CUERO—As 48 children filed into First Baptist Church, many knew they were in for something different from their daily routines. For starters, they had dinner.
The youngsters—many of whom live in poverty—came to the church for a sports camp that would help them develop their basketball and cheerleading skills.
They smiled as they realized they also would receive a meal each night, something many of them don't experience—especially during the summers when school nutrition programs no longer operate.
Toby the Turkey, the Cuero High School Gobblers' mascot, visits the sports camp at First Baptist Church in Cuero. (Photo by John Hall)
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The Mega Sports Camp at First Baptist Church is the congregation's latest attempt to share the hope of Christ with some of the community's most vulnerable residents—impoverished children.
During the school year, the church offers Wednesday programs that include meals for children, as well as biblically based teaching and activities. Earlier this summer, the church held Vacation Bible School and intentionally reached out to these young people.
"We're trying to do an intentional outreach and ministry to the poor economic kids in the community," Pastor Glenn Robertson said. "We feel it's God-given. We believe it's God calling."
The church sought to connect with impoverished children through their interest in basketball and cheerleading. One young boy was so excited about the sports camp, he became a missionary, taking church volunteers to all his friends' apartments and getting them involved as well, said Debbie Granberry, who organized the camp.
"He knew where everyone lived," Granberry said. "He took me to their apartments. We got a whole lot of them signed up."
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The weeklong event was a mixture of athletic drills, games and Bible teaching. With 48 volunteers—including many men who were eager to help children learn about sports—to work with the 48 campers, young people received individual attention and were able to get to know each other through small groups called "huddles."
People throughout the community supported the camp. Ashlie Pritchett, a member of the church as well as a Cuero High School cheerleader, recruited the rest of the cheerleading squad to help facilitate the cheerleading portion of the event. Toby the turkey, the high mascot, made an appearance. People volunteered their time and energy.
"They all go to church. I knew they would be a good idea," Pritchett said, adding that recruiting her fellow cheerleaders was as simple as sending a text message to each of them.
Through the activities and the teaching times, volunteers were able to start and build relationships with the children. Adults had opportunities to know more about the youth and what they liked. The volunteers also had a chance to share the gospel with them. Sixteen children professed Christ as their Savior, and three teenagers asked to be baptized.
"We know the main reason we're here is to share Jesus," Robertson said.
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