Childlike Faith

A throwback post from former staff in 2018:
By Hannah Cox, Development and Volunteer Coordinator

It is always exciting to hear when a camper begins a relationship with Jesus; something we hear about often amongst Christian camps in Pennsylvania and Christian retreat centers in PA.  Recently, *David, served as a Day Camp counselor. The boys in his group were between the ages of eight and eleven.

One day during their Bible study, David asked his campers, “Do you know what it means to begin a relationship with Jesus?” The boys were dead silent, with the exception of one or two who shook their heads “yes.”  Finally, one boy, *Jacob, bravely said, “No, I don’t understand it all,” which lead to several of the other campers admitting they did not understand it either.

David then attempted to explain it in a way that his campers would understand. “So say you broke your mom’s favorite lamp, does she stop loving you then because you broke her lamp?”

“No,” one camper said. “You tell her you’re sorry and she forgives you. She still loves you because she’s your mom.”

“Right,’ said David. “But does saying you are sorry fix the lamp?”

“No, it’s still broken.”

“Exactly, that’s kind of like how it is with us and God. Even though we sin, He still loves us and will always forgive us. However, when we begin a relationship with Jesus that doesn’t mean we will never sin again; just like how saying you are sorry doesn’t fix your mom’s lamp.”

All of a sudden it was if a light turned on in several of the camper’s minds. By using a real-life example the campers could relate to, David was able to explain the Gospel to them in a way they could understand. That day, David helped four of his campers begin a relationship with Jesus.

The next day, David had some additional campers.  During the Bible study, David again was talking about having a relationship with Jesus and could tell by the confused looks on some of his new campers faces they were not understanding what he was talking about. Then David again used the same illustration he used the day before and once again David had the opportunity to help four other campers begin a relationship with Jesus.

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:16-17).  The Lord is working through our summer staff to reach children who need to know that Jesus will always love them and helping them to receive His unconditional love.

*Names have been changed

Sign Up for Summer Camp! Join us as we learn of the Paradise to Come!