Last Updated on February 19, 2022
Ja Cook, the campus pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, posted a blog entry about the problem with Christian summer camps.
In that piece, titled, “When I Don’t Care for Christian Camps,” he explains that there are three negatives that can happen when kids are sent into the “protective” environment of a Christian camp.
One of his points is this:
“It takes all of the Christ-following kids out of the place that needs them most…a camp filled with kids who do not know Jesus.”
It should go without saying that there are plenty of Christian kids who don’t go to Christian camp, so it’s a bit of a stretch to say that Christian camps take all young Christ-followers out of the equation.
Still, I think the overall point is reasonable: even if those kids aren’t actively preaching to the kids around them, there are still opportunities there where those conversations could happen between other activities.
This is part of my objection — but only part of it — to churches that try to pressure parents into having their kids participate in their “fall festivals” rather than Halloween.
As Cook points out, “kids who are passionately in love with God are the greatest instruments” for reaching unsaved peers. Christians ought to at least consider looking for ways to encourage that kind of interaction.
@AislÃngeKelloggdeGómez AislÃnge, it appears to be working, except that when you click on a button, it doesn’t give you the arrow symbol to let you know that the vote was actually recorded. But when you click on one of the buttons, then click refresh, the totals ARE updated.
I’m still checking into why it’s responding that way, but at least the votes are getting counted. Would you try clicking on one and then refresh your page just to make sure that it’s updating there, too?
@AislÃngeKelloggdeGómez Wow…thanks, AislÃnge, that’s very kind and quite humbling. I wish I could honestly tell you that I’m never guilty of lip service myself, but I am. I’m trying to make a bigger effort than I ever thought about making before, but I certainly have my failures there.
You’ve reminded me of the importance to continue striving in that regard and I appreciate that.
@AislÃngeKelloggdeGómez Hmm…checking into that…thanks for letting me know…it wasn’t working for me this morning, either.
For some reason, by the way, I’m having trouble with the “I FEEL” thing working. I’m not sure what changed. Thanks!
Patrick,
Not only are you opening my eyes to Christianity in general and the open, caring, truly spiritual person that you are, but you are opening my eyes to others like you. I’m used to the Christians who want to keep their kids separate, who consider everything to be their way or no way, to people who are religious rather than spiritual and only paying lip service to something they seem to not really understand, or maybe not really feel in their hearts, rather than their minds. For this, I thank you. I just wish more were like you and your friends.