Summer Ministry at Amberlea

We have had an amazing summer at Amberlea!  We are so grateful to all that were able to be a part of it! We often think of church as Sunday mornings…. But as a people we are called to share with others, where we’ve seen God at work in our lives all the time and everywhere!  

At Amberlea, we have an incredible opportunity to do that in the summer with the children, youth and families in our community.  Due to generous donations from the people of Amberlea, we were able to hire 4 students as our summer staff who planned and led our summer programs.  We started with VBC, our first time doing a full day camp with 47 children. For 6 more weeks this summer we offered our morning drop-in program called Breakfast Club to over 50 different children.  Sprinkled in the mix was 2 weeks of Musical Theatre Camp that offered us a unique opportunity to connect with over 50 children and youth developing their performance and vocal abilities.

Each individual program presented its own unique opportunities and challenges in sharing God’s love.  We asked the summer staff and some volunteers what some of the highlights were and in particular, where they saw God this summer.  It is a blessing to read their responses.

• Seeing the kids learn. At the start of Breakfast Club, they didn’t know any of the Bible stories. The kids asked questions and were interested in knowing more. We covered a lot of stories this summer!

• The songs! The dancing and singing was the best! To watch the littlest ones sing and dance with all of their might praising God was amazing!

• The hard questions!  At Musical Theatre Camp, the kids were introduced to some new ideas and they weren’t afraid to ask some hard questions. They wanted to know more!

• Seeing kids make friends! Kids didn’t want to go home at the end of the day.  That’s a good feeling!

• Growth of the youth staff and volunteers!  It was amazing to see their desire to do good and to want to do more.

• Children of other faiths and abilities participated in the programs! I’m glad we were accessible to all children.

• The way kids talked about God!  The way children talk about God and Him in their lives is different than us.  They were more free about it. We learned by watching them.

 We give thanks for this amazing team of staff and the amazing volunteers who supported them this summer.  Pray with us for God’s blessing on their lives as they move into the school year.  Pray with us that God will nurture the seeds that were planted this summer in all of the children, youth and families we met.

“Colossians 3:23 (NIRV)

Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters. “”

Reflections of a Summer Youth Leader (guest blog by David Varga)

This is the fourth summer I’ve had the privilege of working on the Amberlea Summer Staff Team. This summer I was given the opportunity to lead the summer staff as we help to coordinate and execute the summer outreach programs including Breakfast Club, VBC, Musical Theatre and Youth events. 

We tend to underestimate the impact we can have on people and especially children and youth.

One of the amazing parts of the summer programs are the children we get to meet.  But, one of my greatest pleasures is getting to work with other young people who come and volunteer their time at any of the camps and at Breakfast Club.  We consider our summer ministry not just about ministry to children, but also to the youth in our community.  I have seen so much growth in the youth and how they explore God’s teachings!  I've also learned through this summer experience how important a good role model is for their growth.

The truth of “Monkey see, monkey do” is unbelievable, but also amazing. When the summer  staff team shows enthusiasm, then the volunteers and campers will follow, and seem to have more fun; when we’re slacking they quickly follow. When we show an excitement and hunger for Jesus, the kids WILL follow.

We have a responsibility to not be luke-warm Christians, because when we are luke-warm, others are watching and following.  How do they know that there is so much more?

 I and many others have the tendency to expect that others will do the work, so that we don’t have to, but that’s simply not true. We are called by God to spread His word, and spread His love. We all have been given a mission and that mission cannot be completed by anyone else, so it just won’t get done.

This entire summer, my personal theme has been, “how can I best show God’s love?” I’ve done this to challenge myself to think in a new perspective. Of course such a great task is difficult to follow at all times, but I want to challenge all of us as Christians to not rely on others to do the work that we are called to do.

Let’s be a role model to children and youth and other Christians. Make the impact that only you can make. This doesn’t necessarily mean going out and working at a children's summer camp; you can do God’s work wherever you are and you can make an impact. You are uniquely and specially created, and you are loved by God.

Paul wrote in a letter…

Life is a mix of struggles and victories (by Shireen Spencer)

A quote from my book says "Life is a mix of struggles and victories. It is never just one or the other but an ebb and flow of both"

It is a truth that can not be escaped by anyone.

The 2 always coexist.

We wouldn't know happiness if we never experienced sadness; strength without knowing weakness; healing without being broken...

Joy and pain..sunshine and rain...

Both are needed to produce growth.

God uses every circumstance whether positive or negative to produce fruit in our lives. As Romans 8 tells us...He works all things together for our good. Nothing ever gets wasted.

Sing in the rain. You will get wet but you will dry. Bask in the hot sun. Be careful not to burn. Appreciate both. They are both gifts.