Glad Tidings Hosting Campers From Arkansas, South Dakota

Glad Tidings Bible Camp north of Bloomfield has held six camps this summer. However this past week was different. Two groups - one from Arkansas and one from South Dakota -  came together to minister to local kids.  

The groups rented the camp this week as they put on Vacation Bible Schools in Crofton and Bloomfield.  There was another group that did a service project in the area.

Camp Director Eric "Gil" Kimmons,  said that one of the services of Glad Tidings is hosting rental groups.  Different churches or church groups can rent the camp to put on their own events.

This week, nearly 40 teens plus several adults attended the rental camp.  They were led by Pastors Acey Martin and Teddy Cross of Walnut Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Pastor Russ Grim of Gregory, South Dakota.

For 3 days, two of the groups loaded up each morning and headed to parks in Crofton or Bloomfield for VBS at 10 am.  They told Bible stories, did crafts, sang songs, and grilled lunch each day for all the children who participated.  The main message of the week was the creation story, ending with how each  person was individually created by God.  Pastor Cross said, "We focused on Jesus and how He wants a relationship with them."

The third group of students had committed to a service project.  This week, that meant painting in Bloomfield. 

Each afternoon, the groups headed back to camp for free time and recreation.  Thursday evening, that meant spending some time at Lake "Bob" then shooting off the bottle rockets they had made and decorated  with their teams.  After rec time was dinner, followed by the evening worship service.  Next was "Nebraska's Got Talent,"  night-time devotionals, and lights out. 

Pastor Martin commented, "It was neat to see the different groups of kids blend and bond together." Each camper got to choose where he or she wanted to serve for the week.  No one was told which task he or she had to do.  This put kids from the different  groups together on van rides and working in the communities. 

As the campers were getting ready to return home Friday morning, one might wonder; was the week a success? This was answered by a camper who was on her fourth annual trip to the camp. "This is my favorite week of the summer," she said with a huge smile.

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