Wild Wonder

What a wildly wonderful world, God!

You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,

made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.

-Psalm 104:24 (The Message Version)

The view from my desk this week has been one of hubbub and flurry as we race to get the final details in place for Camp Wild Wonder next week at Highland Hills. Water bottles and schedules, and all kinds of supplies have wandered in and filled our office as we prepare to host 14 children in this outdoor scripture-based camp. 

What excites me about this camp is how it uses the gifts of Highland Hills, our grounds, to connect the good news of the gospel to our children in a way they will be able to understand. They'll spend the days outside hearing stories, doing experiments, exploring and hopefully getting to experience what the theme scripture describes as the “wildly wonderful world” that God created. The kids will be getting a little dirty, but I know they will have fun. 

The most precious aspect of this camp is that our kids are excited enough that many of them are bringing friends to camp! The children lead us in their example. This is how we as a church grow, by inviting those in our lives to join the things that we love to do already. 

This ministry to our children would not be possible without the sixteen different adults who are making this camp run. From providing snacks to conducting DNA experiments, every volunteer’s presence this week makes such a difference. 

So as a wider church, my ask for you all is to keep this camp in your prayers this week. My prayer is that this is a joyful and faith-filled experience for everyone who is a part of the camp: the children attending, the volunteers leading, and even the parents who will drop them off and pick them up. My hope is that the wondrous love of Christ will permeate all that happens here next week. I am praying not that it will be perfectly smooth, but that everyone will experience the wonder of God next week whether it be in laughter, in being among the trees, or in hearing the scriptures with new ears.  Will you join me in praying for those in some way connected to this camp? These weeks are the things our children build their faith upon: the small moments where we show them that they matter to God and show them the love of Jesus. I am sure by next Thursday there will be much to report back on, but in the meantime: may we be faithful in this ministry!