I had the privilege of being able to participate with our Reach Team on this mission trip to serve those who are more challenged, physically or cognitively, than we are. We had two goals – One, to support the Chivers family who has been running this camp nationally and internationally for 40 years and secondly to care for, pray for and minister to the needs of the campers.
I am reluctant to say we served those with disabilities after seeing the shirt our own camper, Zach from Oak Creek, was wearing that said "Don’t dis my abilities’.
I had been on several other mission trips that entailed some physical labor during the day and worship services at night, so I thought this would be a breeze as a 3-day camp. But when they checked us in and passed out the nitrile gloves my heart skipped a beat as I wondered what I may have gotten myself into. Fortunately, there weren’t any instances when the gloves were needed but I’m sure God would’ve made sure I could handle it.
This weekend we spent time with groups of individuals who could sometimes be marginalized by society as outcasts or treated as though they may belong on 'the island of misfit people'. But our God is a perfect God and He makes perfect people. Some of those people just face more challenges than we do in their daily lives. But as Christians we believe that everyone, no matter their challenges, deserves the right to know Jesus and go to heaven.
Our ‘guests’ were among the most loving people I have been around, with unbridled joy and childlike faith. In Matthew, 8 verse 1-5 Jesus asks “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (verse 1). In response, Jesus called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’. I believe we could learn a lot from our guests.
A moment I will never forget was during an altar call. As a former Catholic, this was a very foreign concept to me at first. I am praying to God before the altar and another individual lays their hands on my shoulders and actually prays for me too. I eventually grew to appreciate this when I felt the comforting hands of Pastor Jerry or Pastor Jon on my shoulders.
Following a Friday night altar call I turned to see whose hand was on my shoulder and was surprised to see the familiar smiling face of a guest from our church, Zach. One of the very people we were responsible for serving THEIR needs and praying for THEM… was praying for ME and serving MY needs. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.
Just one of the many reasons that make Special Touch Camp so special. You really do get more than you give!
I made it through without tears until the very end. God bless the rest of the camps in 2022. God willing, I look forward to seeing everyone again next year. ~Marc
