What Did You Do Over Your Summer Vacation?

Im looking out my office window at a fresh batch of snow. Im imagining the coming summer that will eventually find its way here to central Wisconsin. And yet Im already asking the question, What did you do over your summer vacation? When I was a kid it seemed like I was always asked to write an essay to report on my summer vacation. Sometimes I would be thinking about an event and ask, Would this be the event I write about?

Now I approach things from a completely different perspective. Im asking, What can we do this summer to make it essay-worthy for a boy or girl? Each year I work with a great group of childrens ministry veterans to put together summer camps for elementary aged boys and girls. We really do strive to make it the best week of their year.

Going to kids camp can and should be one of the most exciting events in the lives of boys and girls. Its at camp that boys and girls get out of their everyday routine and experience God's great outdoors, new friends, and experience life changing chapels.

As a pastor, I really appreciated the fact that I was able to spend quality time with kids during that one week at camp - often more than I could with some others during a whole years time. Every summer it is such a blessing to see boys and girls who receive Christ as Savior, get called into ministry and who are renewed with power to go back home and make a difference in their community.

As a parent, I am heartened ...