Vacation Bible school--tricking my kids?

[Shwebb]

I've been sending my kids to the local vacation Bible schools this summer.

For the most part, it's been a positive experience--both for them, and for me! I get a few hours of them being out of the house (except for the littlest, of course) and the kids have been having a great time. Last week was the Methodist church, and this week it's been the Baptist church. (I joined the local Nazarene church recently, but they don't have vacation Bible school, for some reason.)

Anyway--tonight when I went to pick up the kids, they were running late. They had a group come in and demonstrate martial arts stuff--breaking boards and cement blocks and such. I got there in time to witness this group being really heavy-handed and--I'm going to say it--tricking the kids into saying the sinner's prayer. My kids are ages five and four. It was a "repeat after me" thing, after he told them, "Okay, if you want to have Jesus live in your heart, raise your hands. C'mon, let's see those hands go in the air." Of course, my kids are going to do that. They're going to do whatever they're told by someone standing up there.

But I really felt that it was an underhanded, dishonest thing to do with little kids. I don't blame the church folks; these were guest speakers. But it was all I could do not to run up there and pull my kids out right in front of everyone, right then.

I should note that it wasn't just kids there--it was the whole congregation. And I have nothing against altar calls. But I do have a problem with trying to get my kids to do something they are obviously not ready for and do not understand.

I guess I needed to get that off my chest! But I'm wondering what some of y'all might think about this issue.

And with kids, what age do most kids start "getting it?" I was around eight when the story of Jesus really started sinking in.

[Mac H.]

We teach kids to say 'sorry' before they really understand the subtleties of the phrase.

We teach kids not to get into cars in strangers, before they understand what it is really about.

The guest teachers may see it is as something that it is good to get into the habit of doing .. before they really understand what it means.

It isn't really 'tricking them' into anything ... because it isn't as if the prayer is a magic spell that will have any real effect ... as you said, understanding comes later.

Wish you well,

Mac

[P.H.Delarran]

I was also about 8. And it came from my heart..I whispered my prayer, unlike the other kids madly waving their hands in the air. It was personal, and looking back, I know I was old enough for the decision I made then. Through the years, I made recommitments that were appropriate to my age and understanding.
A 4 or 5 year old would have a very limited fairy-tale-like view of the Christ story, and I'd be concerned as well to see a group hand fest like that. The teacher probably meant well, but it's kinda creepy to me, knowing how impressive a young child can be. This is probably a good time to have a very simple chat with them about your own beliefs. It also gives you a good peek into how that particular church operates, in case you were considering further attendance.

[CACTUSWENDY]

I was only five years old but knew and understood the choice I was making as far as asking Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart. No one asked me about it, no one tried to talk me into it. I said it in my heart and with no 'repeat after me'. It was very moving and something I will never forget.

When it's time...it happens. Age is not really a factor and God is God. I have never been too impressed with those that try to 'guilt' or shove their beliefs down someones' throat.

As a parent I would not be too upset by what you saw as time will filter stuff out of their thinking. I would not want to be a part of this kind of shoving....and am surprized so many adults sat by and allowed this to happen, but am sure their hearts were in the right place. (just not the methods)

Talking with your young ones will open doors for you to share your dreams and ideas with them about all your desires reguarding your faith. Enjoy the chats, one day they may not be as open. (wink)

[poetinahat]

That does sound pretty low. And kids sure don't need another excuse not to trust adults!

But I don't reckon Jesus would hold anyone to a contract signed under duress or through trickery. It's got to be done from the heart.

Do you have any notion of how seriously your kids took it? Your own response says a lot about you; I hope you haven't lost sleep over it, though. My four-year-old daughter often surprises me with her clear thinking.

And P.H. raises a very good point: whether or not the church knew that was part of the act might reveal a lot about the church itself.

I wish you and the family well in sorting out this issue. It's great that you care so much for them.

[Shwebb]

Thanks, guys. Of course I want my kids to be exposed to the salvation message as they're ready for it. But I want them to be called to God out of love, not out of fear.

I did talk to them on the way home about it. And they didn't understand what they'd done, thankfully. They were just a wee bit anxious, but I found out that it was because the guy who was doing the talking was being very "loudy," to quote my daughter. My kids don't like loud noises unless they're the ones making them! I explained that sometimes when people get excited, especially when they have good things to share, they can get a little loud, just like kids do. I expect some questions from Ethan in the next few days, and I'm ready, in case.

