We’re excited to host our Summer Camp children and families this Sunday at 11:00. The children have been working hard on the performances that they’ll be giving in our worship service, and I know that you’ll want to be there to support them. We’re also excited to host for a second year Christian rap artist Corey Hicks who’ll bring the Word of God in relevant way to our youth. After worship we’ll all gather to eat fried chicken. We’re asking that our church members bring a side dish or a desert.

Many neighborhood families came to this event last year, so I’m asking that our members make a special effort to be here this Sunday and be gracious hosts to our guests.

Summer Camp Family Day marks the end of our seven-week Grace Summer Camp, and we thank God for all the great things that have happened. Over 80 children have come through the doors at one point or another, averaging 35 each day. Lessons were taught from Scripture and on life skills, a healthy snack was provided each day, and mentoring relationships have been established between adults at Grace and children in the neighborhood. We even had faithful teenagers from our church to come and provide leadership to the children. The camp workers say that they have seen real changes on the part of the children, using conflict resolution skills and being more respectful of others. Most of all, I’m thankful that these children know that Jesus loves them and so do the people of Grace Baptist Church. For this and for the far reaching impact that we don’t even fully see yet, we thank God.

Now I’m going to do my best to list everyone who made Grace Summer Camp so special this year.

To the neighborhood children and their families who faithfully came and made it so rewarding. Thanks to moms and dads and grandparents for trusting Grace Baptist Church with your children. We love you.

Our youth volunteers: Wesley Garrett, Brandon Garrett, Byron Joseph, Meltron Hooks, Brianne Thomas, Darrian Shelby, Juan McKnight, and Jeremy.

Our church members also stepped up and provided lunch for camp workers and any children who wanted to come: Joanne Hilton, Jaqueline Thomas, Maria Valbuena, Gregg Bandy, Pauline McKay, and Shannon Dale

Our Summer Camp Workers: Kaitlin Roden, Brandon Colburn, Jenny Savely, and Aaron Ford. Plus the guys from Baptist Campus Ministry: Basil, Jay, Corey, Ashley, Kayli, and Ernell.

And, our Bywater neighbor Bonnie Morel read to the children and kept up the encouragement. She’s really one of our biggest cheerleaders in the neighborhood. Thanks, Bonnie!

I’m especially thankful for our Camp Director Jenny Guillory. Things went very smoothly this year, and she made it look so easy.

Isn’t it great that the Holy Spirit moved on so many teenagers, young adults, and older adults to come and minister to our neighborhood? I can’t help but think back to the summer of 2006 when Jenny Savely would faithfully minister to just a handful of kids, and now look at what has happened. With God all things are possible!

Now we have to give a shout out to the people who gave the money to make this year’s camp happen: Southern Baptist churches throughout America providing a grant through the New Orleans Baptist Association and our camp workers through the North American Mission Board and Baptist Campus Ministries; Northport Baptist Church of Northport, Alabama for providing Jenny Guillory’s salary; and the Hunter Foundation and the United Way whose substantial grants provided for equipment and food.

We’re also thankful for our ongoing relationship with LINCNewOrleans and Interfaith Works for their help in grant writing and financial expertise.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.