The Park Children's Ministry

Wednesday was an outstanding day at camp.  The weather has been sunny and in the mid 70s.  (Aren't you jealous?)  And the naturescape has really provided an incredible backdrop for the amazing things God is doing with our kids.  

The morning started on the Play Field with a massive, field long game of dodge ball.  One person likened it to watching a herd of lions chasing a gazelle.  Of course, the kids were the lions, and Brian was the gazelle.  :) 

The kids rotated through several fun activities including the Trout Pond, the Game Room, and the Mini Golf.  One of the students from Palm Vista actually caught a fish with the marshmallow bait.  The snack shop was also a huge hit!  If you have the chance to come to Forest Home, don't miss the milkshakes!

Everyone's competitive side came out in the Camper verses Counselor game of kickball.  At one point, the kids accused the counselors of taking it easy on them and challenged the counselors to "bring it on."  When it was all said and done, the counselors won and the accusers learned to play with the "big dogs."  :)  In case you all about the score, the counselors were ahead by 6 when the game was called for dinner.

Building on Tuesday night's discussion about the filth of sin, Mr. Chris continued the week's Soul Survivor theme with a discussion of God's plan to save us through Christ.  One counselor commented on the intensity of the kids as they dug into their Bibles, searching for the particular references.  Many of our kids are processing the sin in their lives and how they can choose to allow God to help them become the hero in their own personal Survivor story.  

Brian followed up the discussion with an analogy to the Challenge Course.  As I told you a couple of days ago, the Forest Home Challenge course is a series of ropes and obstacles almost 3-stories tall.  Life, as Brian related, is a Challenge Course.  God is calling you to trust Him & come on up.  Are you standing on the ground, saying "No way, I can't do that!"?  Or are you strapping on the harness of Christ- trusting that it will hold you, stepping out on the rope, and shouting "I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me!"?  

Please pray for your kids today.  It is our last full day at Forest Home.  Camp is an excellent place to meet Jesus.  Pray that our kids choose to begin an authentic, lifelong friendship with Jesus that translates to a life outside of camp.  Jesus can't be our "camp buddy" that we reconnect with each year.

Please pray for the counselors & staff.  These folks are A-MAZING!  Thank you for sharing the kids that God has entrusted to you with us this week.  We take the job of spiritually mentoring our kids very seriously.  Please pray that we feel rested & ready to go for anything, and that the final activities are as easy on our "old bones" as our minds believe they should be!  :)