So far, I'm liking the Nazarene church we're going to. Given that I was raised relatively unconventionally (home churches, some really fundamental, fringe stuff at times, and some stints on some communes) it's interesting to go to a more mainstream church. My kids are loving it, and I feel like going there is already opening up the natural dialogue about God with them.

My husband says he was "tricked" into saying a salvation prayer this way when he was seven or so, and I can tell you it did have the unintended opposite effect. He did what they told him to, and then after, they told him that since he said the prayer, he had to do whatever God (and they) told him to do. Instead of getting the message of what God did for us out of love, he got the message that God was trying to trap him.

Wendy, you're right--I do cherish this openness with my kids! The questions they ask are beautiful, and I'm always surprised by my answers. Example: One night Ethan asked me why God is invisible. I said, "Well, since God is everywhere, if we could see Him, we wouldn't be able to see anything else, if we could. So that's good, right?"

When a child chooses on his own to come to God, it's a beautiful thing. I don't want forced blooms, I want them to blossom in His timing.

[scarletpeaches]

Why send your kids to a Bible school before knowing that particular church inside out? It's your duty as a parent to make sure your children spend time in an environment with which you agree. Sure, they were guests speakers but surely there was a way to find out what was going on and who was present before you left your kids there?

[callalily61]

My teenager (15-3/4) went to the teen youth group for the church across the street for awhile, but they got a little heavy-handed and wanted to quit, and I told him it was his choice. He's in the "explore everything" stage, and has announced (in no particular order, over the past year) that he's going to be Buddhist, Wicca, atheist, and agnostic. When I told him he was old enough to find his own path to God, but if he was going to be buddhist or Wicca, he was obligated to learn and study about his chosen religion, he looked appalled and dropped the idea. LOL!

We don't attend church (part of my cradle Catholic/nunnery baggage), but I run a writer's group in said church, and the pastor is, IMNSHO, one of the few pastors who "get it" about what church should be. My older son watches him (and me), and listens to a couple of the Christian rock bands I listen to, but I'm trying to show and not talk.

My younger son (11-3/4) has never set foot in a church, yet he goes to Denver & the Mile High Orchestra concerts with me, and I have a sneaking suspicion he's accepted Jesus. Little hints he's dropped.

They ask me anything, and they can read anything they need to--it's all on our shelves. I was so forced into things at their age, that I refuse to do that to them. That includes VBS.

[Shwebb]

Yeah, I'm not going to force my kids. Vacation Bible school is supposed to be a fun thing; when I was a kid, it was fun for me, too. We did crafts and listened to stories and such.

As far as checking them out in advance, I did what I thought was reasonable. I know a few of the members there, and my best friend's son attends there when he's in from college. This a very small town we lived in for years (my husband pretty much grew up here) and I can tell you that I'd have heard something about that church.

Calla, good for you for not pushing your son--what strength it takes not to push, sometimes!

I've only recently begun attending church given my own extensive, designer baggage. So far, the Nazarene church is fitting for the kids and me.

[Lyra Jean]

When I was around 8 I was attending vacation Bible School with a friend. We both "got saved" because we noticed that the "saved" kids got candy and the "unsaved" ones didn't. Well, we wanted candy. So we got "saved." We totally knew that were faking it so we get hooked up with lots of candy.

When I was around 13 I got saved for real. My friend got saved a few years before me. Although we aren't preaching on the street fanatics and stumble a lot nothing can turn us away from our beliefs.

So that's my story.

[III]

I'd urge you to consider discussing how you felt with the VBS director at the church, too. I guarantee the last thing they want is for kids and families to feel like they violated their trust or put them in an unwanted situation, so they'd probably appreciate you bringing your concerns to their attention.

As far as the age thing, we were having a similar discussion in another forum, but I really think God looks at your life as a whole - were you truly and fully His? We just respond in faith to the little amount we know, whether we're 5 or 25 or 75. The fact that you're talking to your kids about their experience and taking an active role in their spiritual development - that's what'll make the impact on them, much more than the loud-block-breaking-karate-guy-altar-call guy. ;) A godly mother is the greatest blessing a kid can have imho.

[callalily61]

I've only recently begun attending church given my own extensive, designer baggage.

