Well sometimes reminders do not get sent out and people forget without an extra reminder, but I think you will find this belated Guest Blogger Post, well worth waiting for!
I have known Chris for well over 20 years, he holds the record for the most years on Travelling Team! and his rendition of “Every Single Cell” is awesome.
Welcome to the Rev. Christopher Belle, I’m sure you will love his thoughts on Day Camps..
But God has shown us how much he loves us-it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!- Romans 5:8
As I write this, my two young ones are finally sleeping. As much as I love being with them, I feel
like I have accomplished something when I get them to school on time, or when I get them to sleep. I always appreciate having a chance to hear myself think.Right now, I am thinking about the first time I encountered the ‘Follow the Leader’ Day Camps theme. I remember my excitement at learning about Jesus in a way that did not feel like a formal course. I was actually enjoying myself. I felt welcome. I felt as though my presence mattered, even though I was 12 years old. I was made to
see that the 5-year-olds mattered, too, and I should be just as respectful of their presence as the leaders were of mine. We were all learning, singing and laughing together. We were all in awe of the wonderful leaders, and their fascinating British accents.
We were all walking around, singing the theme song:
like I have accomplished something when I get them to school on time, or when I get them to sleep. I always appreciate having a chance to hear myself think.Right now, I am thinking about the first time I encountered the ‘Follow the Leader’ Day Camps theme. I remember my excitement at learning about Jesus in a way that did not feel like a formal course. I was actually enjoying myself. I felt welcome. I felt as though my presence mattered, even though I was 12 years old. I was made to
see that the 5-year-olds mattered, too, and I should be just as respectful of their presence as the leaders were of mine. We were all learning, singing and laughing together. We were all in awe of the wonderful leaders, and their fascinating British accents.
We were all walking around, singing the theme song:
Follow the Leader, one by one,
Come with us, we’re having fun!
Follow the Leader, two by two,
I’m with Jesus, how about you…
(Ten verses, people. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t repeat them all!)I still remember, after all these years. The songs (‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’, ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’, etc.), the games, the leader who pretended to choke Lamb, making a 5-year-old burst into tears. The love of our Lord Jesus. I left there convinced that Jesus loved me. Not because the Bible told me so, but because I felt it. I left there believing that Jesus loved me so much, He died for me, even though I never really did anything for Him. He never gave up on me, no matter how often I gave up on Him.
My son is going to learn about His love and grace. Since he is going to be a Climber(!!) this year, he will be able to read the stories himself. He will get to see what a wonderful Leader Jesus is. Hopefully, he will be still following Jesus 34 years later. Hopefully, no Lambs will be harmed in the making of my son’s spiritual journey. I am so excited. It’s no wonder I can’t sleep.