April 24, 2000

TOGETHER:
God blesses Texas Baptist
children & teens at camp
___One of the most difficult parts of resigning the pastorate of First Baptist Church in Arlington to come work for Texas Baptists was knowing I could no longer be the camp pastor for our children's camp.
___This June would have been my 25th camp with our boys and girls. In the morning service, I dressed up in biblical costume and gave a first-person monologue. One year, I

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

played Jesus preaching to the multitudes while standing in a boat. But the boat kept floating in a circle. It's hard to preach to children with your back to them! Finally two of the men counselors jumped into the water and held the boat still while I finished the Sermon on the Lake!
___But the all-time favorite was the year I played Goliath. At the end when I fell face forward on the platform, David's rock having found its mark, the children sat in stunned silence.
___In the evening services, I had the great opportunity to tell the gospel of Jesus and invite the children to follow him. Every year, many of them would step forward in tender faith to begin the journey with Christ. I never offered an invitation to the children without a deep sense of gladness that I had good news to share, which even children could hear, and a deep sense of responsibility to encourage but not manipulate the girls and boys.
___Across the years, I was blessed by the help of our minister to children, Helen Waldrop. She has a great love for boys and girls and a wonderful gift of evangelism. The curriculum she prepared helped them understand God's love, Christ's death and resurrection and the Holy Spirit's call. Later, she would prepare the children for baptism and church membership.
___Across the years, 30-45 children would give their lives to Christ each year. Helen, the counselors and I would meet every day to pray for the boys and girls. What a great partnership we shared.
___Our church would hold its youth and children's camps simultaneously at Riverbend Retreat Center. At youth camp, several would be saved; scores would renew their commitment. Curt Grice, minister to youth, and his volunteer staff came home exhausted, but thrilled, by the impact of this week on the lives of teenagers--and on their own lives.
___In that one week each year, God would give me priceless moments to spend with our young people and the adults who felt called to serve God in that ministry. One year, the teenagers asked me to talk to an 11th grade boy sitting alone in the bleachers. As I visited with him, he prayed to open his heart to Jesus. Joy and gladness fell on us all.
___Perhaps your church needs more counselors to help with children, youth, Royal Ambassadors or Girls in Action camps this summer. Why not volunteer? It will be an unforgettable investment of your life in the most valuable human resource any church has--its children and young people.
___This Sunday, April 30, is Camp Appreciation Day in Texas churches. There are 30 camps related to our associations in Texas. Last year, 304,405 people--a record--attended Texas Baptist camps. Eternal history was recorded, as 17,400 spiritual decisions for Christ were made at those camps. The dedicated administrators and staff who guide this work year 'round have a special ministry for God and our churches and will have a special reward in heaven. God bless all of you who love girls and boys and who give your time and energy on their behalf.
___We are loved.

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