Daily Devotional corner, your go-to spot for a splash of spiritual refreshment. Every day, we pick a piece from the good book and toss in some real-world reflections to brighten your path. Whether you're kicking off your morning or just taking a breather, these bits of insight have got your back. Drop by every day for a dose of inspiration and a touch of soulful connection. Let's navigate life's ups and downs together!
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR JOHN ROBERTS
Campers for a Week, Friends for Life!
Campers for a week, friends for life? Is that true? Is it possible?
Yes. I am living proof.
Campers for a brief time, brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity!
That’s a personal and corporate slogan from Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels, Texas that is not only great but true.
It’s been a while, at 53, since I went to camp, but I still have friends from camp, one of them is Renee. I also have Pam, Mandy, Carolyn, Stephen, and many others!
Slumber falls changed my entire life, and the trajectory of my life.
I met Jesus, Renee my wife, and got my calling to ministry at Summer Camp at Slumber Falls Texas.
I would not be a minister today, if I had not gone to Slumber Falls Camp.
51 percent of all pastors get their calling from God at Summer Camps.
Why?
Because that’s where Jesus is!
That’s where love is.
“Bible school and summer camp are the two experiences that inform pretty much all I do.”
“You always are changed when you come back from summer camp.”
The Pressure Cooker of the Current Era
It's no secret that pre-teens and teens today are navigating a daunting world. Their growing pains are amplified by digital storms – 24/7 connectivity that can lead to cyberbullying, social media that distorts self-image, and the peer pressure intensified through every click and scroll. But beyond the screens lies a chance for reprieve, for simplicity, and for genuine connection.
We know this: more screen time equals more depression and more anxiety!
Camp is a place where they put the phones down!
Yeah!
Slumber Falls Camp is more than just a break for the kids from the academic year; it is a haven of authenticity where kids discover their true selves, unhindered by the expectations of 'followers' or the echo chamber of 'likes'.
At Slumber Falls, I've seen firsthand the transformative power that comes from unplugging and engaging in the real-world adventures offered by camp!
The benefits overspill the boundaries of summers spent canoeing, tubing, archery, crafting, or swimming in the pool:
Resilience and Independence: Slumber Falls provides a sandbox for life, nurturing a child's ability to stand on their own and weather the torrents of life's challenges.
Social Skills: Face-to-face interaction fosters authentic communication, teamwork, and empathy – skills that are hard to cultivate on their phones.
Physical Wellbeing: Active play and exploration reignite the natural movement and physical vitality that sedentary screen life tends to dim.
Self-Discovery: Slumber Falls Camp is a journey to self. Amidst new friends and campfire stories, children develop confidence and identity outside of the home and classroom.
Deeper Faith: Slumber Falls Camp will lead the kids to discover a God who loves them and wants to be their Shepherd and guide for eternity! This relationship with Jesus is life-changing! They will also discover a non-discriminatory love for all people! The goal of all spiritual life is love.
I am so excited that thanks to the hard work of Liz, Julie, Marie, and Daisy we not only have a Grace Children’s and Grace Youth Program, but they are very active and growing and now signing up to go to camp.
Here’s where you come in….
You Promised:
Many of these kids were baptized right here at Grace.
I can think of five youth kids going this summer who were baptized at Grace and I baptized them.
How cool is that?
You promised, and we promised on the day of their baptisms to provide a Christian home where they could grow in the faith. We promised to love them, encourage them, and provide ministries for their faith journey.
Now it’s time to deliver.
Summer camp can be an amazing week of their life that will change the trajectory of the rest of their life, for the better!
Will you give a special gift to help pay for our children and kids to go to Slumber Falls Camp?
Will you give above and beyond your normal giving to plant the seeds of God’s love in our youth and children?
What’s the value of a soul committed to God and God’s kingdom?
Priceless!
So please consider making a special gift to help send a kid to camp.
I am going to be giving as well, because I don’t like to ask you to ever do what I am not personally committed to.
Let’s invest in the Kingdom.
Let’s invest in the lives of our children and youth.
Let’s send some kids to summer camp.
In Christ's Love,
Rev. John Roberts