:roll: That's great! Can I steal it? Please?

[Shwebb]

When I was around 8 I was attending vacation Bible School with a friend. We both "got saved" because we noticed that the "saved" kids got candy and the "unsaved" ones didn't. Well, we wanted candy. So we got "saved." We totally knew that were faking it so we get hooked up with lots of candy.

When I was around 13 I got saved for real. My friend got saved a few years before me. Although we aren't preaching on the street fanatics and stumble a lot nothing can turn us away from our beliefs.

So that's my story.As long as you stay well away from following the donkeys chasing that rainbow, Charlie. Shunnnnnn-na!

I'd urge you to consider discussing how you felt with the VBS director at the church, too. I guarantee the last thing they want is for kids and families to feel like they violated their trust or put them in an unwanted situation, so they'd probably appreciate you bringing your concerns to their attention.

As far as the age thing, we were having a similar discussion in another forum, but I really think God looks at your life as a whole - were you truly and fully His? We just respond in faith to the little amount we know, whether we're 5 or 25 or 75. The fact that you're talking to your kids about their experience and taking an active role in their spiritual development - that's what'll make the impact on them, much more than the loud-block-breaking-karate-guy-altar-call guy. ;) A godly mother is the greatest blessing a kid can have imho. Good points, all, Jay. I think that's a great idea. And you're right about responding in what we know, which is why I got baptized more than once. Three times, actually. Some of it was a doctrinal issue (about what gets said over one whilst they get dunked) but when I was sixteen, it was about knowing what I was doing. Or felt that way at the time! Now. Let's go see if I can hunt up a godly mother for my kids. ;)

:roll: That's great! Can I steal it? Please?Glad you like it. It ain't stealing if I give it to you! :)

[Pat~]

Hi Shwebb, I sent my kids to VBS, too, and fortunately never met up with that kind of heavy-handed experience. I can understand your reaction; I'd have felt that way, too. I think that something like that can be actually very detrimental to a person--they may grow up thinking they'd made a decision, when in actuality all they made was a pass at some candy (as another poster mentioned).

I'm very much against pressuring people into decisions. I was once on a missionary trip and was talking with a family in a mountain village about Christ via a translator. They were interested in conversing, but not interested in making a decision. The translator wanted to press for a decision towards the end of the conversation, and I had to tell him I wasn't comfortable with that. Conversion has to originate within the heart, or what's the point?

[callalily61]

Forget water baptism. My Baptism in the Spirit experience made me want to slit my wrists. No, I'm not exaggerating. Serious designer baggage. Well-intentioned but misguided person trying to help desperate, confused person. Yeah, that kind of traffic accident.

[Roger J Carlson]

Why send your kids to a Bible school before knowing that particular church inside out? It's your duty as a parent to make sure your children spend time in an environment with which you agree. Sure, they were guests speakers but surely there was a way to find out what was going on and who was present before you left your kids there?Most Vacation Bible Schools are fairly generic. Different denominations will even use the same curriculum which they buy from Christian publishers. The Directors of Children's Ministries from most of the churches in our area get together to make sure they aren't all using the same one. But it's not uncommon to see a Methodist church use the same curriculum that the Baptist church used the year before.

Mostly, they stick with the basics: sing songs, have crafts, play games, tell Bible stories...that sort of thing, and yes, the plan of salvation is usually given. I will say that this mass-salvation thing is a little odd, but not so different from the alter calls that were common 30-40 years ago.

[windyrdg]

I have my own reservations about this "Salvation Prayer." I've never seen anywhere in the Bible where Jesus tell his disciples to tell everyone to accept him as their personal Lord and Savior. If I'm not mistaken, I believe the apostles were told to go forth and BAPTIZE all nations. It's my understanding that this Salvation affirmation was developed as an expediency for tent meetings.

I know I'm treading on beliefs systems, which is like dancing on quicksand. That said, I believe that aperson can be saved without actual water baptism under some circumstances.

[III]

I agree. Water baptism is just symbolic of a decision you've made in your heart. It's meant as a declaration to the world that you're dying to yourself and living for Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 (New International Version)
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[Aesposito]

I've been sending my kids to the local vacation Bible schools this summer.

