Camp Wiregrass

My Dad has been a Director at Camp Wiregrass 3rd & 4th grade for many summers.  The session has always been a High energy and Fun filled week.  But the last couple of years my brother has introduced a new level of entertainment by adding Skits to reinforce the lessons the kids learn each day.  This year he had 3 high school students travel back in time to meet the "real" apostles and see the stories first hand.   Now when I say "real" apostles  I mean.  Peter, Mr. Jeff, who appears on stage with a faulty bread.   John, Mr. Benny, who is peaceful and calm with a proper Old English accent.  Paul, my husband Eric, Who is  Uncle Si in a dress.

Day two we studied about the Story of Paul on the road to Damascus.  As the younger Good looking actors portrayed the Story.  The Older apostles added the humor.  Such as the time when Paul fell to his knees in fear at the bright light that blinded him, Uncle Si added that he was really not that afraid just a little concerned.

Day three we discussed Peter escaping with the angel.  This is Wednesday and our actors have gotten "into" their rolls.  So when the younger actors are portraying the scene older Peter decides they are not "good enough looking"  for him so he takes their place and proceeds to roll through out the audience as he escapes.  When he finally appears at the home of the believers who had been praying all night for his release, the young girl doesn't believe it is him.  But it is not a young girl, it is my brother Seth.  So the older apostles proceed to "girl" him up by adding lip stick.  This time when Peter knocks Seth busts out in full falsetto. "WHO IS IT?" and tells Peter there is no way it is him because he is still in prison because that is why the group is meeting and praying.  After this exchange Peter finally convinced her (or him in our story) and he runs off to tell the group leaving Peter outside standing at the door.

Day Four When our "older" apostle came on stage Uncle Si was speaking with John's old English accent.  Eric had gotten so caught up he couldn't remember how to talk like Uncle Si.  John (AKA Mr. Benny)  had to remind him "You know you talk like "Hey Jack".
 The Lesson today was on Paul and Silas praising the Lord in prison.  The narrator tells the younger "good looking"  apostles to sing and they politely sing "When the saints".  Uncle Si (AKA older Paul) interrupts and declares that music was not good enough and has the Narrator Blare Toby Mac to which the whole stage begins to bust a move. After the music dies down there is an Earthquake on stage and Paul tells the jailer that everyone was still in prison and the Guard is converted.

 

Mom Lesson:  Saturday when we got home from Camp I was asking the kids about their favorite parts.  All 3 boys told us every detail of the skit.  I mean EVERY Detail.  Hutch would laugh out loud as Curtis did the high knee dance like Eric to that "super cool" song.  Gage summed it up best with "It was like the real stories but very Funny"  The remembered details of the Bible stories.  They Thought is was so funny when the characters "got it wrong".
As teachers it is important to make the stories of the bible come alive for these children.  Yes I believe facts are important but how and why they did what they did can change children's lives.  The same Joy from the fruit of the Spirit that allowed Paul to Praise God in Prison is in us.  The Bible is full of unbelievable miraculous stories.  Everything is True and the reason that the apostles were able to act the way they did was Jesus.  And when we show those same Fruits of the Spirit we are also Showing Jesus in us.  The same Jesus that was in those amazing stories.
I know that Uncle Si and funny stunts are not factual but it brings a new angle to the same lesson. People are not cookie cutters, we all learn different so why teach the bible in boring colorless methods.  We need to put as much effort into teaching God's word as we do into teaching ABC and 123.  We need to have as much of a passion of our Children learning bible stories as we do about children learning in school.  We are dropping the ball if we don't make God's word Come alive for our children.  It is the bread of life and we settle for a couple of hours a week to teach our kids the most important lessons there is.  I know we are "busy" but that is the devils biggest Tool.  Overwhelm your senses until you don't have time.  We can find time for what we WANT to do.
I will step off my soap box to say I am as guilty of this as anyone.  But the Work and extra effort my Dad, Brother, Husband, and Friends put into teaching the bible at camp Wiregrass are doing powerful things in our campers life's.  The outside world may look at us like we are crazy but I have memories from Childhood from the same camp that has made me into he person I am today.  I can close my eyes during a song and see the Pavilion full of 80 Kids singing praises to God in my memory as clear as day.  Make that a priority for your children.  It doesn't have to be camp, it can be other spirit filled places BUT MAKE JESUS MORE IMPORTANT than your busy schedules.  Expose your children to life changing moments, where they realize how real the bible is.