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Keep Hope Alive by Roy Tullgren III
Nothing May Beat Summer Camp for Fun
For summer fun, nothing may beat the traditional summer camp. It is not only fun for children, but a wonderful break for parents…an enjoyable win-win summer activity.
I only went to one summer church camp as a teenager. I still remember some of the experiences of that camp, which took place the summer of 1970. I think it is pretty amazing that the camp still sticks in my mind. It’s becoming hard for me to even remember what I did last week, let alone 37 years ago! But, that’s the kind of impact summer camps make on children. I would guess that you still remember your camp experiences…the good and/or the bad ones.
The most memorable part of my camp experience was probably the ride back to Tucson from Prescott in the back of a pickup truck with my buddy, Mark. The church van was full, so Mark & I volunteered to hop in the back of the pickup. Not too wise of a choice. He and I about froze with the cold wind whipping at us for several hours in our descent from the mountains. Today you’d never even consider driving children in the back of a pickup truck for a church activity. Times have changed.
And although times have changed… the fun of summer camp remains.
Every summer, Gospel Rescue Mission takes about 70 “inner city” children to a camp at Mt. Lemmon. Thanks to donations from our supporters, the camp is FREE for each child. We also provide the transportation to and from camp, as most families do not even have vehicles… and NO… we don’t use the back of pickup trucks to transport.
The children Gospel Rescue Mission invites to camp are those who have experienced a great deal of pain, rejection, and disappointment in life. They are at risk children living below the poverty line. Often, they are living with grandparents or other relatives because their parents are incarcerated or not a part of their life due to drug use. They are children with older siblings who are gang members. They are children who have witnessed crime, abuse, drugs, and violence.
They are children who desperately need not just a fun getaway camp, but a Gospel Rescue Mission camp experience.
Our four-day camp is not just about fun, crafts, and games. It’s about giving each child hope through faith in God. It’s about compassion and love. It’s about building a relationship with each camper that continues throughout the year…as we provide ongoing activities, help, and support...months after camp has ended. Needless to say, the goals of our camp are much different than the one I attended.
The Mission camp becomes a life changing experience. Last year 40 of the 70 children accepted Christ as Savior and Lord! Many of these children continue to attend our Mission’s weekly Kid’s Club meeting and are growing in their faith.
If you’d like to partner with Gospel Rescue Mission to send disadvantaged children to camp, please send a donation, so noted, to 326 W. 28th Street, Tucson, 85713. The cost is $75 total per camper. Your camp gift of any amount will become a life changing gift for a needy child.
Roy E. Tullgren III serves as Director for Gospel Rescue Mission. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference by calling: 740-1501.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™