When working in Kids Ministry, we get the pleasure of hanging out with and ministering to kids in some of the most fun settings. We get to take them to camp, play games with them, and teach interactive lessons that are active and exciting. It’s easy to focus on all of the fun kids are having and not take time to remember that kids go through hard times just like adults do and are often hurting in the midst of all of the fun activities.
At CentriKid Camps, we make it a point to seek out those kids who we know are hurting. We ask Group Leaders to fill out special attention cards to notify us of any mobility, dietary, or emotional needs. We don’t just use these special attention cards to notify our staffers of who in their groups will require a little extra attention. Instead, we take these cards on the first night of the week and assign a staffer, who can relate to the camper’s needs, to pour into them throughout the whole week. We then take time to pray over each need.
It’s been so awesome to see how God has taken circumstances that have happened in our staffers’ lives, such as divorce, moving to a new town, and parents passing away to impact campers who are dealing with the exact same circumstance. As you do ministry each day, always remember that your story matters. Don’t be ashamed to tell about the circumstances in your life that God has brought you through because you never know who is dealing with the exact same thing. Seek out the children you work with and make sure that you strive to know them beyond the fun and games. Ask God today to lay a few specific children on your heart that you can invest in, love on, and let them know that they are not alone.