Attendance was up this year at the Southern District kids’ camp for third, fourth and fifth graders held June 24-27 at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. The total attendance of 316 was about 70 more than last year, according to District Youth Minister Russ Claassen. Twenty-five churches were represented.
“Kids’ camp was a great way to cap off our three summer camps following incredible weeks at junior high camp and ASCENT,” Claassen says. “Kids’ camp 2025 was bursting at the seams. The chapel was full, energy was high, and we loved seeing the campers sing and shout praises to God.”
The kids’ camp worship band led campers in singing.
Joe Weaver, worship pastor at Cross Timbers Church in Edmond, Okla., was speaker on the theme “Anchored.”
“This year, the kids learned that God created them on purpose and for a purpose as his masterpiece, his most treasured creation,” Weaver says. “Without God, we are hopelessly lost. Jesus came to rescue us by dying on the cross for our sins. He invites us to join him in the friendship and fellowship he created us for, but the choice is ours to make.”
Campers gave more than $1,000 to an offering project supporting Kyla Isaac, from Parkview MB Church, Hillsboro, in her exploration of long-term missions with Multiply.
“This fall, Kyla will be serving alongside long-term missionaries and the local churches in Germany, Austria and France as she discerns the next steps to long-term ministry,” Claassen says. “This includes outreach to immigrant and refugee groups in a variety of capacities.”
Campers chose from a variety of daily activities and participated in evening all-camp activities.
“Camp provides such a fun and interactive atmosphere for kids to encounter the love of Jesus in a way they don’t always get to,” Claassen says. “We are grateful to provide a week of support and encouragement to the campers and the wonderful churches and families that surround these kids all year long. Kids Camp is a special place. The counselors love Jesus and want to share that with the campers. The time, energy and service they pour into camp is a reflection of their huge hearts for their Savior. I love to watch how God brings together the planning team, band, speaker, medical staff and everyone else in order to produce such a beautiful camp experience for so many.”
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 two Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals awards in 2022 and 2025. 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.
