As I reflect on the question “Why invest in King’s Camp,” I think the best way to explain it is by sharing a little of our story.

Our girls started attending King’s camp in 2010 as they each turned 9 in turn. This was a place where they could be themselves and have big summer fun—canoeing, archery, high ropes, art and camp skits. They became rooted and established in Jesus Christ, like we read about in Ephesians 3. They made good friends from new places. King’s Camp was a place where they developed a worship style that was different from our own church. It was a place where they could be safe from the pressure of friend groups…the pressure of fitting in and measuring up. They could just have good old-fashioned fun and praise Jesus in the Barn along with their friends. 

After camp, they went back into their communities—friend groups, our home church, schools and sports teams. And little by little, their priorities shifted; their choices shifted.  The friend drama didn’t magically go away, but little by little their reactions shifted. Back home in Houston they got involved in youth group, in youth worship, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school. They led their team in prayer before the game. And small ripple effects started in their circles. 

The ripple effects kept going into college where they got involved in student ministry. They still looked forward to summers and came back to King’s Camp to be counselors and directors. And little by little trajectories continued to shift. Today our oldest has graduated college and is on staff at her church. She recently married a fellow King’s Camp alum. Our middle one felt equipped enough to share Jesus with a 9-year-old in France, and our youngest is serving in Salt—her college ministry at LSU.

They are not alone in this. Many King’s Camp counselors have similar ripple effects. Many are on worship teams across the country. Some are leading bible studies with their own college ministries. Some are serving on mission trips around the world. Some are pastors and others are mentoring in the communities where they live. And many are starting families and raising the next generation of believers.

When we partner with and give to King’s Camp, we are giving to so much more than just a week of camp. We are investing in rooting and establishing our kids in Christ. We are investing in transforming kids for a lifetime. We are investing in the ripple effects that reach beyond summer camp. And we are investing in a trajectory of generational blessings.