Every year for the last five years a group from our High School Ministries has travelled to Toronto to serve at the Seeds of Hope Day Camp, sponsored by Youth Unlimited Toronto in the Jane & Finch area. This year we had eleven students and Jake returned for his 5th time, as an adult leader this time. The students from previous years remember us and greet us with big hugs and smiles and we are excited to see how they have grown since we last saw them.
Our youth were well prepared to lead the worship and teaching times using drama and games. The theme of the camp was “Living by the Spirit” and focused on how the Holy Spirit changes us, guides us and helps us to make good decisions. After the Big Group time, the students were divided into small groups, which our youth were also expected to lead. Transition time was difficult and one particular group labelled “especially challenging” tried the patience of the leaders sorely. As I entered the classroom where this group was running riot, there was an air of utter chaos. Seeing the need for help and that the leader from Seeds Of Hope was not offering any solutions at the time, I ran and got the hand held interactive game called “BOP IT”. This game is advertised as the game you “Bop, Pull, Shout, Twist your way to victory”. After 15 minutes of getting everyone settled down and rearranging the desks in a circle, the leaders and kids were ready to play. And play they did. It was amazing to see the transformation as each of the kids, along with the Hope Leaders, settled down and took turns to participate and cheer each other on to victory.
After camp, we shared where we saw the Holy Spirit at work that day and one of the Hope youth leaders said that the she was thankful for the BOP IT game and the relief it gave their group as they were able to sit and play as a small group and get to know each other better. It was also decided then that the youth would re-jig their classrooms by moving their desks into circles which would promote the small group experience and keep everyone focused. God is always with us in the big things and in the small things. Who knew that a simple game would transform a time that started with frustration and confusion into a time of encouragement and direction?
- Alice Brink
Our youth were well prepared to lead the worship and teaching times using drama and games. The theme of the camp was “Living by the Spirit” and focused on how the Holy Spirit changes us, guides us and helps us to make good decisions. After the Big Group time, the students were divided into small groups, which our youth were also expected to lead. Transition time was difficult and one particular group labelled “especially challenging” tried the patience of the leaders sorely. As I entered the classroom where this group was running riot, there was an air of utter chaos. Seeing the need for help and that the leader from Seeds Of Hope was not offering any solutions at the time, I ran and got the hand held interactive game called “BOP IT”. This game is advertised as the game you “Bop, Pull, Shout, Twist your way to victory”. After 15 minutes of getting everyone settled down and rearranging the desks in a circle, the leaders and kids were ready to play. And play they did. It was amazing to see the transformation as each of the kids, along with the Hope Leaders, settled down and took turns to participate and cheer each other on to victory.
After camp, we shared where we saw the Holy Spirit at work that day and one of the Hope youth leaders said that the she was thankful for the BOP IT game and the relief it gave their group as they were able to sit and play as a small group and get to know each other better. It was also decided then that the youth would re-jig their classrooms by moving their desks into circles which would promote the small group experience and keep everyone focused. God is always with us in the big things and in the small things. Who knew that a simple game would transform a time that started with frustration and confusion into a time of encouragement and direction?
- Alice Brink
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