A Time Such as This
L
ast year, the staff of Camp Yavapines had been expecting over 800 campers to fill their cabins and their hearts, but when the COVID-19 virus became a pandemic and turned the world upside down, they had to get creative with the way they ministered to their campers. The way in which they had been sharing the gospel for the past 72 summers had to change. Little did they know how big God wanted to go with their evangelistic program last summer. Switching gears from taking care of campers at camp while sharing the message of Jesus’ love for them was a challenge. How do you run a summer camp without the campers driving the go-karts, flying down the zip line, making a splash in the pool, and singing praises to God each day? As the creative minds of the leadership team planned together, they knew that the biggest impact on the campers is the evening campfire program. The team asked if that could happen without the campers actually being present at camp, and the unanimous answer was, “Yes we can, but it will be different.” As the 24 passionate and creative summer camp staff gathered together, the can-do attitude was contagious. Soon, a multitude of ideas were being thrown around, and the best of the best were winnowed out. Considering logistics, equipment, and finances, a plan came together, and the beautiful biblical story of Queen Esther unfolded. The COVID-19 conditions in which many of the campers had been living had similarities to Esther’s story—she was also thrown into a situation that she was not exactly planning on or excited about. The team kept seeing how God was glorified in the story, and they knew God could be glorified in a summer camp dedicated to Him, even without campers. Cody Blake, the program director, was given the task of retelling the story of Queen Esther by writing the script, rehearsing with the summer camp staff, and designing the costumes and set. The story had four episodes and was aired on four consecutive Friday nights, beginning July 17, 2020. Princess Demiar and Patty Majano
24 Pacific Union Recorder
Arizona Conference
