More than a Vacation

MORE THAN A VACATION A RENOVATION OF THE HEART

by Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner

To camp or not to camp? That is the question. I am not talking about 'going camping'; that is, pitching a tent, building a campfire and roasting hot dogs over an open fire. Oh yes, each of these might be something done at camp, but summer camp is much more than participating in these outdoor tasks. I am suggesting you and your family consider investing in the opportunity to send your child, junior higher, high school student or young adult to a week of summer camp. Oh, so there's no one in your family you might want to send to camp? Why not sponsor someone's child or teen? Or maybe a foster child through Royal Family Kids' Camp?

Wikipedia defines summer camp as "a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. The traditional view of a summer camp is a woody place with hiking, canoeing, and campfires." Christian camps exist to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their desire is that each person coming into contact through attending a week of summer camp will learn of the love and power of a life lived in Christ. A week or more at a summer camp can change someone's life for eternity. It happened to me.

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At seventeen, I was careening deep into drug addiction. I stayed high as much as possible, trying to fill the emptiness in my life with the highest high or the cutest guy while my need for affection only increased. I couldn’t wait to move out of my parents’ home. My family pulled strings to get me a volunteer summer job at a Christian camp. The camp staff assigned me lists of chores, such as washing hundreds of dishes in the mess hall, raking piles of pine needles around the campgrounds, and even moving logs around the outdoor campfire ring.

Whenever I complained or threw fits over doing my chores or smoked cigarettes and dope, the camp staff said, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:8 [NIV]) Their words, repeated over and over, immersed me for two weeks. The words rang in my ears, I couldn’t get the seven-word phrase off my mind. The staff didn’t tell me to change anything about my appearance, attitude, or addictions. Instead, they showed me what the invitation of love looked like. They were kind; they offered the true love of God without forcing me to accept it.

As a youngster in Sunday school, I’d learned Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” After two weeks of experiencing how “Love covers a multitude of sins,” I embraced it. Submitting to the overwhelming love of God, I allowed His abundant love to cover my multitude of sins. I began to believe God’s love could cover the things that held me captive to my addictions: drugs and alcohol, lying and stealing, promiscuity and drug dealing. It was finally clear: I didn’t need to clean up my act before coming to God; He loved me passionately just the way I was.

One night in my cabin, I submitted to the overwhelming love of God. He had reached out to me, and I, a most unlikely choice, finally grasped His hand. His abundant love did cover my multitude of sins. I accepted the invitation to live a new life. My life was transformed, I was given a fresh start, however the divine connection through a new beginning happened because I was away from the negative influences of my regular life, I was at a Christian camp.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Study of Youth and Religion, "Nearly 40 percent of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 have been a camper at least once at a summer camp run by a religious organization with religious teachings or songs in its program." Does attendance at religious summer camp strengthen the faith of teenagers? The data does reveal a simple correlation

between attending religious summer camps and the strength of teenagers' religious faith. "Most likely," says Dr. Christian Smith from the University of North Carolina, "the camp and home life influences work in both directions. Even so, going to religious summer camps appears to be one of a broader set of intentional practices that parents can pursue to help build up the religious faith of their teens."

True life-transformation requires more than just a marshmallow roast, capture the flag or a starry night mountaintop experience. True spiritual renovation of the heart is dependent upon the inner work of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this happens when we or those we love are away from the daily-ness of life – a week away at summer camp is a great opportunity for life-change. It’s our role as the body of Christ to diligently and prayerfully pray for those would-be campers, staff and camp programs and then depend on God to work in the hearts of his people. So who do you know that should be going to camp the summer of 2019?

Kids Camp - Master Builder: Building on God's Promises

Ages 8-12 (younger if parent also attends) June 17th - 20th at Mountain Pointe Camp

Junior High Summer Camp

Junior High Students July 31st - August 3rd at Mountain Pointe Camp

Uprising High School Camp - Unashamed

High School Students July 29th - August 1st at Camp Oakhurst

Registration is available for all camps online at canyonhills.com/rsvp

Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner, Author of It'll Be Okay: Finding God When Doubt Hides the Truth, and Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down