Having faith in the game

Southeast Missourian

If idle hands are the devil's workshop, area children won't have time to find trouble because churches use the summer lull to keep children active and learning about God through vacation Bible schools and sports camps.

This week, Lynwood Baptist Church attracted youngsters to learn about God through a softball and baseball camp. Football and cheerleading camps are planned in August.

This week's camp was led by the Sports Crusaders, an outreach program run by college students designed to teach children about sports and the Bible. The Crusaders travel to different churches around Missouri holding sports camps.

Throughout the day, the children go through several drills on softball and baseball until they understand the basics of the sports. The camp averages about 35 children each day, with one camp in the morning for first and second graders and another in the afternoon for children in third through sixth grades.

The Crusaders use several creative drills to teach children the proper way to play baseball. They brought out a slip-n-slide on a hot Wednesday afternoon and demonstrated the correct way to slide into a base while giving the children an opportunity to cool off. The youths learn how to set up and throw the ball the correct way through relays that deal with teamwork and practice.

A consistent theme with the camp is on teamwork and togetherness. Each time someone says the "c" word -- can't -- then everyone has to stop and do 10 pushups. The children receive "big dog" points through encouraging others, helping with activities, and displaying the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gooness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The points can be exchanged for prizes at the end of the week.

The theme for the week was "Tools of the Trade." "We want the kids to know that they're not left out and that they all have different athletic and spiritual gifts," said Jodi Obrecht, one of the Crusaders.

The Crusaders' team verse is Philippians 4:13, which says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

After the children are worn out from baseball, they take a break during the seventh-inning stretch for refreshments and Bible stories. Each lesson builds on the others and on Thursday, the Crusaders share the Gospel. If the youngsters lose their focus on the Bible stories, then the Crusaders find a way to relate sports to devotion in order to get their attention again.

"I like the camp because I have fun and I get to learn more about God," said 9-year-old Adelyn Petzoldt. "The devotions are neat because they sometimes deal with baseball."

"These camps are challenging but are very rewarding in the end," said Obrecht. "We have to push the team through everything and you have to have heart for God to do this."

Sherry Ford, a Lynwood member, has been excited about the camp and the effect it has on the children. "The kids are breaking down skills and learning about Jesus and sacrifices while being social with others their own age."