For the most part, it's been a positive experience--both for them, and for me! I get a few hours of them being out of the house (except for the littlest, of course) and the kids have been having a great time. Last week was the Methodist church, and this week it's been the Baptist church. (I joined the local Nazarene church recently, but they don't have vacation Bible school, for some reason.)

I may get smacked here, but if you are sending your kids to random samplings of VBS, they are going to get exposed to random samplings of religion. A simple phone call or a little research beforehand could solve a lot of problems before they happen.

Audrey

[Sheryl Nantus]

Hi Shwebb, I sent my kids to VBS, too, and fortunately never met up with that kind of heavy-handed experience. I can understand your reaction; I'd have felt that way, too. I think that something like that can be actually very detrimental to a person--they may grow up thinking they'd made a decision, when in actuality all they made was a pass at some candy (as another poster mentioned).

I'm very much against pressuring people into decisions. I was once on a missionary trip and was talking with a family in a mountain village about Christ via a translator. They were interested in conversing, but not interested in making a decision. The translator wanted to press for a decision towards the end of the conversation, and I had to tell him I wasn't comfortable with that. Conversion has to originate within the heart, or what's the point?

I've seen that, unfortunately - it becomes more of a "notches in your belt" type of conversions where you have church members racing to get a "high score" to prove how faithful they are to the church.

Even if you had pushed and they had professed their faith and converted, odds are that as soon as you were out of sight, it'd be out of their mind.

If we've learnt nothing over the centuries, it's that you can't *force* anyone to change their faith. You can't bribe them or trick them or harass them - they must want to take that step on their own. Otherwise it just becomes an exercise in futility.

jmo, of course.

[Shwebb]

You're not going to get smacked by anyone I know. I hope not!

But I thought I did already respond to that question in an earlier post, here.

And Roger is right--when I traveled a few hours away from home, I saw the same VBS program that the Methodist church used. I don't think it was a Methodist church was using it in the other church, either.

And I certainly don't mind my kids being exposed to different ideas within Christiandom, either. I object only to people coercing my kids into doing something for which they aren't ready.

I don't know how sad this sounds--but having been raised with a charismatic background, it's one type of church I won't send my kids to alone. Even if the ones around here had a structured, purchased kit of a VBS program. I have nothing against believing that way (in fact, I still believe in some of what I learned, growing up, for myself) but I was exposed to much more that felt like people wanting to control others in God's name.

Even as a Protestant, I'd send my kids to the local Catholic church for VBS, if they had it. My brother, who is a Catholic, sends his kids to a few Protestant VBS's, I learned recently, as well. And enjoys a nice dinner out with his wife. And I wish I were as conscientious a parent as my brother and his wife are!

Regarding the baptism thing--I actually had someone tell me that I needed to be baptized yet again because someone said the wrong words over my head as I was dunked in the river, that last time. Somehow, I think God cares less about what someone said over me and more about the state of my heart.

The older I get, the more I realize the less (and yet more) there is. Does that make any sense?

[Lyra Jean]

You're not going to get smacked by anyone I know. I hope not!

But I thought I did already respond to that question in an earlier post, here.

And Roger is right--when I traveled a few hours away from home, I saw the same VBS program that the Methodist church used. I don't think it was a Methodist church was using it in the other church, either.

And I certainly don't mind my kids being exposed to different ideas within Christiandom, either. I object only to people coercing my kids into doing something for which they aren't ready.

I don't know how sad this sounds--but having been raised with a charismatic background, it's one type of church I won't send my kids to alone. Even if the ones around here had a structured, purchased kit of a VBS program. I have nothing against believing that way (in fact, I still believe in some of what I learned, growing up, for myself) but I was exposed to much more that felt like people wanting to control others in God's name.

Even as a Protestant, I'd send my kids to the local Catholic church for VBS, if they had it. My brother, who is a Catholic, sends his kids to a few Protestant VBS's, I learned recently, as well. And enjoys a nice dinner out with his wife. And I wish I were as conscientious a parent as my brother and his wife are!

Regarding the baptism thing--I actually had someone tell me that I needed to be baptized yet again because someone said the wrong words over my head as I was dunked in the river, that last time. Somehow, I think God cares less about what someone said over me and more about the state of my heart.

The older I get, the more I realize the less (and yet more) there is. Does that make any sense?

I attended a church that told me I had to get saved again just in case I did it wrong the first time. I told them, isn't that kinda like doubting God's work in my life. I never went back to that church again. It was a scary place.

