Ministers Blogs
“Counting the Costs of Church Camp”
Snacks at the camp store about $10.00……Camp T-Shirt about $10.00... Camp registrations $115.00…A camping experience where God, the Bible, and the church are honored and respected. Invaluable. A Christian environment where you have an opportunity to make godly friends. Inestimable. A place, where one’s faith in the Lord will be built up and one will be helped to get to Heaven. Priceless!
We often look at things, even church camp in terms of how much it will cost us but sometimes the price tag does not always tell us what we are paying for. Yes, if one goes to another camp such as 4-H, Scout, Band, or some sport camp they will learn valuable lessons that will be beneficial for every day life. But what about the many other benefits that a Christian camp can provide that are not listed in the promotional pamphlets or may not be found in other camps such as: meeting new godly friends, learning from mature Christians, to be encouraged daily to study God’s Word, opportunities to asks Bible questions and be taught one on one and in small groups, experiencing God's creation in the outdoors, and to be strengthened in all areas of one’s faith. There is no price tag on these and other priceless blessings one can receive by going to church camp.
Peter states in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” How are we going to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord? Hopefully from the teaching and preaching by the church, parents, and personal study, but one can also grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord by participating in church camp. For example: If you calculate the time a child spends in Bible class on Sundays and Wednesdays and compared it to the Bible teaching and training at a week of church camp; one week of camp would almost equal 6 months of Bible classes. Many Christians do not realize the great opportunities church camp can provide for our youth and how church camp is a mission field needing to be worked. In a book called, “The Gospel According to Generation X” the author surveyed teens and found that the most significant event for their faith development in the teen years was church camp. Church camp is an effective tool in the spiritual development of young people. Very few places in our day and time are influenced with the Christ centered teachings and influences as church camp.
Jesus reminds us in Luke 14:28 that if we are going to follow Him we must count the costs. When it comes to educating our children in the way of the Lord parents must also count the cost. How much would you pay to have a child develop into a godly and faithful Christian? How much would you give to have your children be encouraged and influenced by godly people? How much would you forfeit to have your children enriched in the way of God? How much are you willing to pay to help your child get to Heaven? Although church camp is not a guarantee that your child will go to Heaven, it does encourage the spiritual growth and well being of your child; where as other camps as good as they may be don’t. God’s word is clear if parents pray for, teach, model the Christian faith, and provide opportunities where Christian faith is encouraged such as church camp. Then children have a better opportunity to be faithful to the Lord than if they were left on their own to discover the Lord’s Way. You must count the cost. By Mark T. Tonkery
You are Invited to come to Church Camp:
† Camp Hervida OVCYC Senior week (14-18 years old June 11-16; Junior week (8-11 years old) June 18-23 and Intermediate week (11-14 years old) June 25-30; See Mark T. Tonkery for details, he will be co-directing Jr. week.
† If your child would like to come to camp please go to the following web site: http://ovcyc.org/
