By: Elliott Shin, Director of Outreach
This week we launched our summer day camp ministry. I must say, for me this has always been one of the most exciting times in our program year.
In mid June, we were blessed to welcome 16 summer interns and 2 year long interns. Over the past 3 weeks, they have partnered with our Outreach Workers to train and plan for 7 weeks of day camps in 4 of our ministry communities. Our summer staff attended numerous workshops, participated in team building exercises, spent time in personal planning and reflection, and of course enjoyed time in worship and fellowship.
This week marks the time when staff begin to have the opportunity to apply the many things learned over the course of the first 3 weeks of training. I know that our Outreach Workers and interns are excited and eager to welcome our campers! I am thankful for the obedient, talented, and service-oriented young people we have been blessed to have this summer!
Here at Toronto City Mission, providing summer day camps for the communities we serve are of paramount importance. Not only do our day camps provide a safe and healthy place for our participants to spend their summer months, but we also have the great privilege of investing deeper into the lives of the children and youth we serve. Day camps provide opportunities for children to spend their days being physically active, develop social skills, and grow their creative side through arts and crafts. Further, they deepen their spiritual lives through worship, music, and daily bible studies!
This summer, our Outreach Workers chose the camp theme of “Mastercraft.” The theme is a spin on the popular game “Minecraft.” The world can be a scary, dark and horrifying place. There are so many things going on, and so many decisions that kids are faced with. Throughout the course of the next 7 weeks, the objective of this summer’s curriculum is to give kids a solid framework of biblical truth to help them navigate through a tough and mean world.
With God as our Master Builder and Christ as our Cornerstone, kids will learn that they are never left alone to fend for themselves. With Christ, they can overcome the darkness of the world with Truth and be empowered to make choices that reflect the glory and goodness of the Master Builder, who loves us and is in the process of making everything new again!
We are excited to see what God has planned for us this summer. I ask that you keep our summer interns and Outreach Workers in prayer.