On Sunday, July 26, I packed up my car with all the summer camp essentials: bug spray, shorts and T-shirts, two pairs of sneakers, and at least seven pairs of socks—and headed to Camp Johnsonburg in New Jersey with eight of our children and teens from Fifth Avenue.

The first evening ended around the campfire, where more than one hundred campers and counselors filled the air with silly songs, laughter, and enough energy to keep the whole lake awake. As one of the chaplains for the week, I had the privilege of introducing our theme: the stories of ordinary people in Scripture whom God called to do extraordinary things.

Throughout the week, we explored the stories of Abraham and Moses, Ruth and Esther, Samuel and Daniel. We talked about trusting God, making difficult decisions, and discovering that God can work through ordinary people of every age.

One of the things I love most about camp is that children come from all kinds of backgrounds. For some, faith has always been part of their lives. For others, this may be the first place they’ve ever heard and begun to believe that they are deeply loved by God.

Yesterday I watched a group of kids playing “King of the Mat” on the floating mat in the lake. They were laughing and pushing each other into the water when I noticed one older camper pause to make sure a younger child who had fallen in was okay before jumping back into the game. It was a small moment, but it reminded me that when children begin to understand God’s love for themselves, they often begin to share that love with others.

One of my favorite songs we’ve sung this week is Dearly Loved by Shaylee Simeone, and I’ve loved hearing the kids sing this part of the chorus:

It’s enough, always enough.
I can let my guard down here ‘cause
I am loved, dearly loved, by you, God.

What a gift it is that camp can be a place where children don’t just hear those words—they begin to believe them.

I pray that you believe them too!