(Nothing will make you feel better than 25 children waiting to see if you’re feeling okay)
Dear SpringHill Camps,
I wanted to write a letter thanking you for the four summers I spent working with your Day Camp teams. Those summers taught me about living in intentional 24/7 community and how to bring the love of Jesus to host churches, host families, and children. I believe the work you do changes communities. I am honored to have been a part of your expedition.
While working at Springhill I grew to love my traveling Jesus circus, as it was affectionately named. Then I heard about another crazy circus called the World Race. This adventure involves sharing the love of Jesus in 11 countries for 11 months. It’s basically SpringHill day camps on steroids. And guess what? I’m here! And you’ve come to every country with me. So far this includes Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Serbia, and Romania. And you’re coming with me to Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Children’s ministry is global. I’ve found it’s easiest to communicate with the kids in any community we’re living. They are the most excited about our presence, the most openly curious, not afraid to ask questions, and they don’t care that we don’t speak their language. Seriously, they sing “Funky Chicken” without asking what it means (though, to be honest, I’m not sure even I know what it means).
My favorite part of ministry in Cote d’Ivoire were the days we had scheduled children’s ministry. We decided to spend the month teaching Proverbs 3:5-6, so began each day by reviewing the verse with motions. Translators are wonderful people, and helped us as we told stories that went along with the verse. We told and acted out the stories of Daniel, David and Goliath, Jericho, and Noah.
With all the SpringHill energy in the world we played games, sang songs, and worshiped Jesus together. By the end of the month my team would walk through the village and be followed by echoes of “Crunchy Crunchy!” and “I love my Jesus!” If I have left nothing else anywhere in the world, instilling a chorus of “I love Jesus” into the hearts and minds of children is good enough for me.
Children have the capacity to change the environment of their homes. In this village filled with spiritual warfare, we have just equipped a generation of warriors who will speak the name of Christ through the streets and in their houses.
I was not able to attend the last day of children’s ministry in Cote d’Ivoire, but when it was over my teammate came into my room and said “there’s about 30 children outside waiting for you.” When I went to the porch I found 25 children who followed my team home because they insisted on making sure I was okay. I was greeted by huge smiles on tiny faces and the insistence that we sing “Crunchy Crunchy” one last time.
SpringHill has equipped me, and thousands of others, with the ability to radiate Christ in a way that is relevant to children and makes a lasting impact in a short amount of time.
Aside from children’s ministry in West Africa, I’ve had the opportunity to utilize SpringHill knowledge everywhere. From GWAPs and camp songs, to teaching “zumba” I’ve felt like a counselor all over again.
Thank you for cultivating an environment that challenged me to take on my relationship with the Lord as my own. The effects of your community and leadership are following me all around the world and impacting global communities in ways I never expected.
Always in my heart,
Melanie Govan
