Sheila experienced something amazing. When she came to camp last summer, she was quiet and withdrawn. She didn’t want to socialize with the other campers and barely spoke. But, when you put a ten-year-old in a cabin group with seven other kids; when they have a loving cabin leader who takes them hiking, swimming, and playing every day; when they eat together, pray together, and worship together; you’ve set the stage for something amazing. Sheila came out of her shell and beca

Sometimes God surprises me so much, I can barely contain it. Last month I spoke to a group at a church in nearby Morganton, telling them all about our summer camp programs. After discussing our facilities, activities, and policy that no child will be turned away for financial reasons, I felt impressed to share Serena’s story with them. This quiet little girl from a severely impoverished family approached me after chapel one night, asking how she could have Jesus in her heart.

Have you heard the story of the eagle that was raised by prairie chickens? The eagle spent its entire life scratching the dirt and eating insects. It would gaze up into the sky, wishing it could soar like the eagles, but it never once tried because it believed it was a prairie chicken. Summer camp has a way of helping kids find their wings. I witnessed this repeatedly this year. When Scott came to camp, his schoolteacher warned me that he got into trouble almost every day of

A horde of rowdy kids shuffled out of the chapel room, and I sighed. They seemed eager to leave, and I wondered if my message had gotten through to any of them. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a camper moving toward me. I turned to see little Serena approaching cautiously. Her head was bent low and she held her hands folded together in front of her chest. Blonde locks of hair draped over each side of her timid face. I smiled at her, and she nervously smiled back