This won’t come as a great revelation to you. SUMMER IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY and with it comes the two- to three-month-long school vacation. For the children, it’s a yippee, and for some parents an oh-me. With the boys and girls being out of school, parents are desperate to find a way for their children to, using King James English, “occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13) home from work each day.
Here is what I believe to be a God idea. The yippees and oh-mes can become wow-wees for the children in your ministry. While I know that some public/private schools offer a day camp for children and denominations provide a weeklong camp, I know that there could be a lot more. The children’s long, what-am-I-going-to-do days of summer can become the launching of a mighty Kingdom force!
If there has ever been a time to train and activate Bible-believing, Bible-talking, Bible-demonstrating children, it’s today. The days of cute kids are over! These must be the days of launching boys and girls who know their God and are bold and do exploits. This launching can begin in a five-day, intense, strategically planned, fun-filled, Word-packed, high-octane Holy Spirit boot camp for elementary children and then perhaps another boot camp for middle school kids later in the summer.
Today, I saw in my spirit the word “ACTIVATE”. I saw a weeklong boot camp conducted at your church facility or home with the sole purpose of activating your church boys and girls into their mission field. (Note that this isn’t to be an evangelistic tool open to the public.)
The daily themes could be –
Monday – Activate a relationship with God. It’s a KNOW-SO salvation.
Tuesday – Activate the power of God. This comes from being baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
Wednesday – Activate the spiritual weapons. This is found in the blood, the Word, and the name of Jesus.
Thursday – Activate the spiritual strategy. This happens as we learn to recognize the inward witness.
Friday – Activate the vision and commission. This concludes with the laying on of hands and sending forth.
A suggested schedule –
8 AM – 8:30 AM Morning snack. This allows for flexibility in the child’s arrival.
8:30 AM – Noon Teaching/Training/Demonstrating
Noon – 12:30 PM Lunch (sandwiches/pizza/box lunch OR children eat the sack lunch that they brought)
12:30 PM – 3 PM Outdoor water Olympic games or inflatable activities
3 PM – 4 PM Ministry recap and videos until the children are picked up by parents
Some things to consider –
1. Age of campers – While there is the childcare aspect of a camp, this camp goes beyond that consideration. Too wide of an age span limits the intensity of the boot camp.
2. Cost – While there are expenses that will be incurred for such a venture, this isn’t a project to pad the churches’ budget. Parents will appreciate your consideration in setting a price for the boot camp that covers your expenses and a little extra for “surprises”.
3. Liability – Release forms from the legal guardian AND background checks of those working/ministering at the camp are a must.
4. Timeliness – Start NOW. With this being mid-April, you have no time to procrastinate. If you are doing ACTIVATE t-shirts and/or securing a local pool for an afternoon pool party and/or locating a bounce house/slide inflatable, there isn’t much wiggle room for making plans.
5. Eliminate challenges – If you are in a small church and this seems to be too big of a challenge, consider working together with another Holy Spirit-loving church in your community! Not enough volunteers? This is a home-mission trip that is far cheaper than driving/flying to Mexico.
I’ve given you enough to think/dream/pray about. If I can be of any help, write me at [email protected].
