This past week I had the opportunity of directing the Junior II and Discovery II camps. It was an amazing week for not only the kids, but for myself as well. Church camp is such a powerful experience for not only our children, but also for our faith community. I experienced God's presence in so many ways: from spending 2 hours a day being dunked in the pool by 42 kids to watching a young man worship God with everything he has because he knows while he may be different he is embraced in God's community to children leading different elements of worship every night.

A sanctuary is more than a place of worship. A sanctuary is where
you go to center yourself and to become one with God. When I was
growing up I had two sanctuaries: one was and still is my grandparents
cabin on the lake in Anthony, Kansas; the other place was the church I
grew up in, in Springfield, MO. These are places where I felt the most
safe, loved, and felt one with God.

    This past weekend, our community of faith came together in a BIG way.  One of our own was diagnosed with Autism a few weeks back.  This child's parents wanted to do something positive and uplifting in light of this news.  They found out there would be an autism walk 9 days later in OKC.  They thought it would be nice if some people walked with them.  Ten people walking turned into fifty people walking.  In nine short days fifty people from our church community came together, rallied around this family, and raised over $2,000 in the name of this child for Autism research.

Children have this capactiy for understanding and questioning, that we as adults don't have and don't always understand. They see everything as new and exciting. Their capacity for embracing something new is one of the reasons why Children's Worship and Wonder is such an amazing experience. Through stories and a time of engagement the children's relationship with God and their understanding of God is shown. Every week the children show me something new and wonderful about our God.