It has been a great almost 7 weeks here in the gym! But we haven’t been sharing as much via email with parents as we have in the past. So better late than not because this is just outstanding. Yes we play hard at RSA but there is always more for those that are interested. You will always hear me say that we fall short each day but we truly strive to walk as we are called. For the last few summers, I have been humbled by what God has done with the little time I was able to give the kids during Bible Buddies.
—Karmen Barker (RSA co-owner)
The note below is from a young man who is an answer to a 3 year old Rock Solid prayer.
Kaleb’s official title is Summer Camp Ministry Intern. But we call him “Bible Dude” and he has been pouring into our camp in ways that I have always dreamed. He is fun and engaging and a servant to campers and staff.
Hey parents,
This week we are trying something new! We want to start sharing with you at the end of every camp week, what it is that we learned in God’s word and in Bible Buddies!Bible Buddies is during our midday rally (~10 minutes) where we spend time learning our Memory Bible Verse and opening up God’s word, and share scripture that illustrates our verse more clearly, where we spend time sharing the Gospel, also giving the opportunity for the campers and coaches to share how God has or is moving in their lives, and also just speaking encouragement and love to all of RSA.
With that being said, this week our Memory Bible Verse has been, Ephesians 4:2 “Always be humble, and gentle, be patient, and accept each other with love.” And it was a really impactful week!
We had coach Kaitlyn share about her medical mission trip to Zambia, where she was able to help spread the Gospel as well as help the children by providing medical supplies and also getting their cases to the right professionals so health can improve.
We also learned how to implement being humble, gentle, patient, and accepting others with love in our time at RSA and also outside of it. We made sure to look into scripture to see how Jesus did that for the people around him too.
And we see in the book of John, that Jesus does all of this by washing his disciples feet...
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”(John 13:1-17 NIV)
On Thursday we were able to show the campers the love and grace of Jesus which He gives to all of us if we believe in Him, and we simply did as Jesus calls us to (v.14). And we were able to wash the campers' feet as they came in during the morning, just as Jesus did to his disciples and friends. It was so beautiful to witness so many campers who already knew the story, or were interested in finding out for the first time, and also seeing the many smiles by the parents who watched.
It is by God’s grace and forgiveness that we are cleansed of our dirtiest parts and that our sin is forgiven, and that He loves us so much that He would do it himself and die on the cross and raise again three days later defeating death and sin, and giving us eternal life by accepting Him as Lord and Savior of our lives.
It is our goal to not miss any opportunity to talk about Jesus and His love for all of us, and how He has forgiven us and redeemed us, and how we can glorify Him as we live more like Jesus daily and walk in faith and build our relationship with him.
-- Kaleb the "Bible Dude"