Ireland Kroll
Ireland Kroll
Ireland Kroll
Ireland Kroll
Ireland Kroll
There is truly nothing else like summer camp evangelism. This past summer was my fifth summer serving as the director of Indian Creek Camp. Each summer is filled with long hours and challenging circumstances. Most importantly, though, each summer is filled with opportunities for our campers to meet Jesus. Jack’s story is just one example of this.
As an assistant counselor at Indian Creek Camp, Jack Wheeler had put in a full week of work during Junior Camp of 2021. After missing the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19, the children were excited to be back at camp and had brought all the energy they could muster to make the most of this week-long summer adventure. Jack found himself doing his best to encourage his campers to participate in singing, focus on the program, and stay awake for the program. One camper in particular had been a bundle of energy and enthusiasm throughout the week, and Thursday night was no different.
The theme for the summer had been the “Ultimate Promise,” based upon the life of Moses. In this particular program, Jesus met with Moses on the mountain prior to Moses’ death to tell him about the Messiah to come. The life of Christ was then depicted as a powerful silhouette play, demonstrating Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
As the play began, Jack’s camper continued to ask a multitude of questions such as, “What’s going on? Who is that? Why did that happen? Is that in the Bible?” At first, Jack was a little frustrated with the onslaught of questions, and he didn’t realize what was happening. But, at the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion, the questions started becoming more serious. “Wait, why are they hurting Jesus? Jack, did he die?” Jack, why did He die? He didn’t do anything wrong!” At this point, Jack realized that his camper was experiencing the story of Jesus for the first time. Wiping his own eyes from the emotion, Jack encouraged his camper, telling him that Jesus loved him so much that He died for him so they could be together in Heaven. As the program ended and an appeal was made, the campers were then dismissed to their cabin meetings to talk more about Jesus’ love. Later that evening, many of the campers made decisions to dedicate their lives to Jesus — many for the first time.
It is stories like this that continue to bring me back to summer camp ministry. Our campers experience new adventures, make lifelong friends, and draw closer to Jesus. This summer was no exception. Every week provided opportunities for our young people to meet Jesus. Over the summer, 170 decisions for baptism were made. There is just something incredibly powerful that happens for both our campers and our camp staff who give their summers for this incredible form of evangelism.
Stories like this happen all across our nation each summer as our young people are disconnected from their devices, and reconnected to God through nature and the ministry of our camp staff. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your financial support. Thank you for your commitment to summer camp evangelism.
Kentucky-Tennessee | October 2021