[Gehanna]

Shwebb said:
The older I get, the more I realize the less (and yet more) there is. Does that make any sense?

Yes. :)

Sincerely,
Gehanna

[Queen of Swords]

I just realized - I got the poor man's version of VBS!

What happened was that when I was fifteen, my parents became worried about the fact that I'd never been on my own for a long period of time. We lived in the Middle East, so we didn't have summer camp or anything like that, and I was a pretty sheltered little girl. So they sent me off to stay with a good friend of theirs and his family for a week.

Now the good friend was a born-again pastor, a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen, and I was a Catholic. He used the week to evangelize to me about how Catholics were going to burn in hell, illustrating this Good News with Jack Chick pamphlets. I repented and converted. My parents didn't really mind, because they felt that anyone who's very devout in his or her faith is a good person and worthy of respect. I know by experience, however, that this is not the case.

[Shwebb]

That's so sad for me to hear your story, Q of S.

I remember the Chick tracts. You can read a bunch of them online, at their site. (http://www.chick.com/default.asp)

They'd be funny, if they weren't so tragic, eh?

How do you feel your conversion in that manner affected you and your beliefs on down the road?

[HoosierCowgirl]

And with kids, what age do most kids start "getting it?" I was around eight when the story of Jesus really started sinking in.

They are all different. Our DD understood when she was about five; the boys are taking longer, which is OK. I'm so thankful that the Gospels took place in a rural area among farmers, fishermen and construction workers because it gives my kids something to relate to.

It absolutely must be their own decision and after they make the decision there has to be follow-up.

Our church chose "Avalanche Ranch" from Group Publishing this year. It seemed to resonate with a lot of churches. We saw it offered by churches all over the place, which was fun.

Ann

[Shwebb]

The kids are still talking about the fun they had at "Avalanche Ranch!"

And on the last night, after they got home, I put in VeggieTales "The Ballad of Little Joe" because of the western theme. It dove-tailed nicely. The cool thing about VeggieTales is my husband and I like watching them, too.

One other nice thing left over from the VBS weeks has been that Ethan (he's five, and he'll be starting kindergarten in a month) is wanting me to read Bible stories every night as his book choice. The book I'm reading from has short enough stories that I can continue to the next one easily if I want to, and it isn't overly prose-y, which prompts Ethan to ask questions. Eleri likes the pictures.

My own favorite book of Bible stories as a kid was Beautiful Bible Stories. I actually found a copy of it right before Ethan was born! My three favorite books as a small child were that one, a book of poetry, and a book of fairy tales. The BBS book has photos of great, classical religious paintings, and they captured my imagination so much better than any line drawings and cartoony, over-simplified illustrations common in children's books.

Oooh. I went off on a tangent, didn't I? :)

[Roger J Carlson]

This year, we did Surfin' Safari, which was kind of neat because our pastor was a real 70's surfer dude out in SanDiego. For some reason, you don't normally think of a pastor as a surfer dude. ;)

[Saint Fool]

When I was a kid, VB was summer camp for most of the children in the neighborhood. Usually, my friends and I would attend each others so during a three-four year period, the VBs included Episcopal, Methodist, Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran. What I remember were songs, crafts, Bible stories told on felt boards -- all in all fairly generic with nary a reference to the "dogma" that makes Protestant religions different from each other. I do recall being amazed one year when one church repeated the "package" that another had offered the previous year - I suppose I had this image of the Sunday School teachers planning the entire thing from scratch. (And yes, I pestered my mom for a felt board - on which I immediately played out fairy tales as enacted by Jonah, Moses and the Betsy McCall paperdolls).

[III]

Ah - felt boards and autoharps - the tools of a bygone generation. Some darn good memories, though.

[RLB]

For some reason, you don't normally think of a pastor as a surfer dude. ;)


You obviously didn't grow up in a church on the florida coast. We had a parade of "surfer dude" youth pastors. (and biology teachers. Mr. Clark. Mmmm...)

[Queen of Swords]

How do you feel your conversion in that manner affected you and your beliefs on down the road?

