blessing others

Some leftover building materials that I had been trying to get rid of.  They ended up being exactly what a camper dad was looking for..

Specifically he was planning on a remodel project and needed a space heater in 2 rooms... we gave him a bunch of trim and 2 space heaters.

Sweet.

Good Feedback from Camper Parents

My grandchildren love the camp and they have learned values of everyday living, and about teachings of the Bible.  K.S.

Emma is much more confident and her self-esteem has improved a lot since going to Camp. She is also much more interested in Sunday School and reading the Bible. S.M./EM

He is eagerly reading his bible and his behavior is awesome -  JP/JR

Both boys have learned more about their faith and how they can share the good news with others. They loved to come home and tell us the bible stories they had been taught at camp.  JB/ K&SB

"What did your child learn?"  Bible stories comes up again and again

I love listening to him tell me bible stories and share verses with me. - MM/RM

He has learned the meaning of many of the award phrases and has incorporated these into his vocabulary. The other day he told me that he has unconditional love for me and told me what that means. JP/JM

Good feedback Quotes from Staff

This summer I definitely grew as a leader, just knowing when and how to step up when there need to be someone do something. I've also come to see Gods grace even more as I get stumped by children and staff members questions. Just knowing God is allowing me to be used even when Im really not that smart. - Shelby

I learned to be less selfish with my time, and more devoted to God and doing work for His glory.- Morgan

my patience and humility have grown! - Stephen

One of the EP campers encouraged me to start reading my Bible from cover to cover.- Jared *ask more about this story

I Read the Bible more. -Cameron

I have grown in my relationships with other Christian men in morning devotions and staff events and also with God during devos.- Zach

Starting out my school year, I know have a really positive and joyful look on life. I'm always aiming towards not focusing on what others think of me, but putting all of my focus and trust on God. This is all a result of working at camp this summer! Site directors and staff at EP really inspired me! - Kara

Camp of Champions has encouraged me to read the Bible on a daily basis.- Noah

I think I have become more open about my faith to people that I don't know.- Annabell

Camp has been one of the biggest sources of spiritual growth for me over the past four summers. Just being surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ helps me to stay encouraged. It gives the workers a lot of experience in sharing the Gospel of Christ, which is really what this life is all about.- Seth

Staff Retreat Stories

At Pekin: Counselor talked with a camper for about an hour after camp and she wanted to accept Christ. (this mainly came from a wrong answer to the question "When do we receive the holy spirit?" that the camper gave in assembly.)  Counselor was able to share John 14:26 about Jesus being the only way   Counselor had camper tell mom and she was excited ..

at EP: Junior counselor volunteered to share the Good News at Mission Peoria.  He used the wordless book, which he attested to COCUSA for learning.  He shared the Good News with 25 inner city kids and 4 accepted Christ.

Eureka: While Katie was giving camper a piggy back ride she was able to tell him Bible stories for about 40 minutes.  The boy specifically wanted to know more about the story of Jonah.  And while he hasn't yet accepted the Good News he was starting to open up and at least interested in hearing about it.

Pekin: Attitude change: everyone at camp encouraging camper from Orange team as he struggled to kick a ball into the air.

Morton: Young boys attitude.  Most of camp had a good attitude towards a challenging boy.  Staff cared for him and loved him and this trickled down to the kids cheering him on despite the potential label of a 'problem camper'  Mom said that our staff was able to communicate challenges without labeling him as a 'bad kid'

EP- Cassie noticed a big change in one of her kids from the last day of 2012 to the first day of 2013

EP week 9 Older boy requested references for Bible stories from Jared Brown.  He read it all the time, even when he 'wasn't supposed to'  Same boy also improved his attitude throughout the summer.

EP/Morton JC .. after his first week of work thought "I'm done" and "This isn't working"  But during his 2nd week it started to click (and he did an excellent job the rest of the summer)

EP staff: Good News Time- watching it click with some kids even though some others aren't listening.

East Peoria Week 11 Story Re Telling

Story of Saul's Boat Ride

13 kids participated

37 adults outside of camp heard the story

Feedback Quotes

"I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to work here, best summer yet!!" - morton/Pekin female counselor

sub site director checking on camper family situation

Emily subbed at Pekin Camp for 3 days week 10.

She had ongoing conversations with an older camper whose grandfather was not doing the best health wise.  The camper was concerned if he was a Christian or not.

So Emily went through the wordless book with her and encouraged her to share it.

