"Go to the highways and back alleys and urge people to come in so that my house will be filled." Luke 14:23"I wish that camp wasn't over. I liked it sooooo much!" "It was the best week in my life!" Its delightful picking up Muslim kids and youth after a week of Bible camp with such positive feedback.
'Sarah' went to her first Bible camp. When she arrived, she insisted that she was exempt from going to Chapel. The director called me. I had an opportunity to explain the camp's policy to her mom...that there would be no pressure to participate other than being there. She was ok with that. 'Sarah' and the others from non-Christian background came back psyched. A Somali boy said, "I'll wear this t-shirt(Gimli Bible Camp) for a week!!"
"...to Reach the Unreached with the salvation message of Jesus Christ, and to Teach the Reached about God's desire for their lives." reads the Mission Statement of one of the camps we send the kids to. That's why a local foundation sends over 1200 kids from low income families to a free week of Bible camp each summer.
Of the 'least reached' kids and youth are newcomers from Muslim, Yiziddi, Sikh or Hindu backgrounds. There really aren't any connecting points between suburban churches and these kids. It literally takes the application of the above verse "GO...to subsidized housing complexes and invite the kids to Bible camps". With this in mind I offer to work on applications and subsidy forms for 'newcomer' boys and girls and provide transportation to and from the pick-up point to the camp bus.I was collecting camp applications when an Afghan father said "I decided not to send my son to camp this year. I'll teach him how to pray at home." The Lord gave me the answer "That's exactly what they will learn at camp--how to pray!" He thought for a moment and said "I trust you Ed, I'll send Asif to camp." Another Muslim boy who went to camp was instructed by his father "When they talk about Jesus, just plug your ears!" When the bus returned at the end of the week, one of the counsellors said "He didn't do a good job of plugging his ears. He had many good questions."
It helps if staff understand other cultures and how to relate to them. On the logistics side food can become an issue. Many of the Muslim campers mention on their applications that they are 'allergic' to pork! Hindu kids on the other hand may be totally vegetarian. If the week of camp happens to be during Ramadan, some of the Muslim kids want staff to put food aside for them to eat after sunset. And then there are Muslim prayer times requirements.
For the camps we are sending the boys to many of the counselors and staff say, "We've been waiting for these kids all summer!" It's not been without challenges when the kids get homesick or make demands as a group. Sometimes the camp has had to bring a few kids back when issues could not be resolved. But overall the experience has been positive. Watch their enthusiasm in the video clip!
