their conversation and the camper's desire to pray with his mom that evening. Mom was excited and exclaimed "That's why I love this camp."
So here's to staff doing more than I myself would do, but mainly to Jesus working in all of our lives.
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