This year, Faith Adventures Camp celebrated its fifth year of camp fun and faith during the week of July 23rd -27th. What started out as a leap of faith five years ago for churches in the southwestern part of the Mid-America Region, has grown into a giant leap in campers, staff, and faith experiences. The Disciples of Christ camp is located at Camp Hebron, a non-denominational church camp and retreat facility, on Lake Pomme de Terre, near Pittsburg, Missouri. One of the unique features of Faith Adventures Camp is the concept of all ages at one camp in one week.
The 2018 Faith Adventures Camp included 121 campers, with over 50 campers in each of the JYF and Chi Rho age groups. In addition, there were 51 volunteer staff and 20 churches represented from across the Mid-America Region. This year we welcomed three new congregations to Faith Adventures Camp; Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, Ozark Mountain Christian Church in Merriam Woods, and Westlake Christian Church in Laurie.
The 2018 Theme was “Beyond Belief, with an emphasis on “What if questions in the daily curriculum.” The week ended with the questions, “What If…we speak up and What If…we could change the world?” The mission project for the week collected approximately $1,250 for Camp Barnabas located near Purdy, MO. Camp Barnabas is a unique ministry providing Christian camping experiences to people with special needs and chronic illnesses. The program exists to offer life-changing experiences to campers and to the people who serve them. The money raised will be enough for a scholarship for one camper and possibly two week-long missionaries.
Rev. Jack Daniel, pastor of El Dorado Springs First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was the coordinator for Faith Adventures Camp, running all four camps in one week. That in itself is Beyond Belief. Rev Daniel said, “Our hope is that all who attended camp, Try-It (K-2nd Grade), JYF (3rd -5th), Chi Rho (6th-8th), CYF (9th-12th Grade) and the many adults involved, will grow in their faith through this camp experience. My personal saying has always been, ‘Come as you are...leave a changed person.’”
Faith Adventures Camp is a part of the Summer Ministries of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ). To view this year’s Faith Adventures Camp video (coming in the near future), or for more information about Faith Adventures Camp, visit their website at www.faithadventurescamp.com.
Thanks to Barb Walsh for this story and photos.