I give to Star Rock Ministries.
Having worked at summer camps for over six years, I have seen the impact camp has on the lives of children and teenagers. I have been fortunate enough to work at camp and to see firsthand how campers have been influenced by the great summer staff: from counselors to kitchen workers to boat drivers and those on the maintenance staff. It is amazing to see how just two weeks at camp can change a child’s whole year – or life even! Having a safe environment for campers where they can have fun but also be exposed to the message of Christ is great and unique experience. But what makes camp an amazing, life changing experience is that campers are not only able to hear about the message of Jesus, but they see it lived out every day in the actions of the summer staff. It is a rare opportunity to hear the gospel but to also experience it and see it genuinely acted out.
As I grow older my life is changing. I am looking for full time employment and I am getting married soon. Working at summer camps has been one of the most (if not the most) fulfilling times in my life. I’ve seen the amazing work God does at camp, but I can’t stay working at summer camp forever. While I previously gave the gift of camp by working directly with campers, I now continue to do it financially.
During my college years I had almost no money. I always thought that when I graduated I would get a lucrative job and then be able to donate money to various charities and organizations. After graduating I realized my dreams were not a reality; I was unemployed for some time and I now work teaching outdoor education – which is quite rewarding but is definitely not a high paying job.
I believe that a common view held by many people my age is that once we “grow up,” we can start giving. As I have gotten older (I wouldn’t say I have completely “grown up” yet!) I am realizing that life will never be perfect, there will always be financial hardship, and that if I keep waiting for things to be “perfect,” I will be waiting for the rest of my life. Due to my position in life, I can’t give much. But what I can do is donate consistently, and my continual small donations add up to make a difference.
By giving to Star Rock Ministries, I am still impacting kids’ lives. While it is important to have quality staff members loving and caring for kids, the reality is that without finances and funds they wouldn’t be able to be there. It doesn’t matter how much I give, I know that my small contributions add up. Part of me wishes I could work at camp indefinitely – seeing God work on a daily basis while living in an amazing community that fosters growth in campers as well as staff. This isn’t a reality, but I can still be involved financially to help ensure that future campers will be able to meet Christ at camp.
I encourage anyone who has worked at camp to become involved with Star Rock Ministries. It is a very gratifying knowing that I am still involved with camp even though I am not there in person. Plus, imagine how many new campers we could send to camp if every past staff member was able to give just a small amount! As the years go on, the pool of staff members would grow and hopefully so would the amount of new campers.
I give to Star Rock Ministries. You can too!
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