Lantern and Compass Project

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Learning to Live Brave

This summer’s Kids Camp was one to remember! With a savannah theme, our days were filled with adventure, laughter, and powerful moments with God.

Lions, hyenas, sunsets, and safari fun set the stage for our camp theme: “Live Brave”, inspired by our verse from Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

“I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Throughout the week, the kids learned about the Lion’s True Identity—a reminder that just like a lion grows into its roar, each child can discover their true identity in Christ. We talked about what it means to live with courage, not because of our own strength, but because God promises to be with us no matter where life takes us.

One of the most powerful testimonies came from a grandparent of a camper. She shared:

” I just wanted to pass on some very positive feedback… my beautiful 11-year-old granddaughter just called me almost in tears telling me how God spoke to her today during the quiet time when she asked God a question. She asked God to help her with her fear of the dark and she very clearly heard Him speak back to her… ‘I will, My Child.’”

Moments like this 11-year-old remind us why camp matters so much. God is faithful to meet kids right where they are—whether in the fun of a game, the laughter of a meal shared, or the stillness of a prayer time.

Throughout the week, our staff served with remarkable unity, all centered on one mission: helping children take their next step with Jesus—whether making a first-time decision to follow Him or publicly declaring their faith through water baptism. From chaperones to kitchen crew, recreation leaders to the prayer team, every person gave their best with joy, building an environment where kids felt safe, deeply loved, and open to hearing God’s voice.

As we wrapped up the week, it was clear: courage had taken root. Kids left camp not just with memories of games and songs, but with the confidence that they are never alone. God is with them. Always.

This summer, we celebrated more than a theme. We celebrated a generation learning to “Live Brave” in Jesus.

🎥 Want to relive the adventure? Don’t miss our camp recap video! [Live Brave Recap]

What Would HE say?

Have you ever entered into the Holy of Holies? Have you ever stood on Holy ground and been in the very presence of God? Have you really thought about sitting next to Jesus in your most favorite place? What did the conversation with Jesus sound like as you sat and talked with Him? Did you feel the warmth of His presence as you sat there with Him, saying nothing?

I wish I could adequately share the experiences that a group of PK/MK students were having at a weekend retreat; experiences that potentially changed the direction of their faith walk with Jesus.

But that’s exactly what happened for a group of elementary students. Each chapel Jesus wanted to meet with them and spend time with each one individually. What happened looked different for each student. To give you a glimpse of the time spent with Jesus take a look at what one student wrote in their journal.

I had just finished sharing the story of Moses giving his attention to and going to see the burning bush and how God told Moses to take off his sandals because he was on Holy ground. I further shared the conversation that God had with Moses there.

As each student was led into their own Holy of Holies and the very presence of Jesus they were encouraged to share their thoughts and ask Jesus some simple questions.

The first was, “Jesus, what do you want to tell me today?”, to which one student wrote this.
Then the students were prompted to ask Jesus what they were to do with what was just shared and this was the answer.

The final question was simple, “What else do you want me to know?” Very simply said was the following response.

So went the entire weekend. Going into the Holy of Holies and spending time with God himself. The students began to realize that their time with Jesus could be more interactive and more intimate. They recognized that Jesus wants to spend quality time with them and desires to have a two way conversation. 

I know that Jesus spoke to students that weekend as evidenced by feedback, comments and testimony. Here is just one from the camp director. “We’ve gotten such good feedback about the kids time at PKMK Retreat. The kids had a blast but the best part has been hearing how they’ve talked with their parents about listening for God in prayer and endeavoring to continue the practice at home. One parent said that her son “took a leap forward in praying.”

Another testimony was from a student that shared, “Jesus told me that I am blessed and I need to share that with others”

A chaperone shared, “Jesus told me that I am loved as much as anyone else and that I need to tell the world.”

Pray that more War Rooms (Prayer rooms for students) will be established, giving our younger believers the experience they need to carry their relationship with Jesus to a whole different level of intimacy.

Superpower Unleashed

It’s a bird, it’s a plane. No, it’s superman! We’re all familiar with this superhero’s powers yet even he was vulnerable to kryptonite. The Kryptonite “pushes” out Superman’s stored energy and replaces it with poisonous radiation he cannot process! Even Superman has a weakness that renders him powerless.

Aren’t you glad that you have a power that nothing can render useless. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus and encourages them as he shares the magnitude of God’s plan and the power He gives us through Holy Spirit.

“Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”

Through Superpower Unleashed, the third in our Unleashed series, our team shared how God’s power works through ordinary people and how each person can receive the power that will help them understand, love and accomplish God’s plan for their lives.

Eric Valentine, founder and owner of Team Works, shared each week how God has empowered him through his business and how the skills and gifts that God has given him, enables him to do more than he would ever dare to ask or hope.

Each one of us have access to that power. The power that enables us to do far more than we could ever imagine through Holy Spirits power living within us as followers of Jesus Christ.

Grub with Grayson

The weeks leading up to camp are both exciting and exhausting. The team and I are making last minute preparations and making sure that we have completed everything on the task list. All knowing that it will be a week where campers have tons fun, make new friends and be exposed to Jesus in a way so that their journey with Him will begin or deepen.

That is the ultimate goal but along the way some other pretty exciting things happened, like Grub with Grayson. We had been encouraging campers to consider what superpower they had received from God. What gifts had they been given that they could use to reach others with the Good News of Jesus’s love and forgiveness.

This year I had the joy of connecting with Grayson through English Muffin pizza discussions. Yes, English Muffin Pizza! Little did I know that Grayson had discovered his joy of cooking. Over the week Grayson shared with me the recipe, brought me a sample to taste and then wanted to share his gift of cooking with the camp. The best way to maximize his exposure was through media. So, Grayson brought the toaster oven, all the ingredients and we set out to create a video where Grayson’s talent could be highlighted . Thanks to Josh, our tech guru, the final video was shared with campers, their families and friends at Friday afternoon’s celebration service.

Grayson was my inspiration for the week and I trust this will inspire you to discover your gifts and superpower or help someone else discover theirs.

Superpower Revealed

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Telekinesis? Invisibility? Shape shifting? Flight? Strength? Mind reading?

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. 11Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.”

Peter 4:10 elicits the onomatopoeia “BOOM”, or metaphoric ‘drop the mic. ‘ Yes, I learned a new word during camp. Onomatopoeia is a noun and means the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. WOW! WHAM! BOOM! SHAZAM! BAZINGA!

Throughout the week our Bible lessons highlighted Elisha, the powerful prophet. WOW! At the end of each message you could just feel the power of Holy Spirit working in the minds and hearts of the kids. BAM!

Each message was then followed up and reinforced in the War Room (Prayer room) where Pastors John and Melissa dug a little deeper and provided opportunity for the campers to receive the power that comes from God’s word and the working of Holy Spirt in their lives. BOOM!

The week brought many life changes including a number of first time salvations, rededications to follow Jesus and eight water baptisms. BAZINGA! Each powerful act was a personal win as each person made a decision to deepen their relationship with Jesus. When God is expected to show up, WHAM! He shows up in some extraordinary ways.

We can never underestimate the power of Jesus and the impact that He has on the lives of children. The same Holy Spirit that resides in an adult resides in a child. It’s our responsibility to pour into and raise up children that know and love Jesus.