Church camps teach young about faith




By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Mary Catherine Edwards will never forget a young boy named Trey.
For years she has served in some capacity—registrar, dean, small group leader—at the McAllen District summer camps at Camp Thicket, Weslaco.
For years, she has seen youths’ lives change.
Trey, whom Edwards describes as “cocky” but “a good kid,” didn’t attend church and had never been to church camp. His friends persuaded him to come. Edwards’ congregation, Wesley UMC, Harlingen, gave him a scholarship to go.
Trey was assigned to her small group. Edwards said she witnessed a gradual change in him throughout the week. As the camp ended, she said he told her, “I know what it means to know Jesus. I know Jesus now.”
Three months later, he was killed in a car accident.
“Trey knew the Lord,” Edwards said as she worked to control her emotions. “It was exciting to know that camp was a special thing for him. That’s where he made his decision to accept the Lord.”
She’s trying to tell others about the positive influences summer camps have on the faith development of young people.
Hundreds of United Methodist youths attend summer camps throughout the Southwest Texas Conference every year. Hundreds make first-time commitments to Jesus.
Some camps last all week. Others extend one or two days per week for a month or two.
Some teach music, drama or art. Others teach about being Christ’s hands and feet in a needy world.
All reinforce the fundamental truths of Christianity.
“(Children) discover how to use their musical, dramatic and artistic talents in service to the Lord,” said Brad Kisner, director of music and fine arts for First UMC, Corpus Christi. The church offered a Music, Art, Drama camp June 25-28 for all children entering grades 1 through 6. The M.A.D. camp is in its 13th year.
Some 150 youngsters learned how to sing, play hand bells, use puppets and drama, develop creative movement, create original artwork, and worship, Kisner said. The camp ended with a talent show.
“This camp teaches them that God gives all of us many talents to share and that it’s possible to use these talents to share in the worship life of the church,” Kisner said.
Work camps in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Three Rivers and Mission taught young people the importance of serving the needy by rebuilding homes, passing out food and beautifying a church.
The conference’s Call of the Wild camps for grades 3 through 6 in June at Mount Wesley Conference Center, Kerrville, taught youngsters the importance of their place in the body of Christ.
“If we find out what the call is and we don’t take it, something is missing,” said the Rev. Jason Teague, dean for the June 24-28 camp for 5th and 6th graders and pastor of First UMC, Goliad.
“Imagine the body of Christ without a hand. We are all important to the body of Christ. When we don’t accept our call, we are keeping God’s grace from others.”
The McAllen District, Edwards said, offers two summer camp sessions—one for youths in grades 7 through 12 and one for youngsters in grades 4 through 6. Both weeklong sessions are at Camp Thicket.
This year’s camps taught students about balancing priorities and making time for God and God’s word, Edwards said.
Students come to camps for many reasons—because their friends come, because they desire to dive deeper into their faith, because they have nothing better to do when school is out.
Shelby Hartman, a fifth grader from First UMC, San Angelo, attended the Call of the Wild summer camp at Mount Wesley as a first-time camper.
“I felt I needed to branch out and try something new,” she said. “I wanted to try camp.”
Sarah Hinderliter, a fifth grader from Cedar Park, said she went to Kerrville because “I wanted to be outdoors and be with my friends.”
Whatever their reasons for coming, Edwards said summer camps have a definite impact on participants. She said she has seen that impact since she began working with McAllen District camps in 1978.
“A lot of our campers come up as children who made professions of faith at camp,” Edwards said. “And we have so many kids who have gone into the ministry because of our district camps.”
Nearly 200 youths attended this year’s two district camps, she said. Many remain friends after camp is over.
“They love to get connected with other kids around the district,” Edwards said. “And they stay connected now through the Internet. They know things that are happening in each other’s lives.”
Many churches around the conference provide scholarships for students who can’t afford to go to summer camp, Edwards said.
Camps could always use more scholarships, she added, because they change the lives of children like Trey.