If you’ve been around me much you no doubt have heard me say
the phrase that is the title of this post, as in “we should be kingdom people
doing kingdom things.” While the kingdom of God is bigger than the local church
or even the church universal, the church is certainly a part of the kingdom. More
than a few commentators on the kingdom of God and the church these days will
observe that lots of kingdom work is happening outside of the church and without
the church’s permission!
I’m personally confident that when we are willing to stand
in the pagan world in which live, proclaim Jesus as Christ, and plant a flag
for the kingdom of God – Jesus is true to His word and “builds His church.”
That is precisely what I mean when I say “kingdom people doing kingdom things.”
One of the “kingdom outposts” I have invested in over my
adult life is Woodland Christian Camp. Woodland is a place where one can “observe
the heavens declaring the glory of God” and discover “the Law of the Lord is
perfect . . .” and end up praying that the words of our mouths and the
meditations of our hearts will be acceptable to God. (Psalm 19) There is so
much that Woodland does well. From summer camps to year-round retreat
opportunities, thousands of people can experience the blessing described in
Psalm 19. Facilities are well maintained – primarily because they belong to
God. The grass is always mowed – because the camp belongs to the Lord. The
staff – many of them Point graduates! – serve with excellence because that is
what happens when kingdom people do kingdom things. (“Excel still more” (NASB) as Paul encouraged the
Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 4:10,11.) Training for staff – full-time,
summer-staff, and volunteers – is a priority, which is more important in the
world we live in than ever. Sectarian, my way or the highway kinds of attitudes
don’t do well at this kingdom outpost!
But I’m writing this to make sure you know about two unique,
but straight from the heart of God, camp opportunities Woodland provides for a
segment of our population that too often lives under the radar of many
Christian para-church organizations and churches. I’m talking about Camp Cairn
and Camp Discovery. Let me explain.
Camp Cairn. For
the third year, Woodland will offer a weekend church camp experience for
children who have lost close family and/or friends to death. The mission for
that weekend is that Woodland is “giving hope to children and students
experiencing grief.” Woodland staff members have attended educational
opportunities to make sure we do this weekend correctly. It is led by Dr. Greg
Moffatt from Point University. For over 25 years he has specialized in working
with children. The volunteer staff consists of many professionals in this area.
It is a stunning weekend and stories that come out of Camp Cairn are truly
reflective of kingdom people doing kingdom things. Statistics form the U.S.
Census Bureau say that 1.5 million children under the age of 18 have lost an immediate
family member. These children are at greater risk for depression, suicide,
poverty, and substance abuse.
Woodland is a place where “kingdom people do kingdom things”
in order to help meet a really important need in our culture.
Camp Discovery. Camp
Discovery, which will meet for the second year this summer, is a weekend where
children between the ages of 13-22 with intellectual disabilities that prevent
them from attending a regular week of camp can experience Christian camping. Camp
Discovery provides “children with disabilities to get to go and enjoy the
traditional camp experience in a safe and fun environment.” Like Camp Cairn, this
camp is led by well-trained and respected professionals – Mandy Anderson and
Ashley Sutton. Volunteers with expertise in this area make up the staff. Again,
amazing stories of kingdom people doing kingdom things have come out of this
weekend of camp.
Woodland is a place where “kingdom people do kingdom things”
in order to help meet a really important need in our culture.
One more unique thing about both Camp Cairn and Camp
Discovery. Woodland doesn’t charge any
camper any thing to be a part of this weekend experience!
Our budget estimates that it costs about $500 per camper to
make these two weekend experiences possible. But the Woodland staff and board
believes that these two camps are important models of what it means to be Jesus
to the world. The eternal kingdom impact of Camp Cairn and Camp Discovery is,
as Paul might say, “far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us.” (Eph. 3:20)
Here’s what I’d like to ask you to do.
- Visit Woodland’s website (www.woodlandcamp.org) and learn more about these two unique weekends.
- If you know people whose lives could be blessed by these opportunities, connect them with Woodland. Both of these weekends are relatively small in terms of numbers – so if you’re interested, act now!
- Consider helping Woodland fund them with a designated gift. Ask your church to do the same!
- Pray that God would use Camp Cairn and Camp Discovery to let these campers and their families know that Woodland is a place that takes the Jesus story to heart – and want to model “kingdom people doing kingdom things.” We are planting a flag for the kingdom of God and when that happens – church breaks out!
By the way – I never ask people to do what I’m unwilling to
do. I’m checking off that to-do list above right now!
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