We are just a few short days away from two of my favorite summer activities at Kingsland.
Vacation Bible School is one of the most exciting weeks of the year on our campus. As in previous years, we expect to host more than 1,500 kids for a week of Bible lessons, exciting worship, really fun music, and the opportunity to change the world for kids in other parts of the world.
Every year, we remind our kids that they do not have to wait until they are all grown up to change the world — God can use them right now. We challenge our kids to bring in their nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars to fund a special project that will specifically bless kids who live in hard places.
And every year, our kids rise to the challenge. They set up popsicle and lemonade stands and do all sorts of other creative entrepreneurial initiatives to raise money to help less fortunate kids.
In the past few years they have funded a school for Zabbalen kids in Egypt, invested in construction of a dormitory in Ethiopia for Eritrean refugee kids, raised funds for medical clinics in the DR Congo, funded 6 water wells in partnership with Living Water International, funded a special needs school in Somaliland, and more.
This year we are challenging our kids to raise funds for the purchase and outfitting of a mobile dental clinic to care for children who live in remote villages on the Indonesian island of Papua — formerly Irian Jaya. This year, as in previous years, I have written a book to explain the need in Papua to our kids. My friend Elias Reyes illustrated this year’s book.
Learning to love and serve others is an indispensable part of spiritual formation. That’s why we want for our kids to grow up with an understanding of what life is like for kids in other parts of the world while giving them an opportunity to bless those children.
The other summer event that I look forward to every year is guiding our graduating seniors on a tour of the Holy Land. This trip is designed to help our students learn onsite about where our biblical worldview unfolded. Early in July, our team of 89 will board two flights and set off on an amazing learning adventure.
This year I have rewritten and updated the study guide for our trip. The info for each site includes a map and information about the Geographical Context (Where Are We), The Biblical and Historical Context (What Happened Here), and the Devotional Context (Why Does It Matter). Each participant will receive one of these guides that also provides space for personal reflections.
So, exciting days ahead at Kingsland as we continue to invest in the spiritual formation of our children and students. Expecting great things from God!
