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I have had the joy and honor of serving as a Summer Camp Chaplain for the past two years as part of our Savannah Presbytery team. Every session I see our first-time campers enter the gathering with a bit of fear and nervousness. I also witness the returning children’s smiles and excitement. They are thrilled to see their friends, to pick out a bunk bed and get to know their counselors. As the week continues, I see nervous children read the scripture aloud, lead evening vespers and daily prayers. They learn how to pray for their heart’s desires, often listing all their family, friends, pets, teachers –their faith in God becomes more verbal. They learn to trust the Lord because they trust their counselors. They learn to speak about God with confidence and trust because we are all speaking about God. This is the ultimate safe space to voice their fears and loves, their hopes and concerns – all in the presence of the Lord God.
My job as Chaplain is wondrous. Individual campers and counselors have asked me to pray with and for them. Counselors have asked my guidance in group Bible study and vespers. Though I look like Grandma, I am also a constant representative of the church at large. As I hear their concerns, my task within the Presbytery and congregation is made clearer.
Summer Camp, Montreat, and Triennium are not cheap events. They are well planned for physical, emotional, and mental safety. Each requires transportation, special spaces, activities and especially people with a host of qualifications. For many years Savannah Presbytery children & youth have received financial support through the Jean Breitenhirt Scholarship Fund as well as local congregation and family donations.
A Christian camp experience is one of the most important gifts to give our church families, children and youth. At Henry Memorial, we support Summer Camp with all our resources. We transport, I volunteer for the week (chaplain), and we provide scholarship funds to any family for Summer Camp. We believe this is a vital ministry not only for these families but for the generations to come.
It is a fact that the children who need the most financial assistance come from congregations with fewer resources. Your help is desperately needed to keep the Scholarship funded for years to come.
Jesus Christ is the greatest gift we can give, a fundamental part of who we are as Children of God. In this season of gift giving, planning, wrapping and shipping, the best most valuable gift is a personal introduction to Jesus Christ. Please consider adding the Jean Breitenhirt Scholarship Fund to your annual giving.
I pray for this coming year’s Summer Camp and the camps to come, for the Brietenhart Scholarship fund to be replenished and this Presbytery to remember the most important gift we can give – introducing and guiding our children to our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Rev. Cathy Belles
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