Emily then came back a week later (as she was prepping for school) to check on her...

She had shared the Good News with both her grandparents.. not sure on the response but her grandpa was brought to tears

school year

This time of summer (last week) I like to ask campers where they are going to school, what grade they will be in, etc.

One EP boy said: "I want to tell all of my friends about school about God."

Awesome.

How can we equip him to do that?  How can we equip every camper to do that?

correct response to tough situation

So not a fun story, but one of our campers broke his arm...

The cool part is we had staff praying with other campers and pointing them to Scripture as they were upset and said that there friend had been injured.

Jesus Video

A camper ran into the Jesus Video (we have one per camp), and requested to watch it.

So during a CIT time the older boys at Morton camp watched the video, even watching it through dodgeball time.. They had some great discussions after the crucifixion.

Wordless Book retelling

Morton camp: 22+ adults outside of camp told the Good News through the Wordless book

Pekin Camp: 17 kids turned in the sheets

EP: 46 Adults

believing in bowl a thon

One of our camper mom's who benefits from our scholarship program is so excited about our bowl a thon fundraiser she has asked multiple family and friends about their businesses donating gift cards and prizes to us.

It's nice to see both gratefulness and the acknowlegement that camp has been a good thing for her son.

week 5

Morton camper wanting references for all of the verses so she can look them up at home.

Week 4

Nick P from Pekin wanted a Bible so much his mom emailed me... then he remembered over a week later to ask for one.

Tyler B in Morton.. after discipline issue, got into Bible for 15-20 minutes with Becca.

EP: Directors did a great job having campers retell the story of Saul's conversion in 5 parts. About 1/4 of the kids told others.. several of them told multiple kids.

Andrew T accepting Christ then wanting and reading a Bible

week 2

More kids responding to the Good News (many from Morton again)

Maybe 10 kids wanted Bible at Morton camp.  OF did even though he couldn't read (but his brother had one.)

1 of those kids who got a Bible "responded" to the good news time, but mainly to discuss spiritual things with his counselor.

TS at Morton Camp reading 1 Samuel

Emily was subbing as a Morton site director the first 3 days of the summer.  She started a dialogue with an older boy about exciting parts of the Bible to read.  She got him into 1 Samuel, and then passed on to nathan (the regular director) to check in on his Bible reading

CB reading Bible in Pekin

After Good News Time Wednesday in Pekin CB was really into his Bible.

A staff member (Korinna) was helping him through it.

so cool to see

he also was unable to come to camp again due to a family circumstance.. ask Kayla/blake/brad for more info here

good feedback on our intern position

the best lesson I learned was taking initiative on different projects.  Most jobs I have had, I would say I need/want this done, and someone else would do it or tell me what do do. I think this concept has helped me grow as a professional.

Being around and seeing how camp works from the logistical side of things is really neat.

why summer camp is important

Was just informed by a friend of a former camper's mother who is now following Jesus.

He told me that if COCUSA had left a bad taste in her mouth for "Christians".. she would have never turned to Chris.  Seems a bit prideful to say that about myself or my organization, but it was encouraging to hear from someone else.

Menards

I spend a lot of time at Menards...

A cashier just told me that her daughter came to "Camp COCUSA" a long time ago (not even sure when).. She appreciated the care we offered her child as she was a single mother

recruited by joy

One of our staff applicants from this summer .. when asked why she wanted to work at camp..

Basically she explained that it was because of the joy on the face of the her college roommate who worked at camp the year before.  She was so into camp because of her previous summer that her roommate couldn't help but apply!

disciple-making

Sending out the staff I've previously mentioned.. it almost seems like they might be able to run with it. so cool and exciting

Catching up

Caught up with a high school acquaintance today.  So random and cool that God was working in his life, when I didn't see any spiritual interest in his life in high school.  He's plugged in and serving at a local church, interested in giving, ... pretty cool to catch up.

