Despite the recent cooler temperatures we’ve been experiencing in Houston, we’re already gearing up towards one of our most greatly anticipated events of the calendar year: our 4th annual Souled Out youth summer camp! This year, our 10-17 year olds from Joy Fellowship, Fletcher and Gano Centers will be heading to Highland Creek Camp in Hitchock, Texas. There are two driving forces behind arranging a 4-day getaway experience for our youth, explains Gano’s associate director, Haley Jones. “Taking them out of the city for an extended amount of time allows us to intentionally nurture deeper relationships with the youth that we’re already building throughout the year,” she explains. “It also gives them an opportunity to experience God in a different way without the distractions found in a familiar environment.”
From July 4th through 7th, Mission Centers of Houston’s youth will be participating in ongoing times of worship, prayer and Bible study through communal as well as individual outlets. They will also be able to take advantage of a myriad of fun, team-building activities, including swimming, go-karts, riding a zip line into a lake, canoeing and target practice. “All of the kids are really excited,” noted Jones. “They basically started asking about it since the week right after we got back from camp last year!”
In order to be eligible for Souled Out summer camp attendance, each of our youth will commit to participating in a service project at their center, successfully increasing their investment in the life of their own neighborhood as well as in their camp experience. Trash pick up around the neighborhood, lawn care, yard work for senior adults in the community, cleaning during ministries and helping to unload and sort out donations are all potential outlets for their service hours.
The cost for each student to participate in this amazing, transformational, fun-filled camp experience is $250. To help cover all related expenses, including lodging, meals, material activities and transportation, commit to giving one or more of our youth a camp scholarship here: https://mch.wufoo.com/forms/camp-scholarships/. Any amount you choose to give is more than greatly appreciated — thank you in advance for your generosity!
