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What an incredible week at Compassion Camp 2026! We welcomed 25 children (preschool through rising 6th grade) for a week of discovering how God's love calls us to care for one another and the world around us.

Each day focused on a different theme rooted in Scripture:

  • Monday: We explored neurodiversity, learning that God created each of us with unique ways of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world. Like the many parts of one body (1 Corinthians 12), every person has gifts that are valuable and needed.
  • Tuesday: We talked about diversity, equity, and inclusion, discovering that every person is loved, valued, and belongs in God's family (Galatians 3). Amanda Gorman's story reminded us that God can use each person's unique gifts to inspire others.
  • Wednesday: Through the story of the young servant girl in 2 Kings 5 and the example of Ryan Hreljac, the children learned that no one is too young to make a difference. Small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact when placed in God's hands.
  • Thursday: Paul's encouragement to Timothy (1 Timothy 4) reminded us that children can use their voices and gifts right now. We also learned about youth activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, whose passion for caring for creation has inspired people around the world.
  • Friday: We reflected on the early church in Acts 4, where believers shared generously so that everyone's needs were met. Pastor Kris led the children in a meaningful time of communion, reminding us that Christ welcomes us all into God's family.

Throughout the week, the children put compassion into action by assembling toiletry kits for the Caring Closet, demonstrating that even simple acts of service can share God's love with others.

Of course, there was plenty of fun along the way! Favorite moments included playground time, Water Day, s'mores, yoga with Elizabeth Breinich, and creative cardboard engineering projects imagining ways to make the world a better place.

A heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, staff, meal teams, and everyone who supported Compassion Camp with their prayers, time, and generosity. Together, we helped our children discover that everyone belongs, everyone has gifts to share, and God can use each of us to make a difference.

We are grateful for an amazing week of faith, friendship, learning, and fun, and we're already looking forward to Compassion Camp 2027!

Children, Youth, Families
Families