I was happy at first, for about a year. After that I started having doubts in the black-and-white fundamentalism that was supposed to be the one and only way out of eternal torment. I was also very interested in science, and that's one thing which doesn't go hand-in-hand with a literal interpretation of the bible. After a long period of reading the bible closely - as opposed to getting it from Jack Chick soundbites - and thinking about what I believed in, I realized that I didn't believe in any religious claims any longer.

So I'd say that the conversion was one of the catalysts to my atheism (going away to college was the other). If the pastor had left me to be a Catholic, I'd never have taken enough of an interest in religion to think deeply about it or read the bible. So while I don't recommend this kind of stealth conversion, especially with Chick tracts, it worked out OK for me in the end - though my parents probably felt otherwise. :)

[rwam]

Sorry about the bad experience, Schwebb.

The sad fact is that VBS is such a packaged commodity these days. My wife volunteers at our Methodist church every summer and they get their packets & dvds a month or so prior. Each year there's a different theme, like 'underwater adventure' or 'volcano island' or something terribly appealling and fun-sounding for kids.

I can tell you that if the church that had the sinners prayer was running under one of these programs, the people doing it were probably just following some sort of pre-defined script.

If they weren't, then I think it tells you that you probably need to be weary of that church. Any church that thinks someone can be 'saved' merely by parrotting a phrase he/she can't even comprehend is probably a church run by fools.

Regardless, I'm sure when the VBS leader made his report for the pastor & congregation, he/she happily reported that '138 kids (or however many it was) gladly accepted Christ as their personal savior as a result of our VBS'. Yes, sometimes it becomes a numbers game to justify the amount of money/volunteer hours being spent on vbs.

Uh...hopefully I didn't come across as too cynical here. I really do think VBS is a good thing, but I also know exactly what you meant by 'tricking kids'.

[Shwebb]

I can understand that, Queen. My husband got totally turned off to Christianity as a result of his early experiences. It's taken a lot of work to show my husband that Christianity is something different than the stuff that he was exposed to as a kid. His gut reaction to Christians (other than me) is "get away from me!"

In retrospect, Rwam, I don't think the Baptist church did use a pre-packaged kit. I think they put it together, themselves. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't think they did a good job. And my best friend noted that it seemed they were trying to pull in families, not just minister to the kids.

Contrasting the experience my kids had there with the Methodist church where they used a VBS package--my kids still remember the lessons they were taught at the Methodist church. One or the other of the kids will say out of the blue, "God is strong! Ya-hooooOOOOO!"

You have another good point about head counting, Rwam. My best friend also noted that some people believe that if a person says the sinners' prayer, they are saved. And once saved, always saved. So they feel like they're doing God (and the "saved" folks) a service, I guess. Ironic, because I don't think God needs our help as much as we need His!

[rwam]

Well put, Shwebb. I hope your hand surgery goes well.

[Anonymous Traveler]

Personally I would not send my children to a church camp without either having a firm understanding of what will happen or by talking to other parents. I'm Anglican and our Sunday School is low key. Bible stories with a lesson are taught but there is no attempt to obtain an commitment from the child.

My eldest grandson (8) on his first visit to our Cathedral asked if "God's body was in the box up there ?" (the alter)

Anglicans baptize (http://www.request.org.uk/main/dowhat/baptism/infant03.htm) very young and the Godparents and the congregation promise to help raise the child in Christ's way. You can be baptized only once.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. Nicine Creed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed#Traditional_Anglican)

As for being saved that is word that often abused by evangelicals. Saving, ignoring your bank account, has several meanings.

Saving as in rescue, for which I am personally grateful, and saving as in Lead us not into temptation

Children are impressionable and giving them an incorrect impression of faith could possible turn them from God. We are all called to minister. How we accomplish that is a daunting task. The rewards for success are great but the risk of failure is great also.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always.

[dclary]

"I found Jesus at a youth summer camp once. Actually, I just told everyone I found him. I was terrified that if I'd said otherwise they'd have made me stay." -- Rob Shacklett

[Roger J Carlson]

"I found Jesus at a youth summer camp once. Actually, I just told everyone I found him. I was terrified that if I'd said otherwise they'd have made me stay." -- Rob ShacklettWell, I found Jesus at summer camp many times. And I never wanted to leave. In fact, I wish I was still there today. *sigh*

[dclary]

Many of my fondest childhood memories are from Hartland Christian Camp up above Fresno in the Sierra Nevadas. But I always thought that quote from my friend was pretty funny.