By Cydney Walker & Pauline Sanderson

Do you ever reflect on the busyness of life? We work, attend school and spend plenty of time meeting obligations, driving to and fro, and – if time allows – having fun with friends and family. Many of us often schedule our lives in 15 minute blocks and when we have mastered that we begin scheduling in 10 minute blocks. There is more to life than adhering to a rigid schedule; there are opportunities to step outside the busyness of life and enter a place of peace and rest.

Christian camps provide the opportunity to slow down and spend time with God in beautiful surroundings; whether it is in the middle of a huge forest, on a cascading river, or by the crashing waves of the ocean.

They provide a unique opportunity for campers and staff alike to experience God through relationships and the beauty of the outdoors.

Safe haven

Leaders of camps understand that a time away can offer a safe haven for kids, teens, and adults who are experiencing difficult circumstances in their life. Kids often come to camp and find a refuge from troubles in their lives including death or illness of a family member or friend, divorce or separation of their parents, along with more general troubled homes.  

Camp seems to provide a unique way to leave stresses behind. As the Psalmist says: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30.

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Sponsorship

Many children are sponsored to attend camps across B.C. during the summer.  The Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver sponsors over 700 kids each year to attend a number of camps.  In addition, each camp has a number of caring donors who desire to see kids given a time of fun and an opportunity to experience God’s love.  Last summer a young sponsored camper was having a very difficult time at the beginning of the week, even to the point of feeling so anxious that he could not bring himself to get out of bed on the first morning.  By the end of the week he was so attached to the place, and so desiring to further his relationship with God,  that his camp counsellor was sure he was going to jump off the boat as it left Howe Sound and swim back to the island where the camp is located.

Seeking and finding

  Camp is a place where people seek and find the Lord, often beginning their lifelong walk with Jesus.  For those who do not choose to follow the Lord, camp still seems to hold a deep meaning. At our camp office we recently heard from a woman who attended camp over 30 years ago and who still remembers something very special about her experience.  She was not able to put her finger on what that something special was all about, but those of us who know better know that she experienced something of God’s love for her through His creation and through those who counselled her during her time at camp so long ago.

   If you desire some time with the Lord in His creation, as well as a time of rest, relaxation, and fun then take a look at Christian Camping.  Not only are there many camps for children and youth, but many camps have opportunities for families as well as camps for single moms that provide an opportunity for everyone in the family to have a great week of fellowship and relaxation.  Imagine others cooking great meals for you, and taking the children for activity and teaching times.  

   There are camps all over BC who would love to have you or your children as guests this summer!

April 2008