Sharing the love of Christ!

“Mom, this was the best day ever!” The mother was so surprised by her daughter’s excitement that she sat there in disbelief, not knowing how to respond. Just earlier that day, the mother dropped her five-year-old daughter off for the first day of Day Camp, at Black Diamond Camp in Auburn, WA.

This past summer, the shy five-year-old girl attended camp for the very first time! She was understandably experiencing hesitation towards her new surroundings. Yet, as she was welcomed in with open arms and shown the love of Christ by summer staff, she began to open up, come out of her shell, and let her personality show.

At the end of the first day, while she was exuberantly interacting with her group, her mom arrived to pick her up. As Drew Hurst, Director of Youth Ministries, approached the mother’s vehicle, he witnessed something unexpected. “When I went over to her car, I found the woman in tears. I asked her if she was okay, and she happily said, ‘Yes, I have never seen my daughter be so happy away from home!” Drew spent intentional time with the mother, sharing with her all the exciting activities her daughter participated in. As the little girl approached her mother’s car, she said, “Can I get a Bible? I need a Bible!”

The next day, when the girl arrived at camp, she received her very own Bible! For the remainder of the week, she excitedly presented her Bible to every single person she encountered at camp. Seeing the pure joy this precious gift brought to the little girl left a lasting impact on everyone around her.

As Friday rolled around, the little girl’s mom was overwhelmed by seeing the change in her daughter. While talking with summer staff, she said, “Thank you for being a place where my daughter can be herself and for showing Christ through your actions of kindness.”

When children like this little girl are welcomed into safe environments and are given space to be exactly who they were created to be, barriers come crashing down, and transformation inevitably follows! What amazing opportunities Black Diamond Camp had this summer to share the love of Christ!

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16