The Southern District Conference summer camps for elementary and junior high youth, organized by the SDC Youth Commission, shared the theme of “Rhythm.”
Kids’ Camp
Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, hosted 260 campers, counselors, staff, program team members and assistants representing 21 churches for the Southern District kids’ camp, June 25-28.
Ryan Lee, campus pastor at Tabor College, served as camp pastor with his wife, Amanda. The key verses were Prov. 3:5-7, with messages focusing on finding in Christ a rhythm of following God.
In addition to attending sessions and meeting with their counselor for discussion times, campers chose three activities among 17 options ranging from book club, science and arts and crafts to swimming, bowling and basketball. Afternoons included group games, and evenings held an all-camp activity. An annual favorite is a slip ‘n slide with water from a Hillsboro Fire Department fire truck.
Campers raised $1,202.87 for River of Life in partnership with Multiply.
“Kids Camp is such a great week,” says District Youth Minister Russ Claassen. “Our staff loves getting to know the counselors and pouring into them during counselor training and throughout the week. The campers are so fun and full of energy. They love to sing praise to God and engage with the messages during sessions. Many of them love to learn all of the memory verses and talk about the Lord with their counselors and friends.”
Claassen says, “It can be an exhausting few days for everyone, but the joy, relationships, biblical understanding and love of Jesus that comes with it is so worth the time and energy.”
Colton Olsen, Hillsboro MB Church, organized the kids’ camp band, while Cody Meyer, Ebenfeld MB Church, organized the all-camp activities. Claassen also recognized Cynthia Young, Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Kansas; Tena Loewen, Parkview MB Church, Hillsboro; Esther Richert, Ebenfeld; and Brittany Williams, Pine Acres Church, Weatherford, Oklahoma, for their contributions.
Watch the SDC Kids Camp video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIu5xjiWJKQ&t=2s
Junior High Camp
More than 350 students, counselors, staff and program team members representing 17 churches attended the Southern District junior high camp at Sky Ranch Cave Springs in Quapaw, Oklahoma, May 29-June 2.
The theme was “Rhythm,” and Steve Ensz, lead pastor of Garden Valley Church in Garden City, Kansas, served as speaker, using the acronym: Regrets, Hung up, Yes, Transform, Hang out, Maturity.
Axis Worship, a band from Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Kansas, led singing.
For the offering, students gave $1,516.71 to support River of Life Ministries through a partnership with Multiply.
“Junior High Camp was really good this summer with just a few small hiccups,” says SDC’s Claassen. “Camp director Cord Werth was forced to miss the first couple days due to illness, but he had everything planned and detailed out with such excellent communication that those on site were able to pick up and not miss a beat. Every year there are challenges, highs and lows, for different groups and individuals. This year was no different. It is fun to watch the Lord move and students engage in each circumstance.”
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
