We ask the kids to drop their papers She looked for it and found it, and was
into the ground. Jerry, our camp grandpa, happy to see the tree was doing well.
tells the kids that, over time, those papers Something sweet was coming from the
will decompose and actually become bitter memory she had planted.
nutrients for the tree we will be planting. When Kyle attended for the third time,
Their bitter memories, given to God in the state had recently terminated his
prayer, will help a tree to live. mother’s parental rights. After the tree was
Next, the tree is dropped into the planted, Kyle prayed aloud, “God, please
ground. Then we let the oldest kids help help me to not stop loving my mother.”
shovel dirt into the hole. With the tree
planted, we pray for God’s gracious help,
Discovering Forgiveness
and then we sing a song to the Lord. One year, one of our counselors,
Some amazing things have happened Jonathan, was verbally beaten down by a
at these tree plantings. Our first year, camper for three days. For me, the final
11-year-old Andrew, who lived in a group straw came at the archery range, when
home, spontaneously sang “Amazing
Grace.”
In 2001, Monica came to camp with
her big brother, Shawn. But in the spring
of 2002, Shawn died after being struck by
a car. When Monica came to camp that the cross, I’m going to take your punish-
summer, we were told she had shown no ment by missing my snack.”
emotion following Shawn's death. But at Tears welled up in Tyler’s eyes. Then
the tree planting, Monica cried and cried. Jonathan prayed for Tyler, who was a dif-
God used that experience to help Monica ferent boy the rest of the week.
begin her grieving process.
Heather first participated in 2000, but
A Growing Movement
wasn’t able to come again until four years Our program is one of more than 150
later. The campground we use is large, Royal Family Kids’ Camps (RFKC) reach-
and our trees are planted in various loca- ing hurting children nationally and inter-
tions, yet Heather remembered exactly nationally. This growing interdenomina-
where the 2000 tree had been planted. tional movement was started in Califor-
nia by Wayne and Diane Tesch in 1985.
Besides South Cleveland, two other
Church of God congregations—Winches-
ter (Virginia) Church of God and Family
Tyler intentionally pointed a loaded bow Worship Center (Beckley, West Vir-
at Jonathan. I was ready to send Tyler ginia)—sponsor Royal Family camps, and
home because he had stepped over an more are coming aboard. Also, Travis
uncrossable line—intentionally putting Cutshaw (travis@rfkc.org) serves RFKC,
someone in danger. Inc., as a full-time ambassador, helping
I told Jonathan what I felt we should local churches to launch their own
do, yet he came up with a Spirit-inspired camps. His wife, Kari, directs Family Wor-
plan that I couldn’t turn down. That ship Center’s camp.
evening after chapel, I met with Jonathan To learn more about Royal Family,
and Tyler. I explained there had to be visit their Web site www.rfkc.org or call
consequences for Tyler’s actions, but then 714-438-2494.
Jonathan said, “Tyler, it’s snack time. You
should have to miss it. But I’ve decided to Lance Colkmire is a curricu-
take the punishment for you. While you lum editor for Pathway Press
get a snack, I'm going to stay here hungry and ministries coordinator
and not get a snack. Just like Jesus was for South Cleveland Church
punished for our sins when He died on of God.
EVANGEL • MAR 2008 25
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