Spring Newsletter

Title: Why do staff want to return to camp?
Sometimes it feels like the odds are stacked against us as we recruit summer staff.  We offer a ministry stipend instead of an hourly wage. Most high school and college students today have dozens of options for their summers, many of which are easier or attracting then spending a summer with COCUSA.  Yet every year God provides the staff we need.
In addition, every year we have a significant number of staff members return from the previous summer.  They've seen all a summer of camp holds, both the good and bad, and they still return.  Why is that?  Why do they return to camp?  We ask returning staff to tell us why they desire to return to camp when they re-apply. Here are some of their answers:
"Working at camp last summer helped me grow and mature a lot both socially and spiritually." (Male Junior Counselor)
"I have learned to rely on God so much since my first year. Being able to further my relationship with parents, campers and staff is very exciting."- (Male Site Director)
"Camp of Champions USA really impacted my life last summer and helped me to strive to be a better person who more fully relies of Christ so that I can lead the campers more effectively." - (Female Counselor)

"I feel led to share his word to the campers at COCUSA." - (Male Junior Counselor)

"I absolutely loved working at camp last summer. I feel that God is bringing me back to camp to continue the relationships I started with the campers and other staff members. I feel like I grew a lot last summer and I want to continue that growth this summer." - (Female Counselor)
Through impacting campers, staff members grow closer to God and more like Jesus.  Our hope is that  through staff training and the hands-on experience of the summer is that these staff members will be set up to follow Jesus in every area of their life.  Our prayer is that they would make disciples and share the Gospel where ever God puts them in life, and the next school year.

update on 3/3rds

This has been going really well.

I think the 7 components of 3/3rds disciple-making meetings are more important than the 3/3rds themselves.. so I'm going with it.  But the setting a goal of who to talk to about spiritual things (and then following up about it) has been great for me and the 2 guys I'm meeting with.

salvation army

Keegan Hanton stories, Brad has details

Discussing Disciple-making

Was able to chat with a former staff member about his opportunity to disciple people on his college floor as an RC.  We may have delved into similarities between Jesus-like disciple-making and the Jedi order.

maybe.

3/3rds Disciple-Making

I've been attempting disciple-making for awhile.. my first crack at a 3/3rds meeting was awesome.  Looking forward to seeing how God uses it.

chili supper feedback

What a great Chili Supper!! Everything seemed to go so smoothly, and I really enjoyed hearing from that family about their experiences. What a fun way to share about Camp. I am so glad I was able to attend... it was a blessing! Our pastor enjoyed it as well, and ____ are always praying about growth opportunities with Camp. I wish we could have connected with you there, but we couldn't stay for too long afterwards.

Thanks for all you do, Pheaney. The training Camp gave me completely altered the way I see God, people, and myself. I think about Camp a lot.. and am so thankful for the positive impact it had on my relationship with Christ! Currently, I am working as the Children's Ministry Director at ____.. and it is literally a mini Camp of Champions. We even did a snack craft last Sunday. ;) So I can't thank you enough for all you do as a full time staff member and just being such an example to myself and to ____.

Training on Partner Like Paul

Yesterday I trained 15 local youth and ministry workers in some Biblical fundraising basics (for themselves and their students.

3 people specifically requested the book.  One said it was just what he needed to hear.

another said: "Would love to read up more on this.
This sounds like a good lesson.  Thanks for offering this, it's a blessing!"

And another: "Could you send me those verse from yesterday as well as your book please?"

Another: "I hear that you 'rocked it.' "

Fun to equip and dialogue with others!

Talking Church

Over the course of the school year I've had some good conversations with a staff member about church: which ones you go to, how you choose, why you should (or not) move to a different one, the importance of the people church (instead of the service church or building church)

Hope they continue.

family scheduling

Monday this week I had coffee and a good conversation with a friend and youth pastor.  We talked about family time and putting boundaries on our work schedule to prioritize those closest to us.  I think it was a good conversation that at least pointed him in the right direction.

Some intern feedback

I am having a great time being on this side of the Camp of Champions team! I am looking forward to this spring!

This opportunity to serve as the Camp of Champions intern has been a huge blessing in my life this school year! With a full school schedule, it is really nice having a very flexible work schedule.

When I first signed up for this internship I thought that an option in construction was going to appear and I would regret taking the intern position.  I have absolutely zero regrets taking the internship. It has been an amazing opportunity!

PGP

Shared about Personal Growth Plans at Forest City Community Church today.

It was great to hear "I had never really thought about having specific goals".  So good for someone to catch that vision.. specific is terrific.

Staff apps from former campers

"I am a living example of how the seeds God plants through this camp can blossom into a fully developed faith and impact the rest of a child's life in a very positive way, even if they don't appear to be receptive."

"I want to give to those kids the same opportunity I had as a camper - to know God as their one and only savior. I know some of these campers do not come from stable and loving families, and I want them to be able to come every day and feel like someone loves them and truly cares about them."