Area churches reach youngsters

Hoping to beat the summertime blues, many parents search for activities to keep their children busy during the break from school. And churches are finding that summer gives them ample opportunity for ministry to families and children.

Vacation Bible schools, camps, field trips and other summer programs are in full swing throughout Southeast Missouri, and all are outreach opportunities for churches to draw in children and families.

Lynwood Baptist Church played host for a children's basketball camp during the week as an outreach effort. The camp was led by college students serving as Sports Crusaders. The students serve as summer missionaries through the Missouri Baptist Convention program and travel around the state hosting the camp. Other camps center on baseball and softball, soccer and cheerleading. .

The camp "gets community interest, and while they're here we let them know about the Lord," said church member Sherry Ford, who directed the camp.

During the sessions, the children ranging in age from first through fifth gradelearn drills and exercises that help teach them the fundamentals of the sport. Each day before the camp ends, the children play a scrimmage game. About 60 children were enrolled in the two camp sessions, with younger children in the morning and older ones in the afternoon.

Robert Tally's grandson, Nicholas, participated in the camp. Sitting on the sidelines watching, Tally said the children are attentive to their coaches.

"They're just soaking this stuff up," he said. "It's very fundamental."

But teaching them basketball is only a small portion of the camp. Liz Hoelzer, a camp counselor from St. Louis, said the children also earn points for learning memory verses and will hear Bible stories during "halftime" each day.

"The main purpose is that when we leave, we know they've at least heard the gospel," she said.

Family too

Lynwood strives to offer children's programming that helps enhance a child's life but also strengthens families, said the Rev. Dr. Derek Staples, pastor.

The church tries to create a balance between an active schedule for children's ministry and a block of time available for families. So this summer's schedule was less intense than other yearsbecause the summer was shorter for local public school students and because the church was in between hiring children's ministers.

But the goal isn't to replace the spiritual education children would receive at home or in regular Sunday school classes.

"We don't want to take away from but add to a parent's responsibility for spiritual education," he said.

Other churches are finding that ministry to children helps create more enthusiasm with church members.

People at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau are excited about a three-day vacation Bible school that begins Monday at Washington Park, said the Rev. Mike Shupert, minister of education and music.

"We're a very hands-on mission oriented church and when people hear of a need and it strikes a chord with them, then they respond," he said.

Volunteers will lead Bible studies, play games and serve food each evening at the park.

Moving the activities from the church grounds was key to the event, Shupert said. "We've found that most vacation Bible schools attract the same children and that's good but we wanted to get a cross section of the community and especially the unchurched. We want to show God's love to all people."

Shupert said the church used the motto "taking it to the streets" to encourage members to get involved. "We have to go where the kids are instead of expecting them to come to our facility."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126