Hi-Bounce Earth Ball

Potomac District Challenges Kids

By Terry Williams, itinerating missionary

Question: What do you get when you combine a $5 bill, five weeks of kids' camp, and 1,123 campers?

Answer: Enough monies raised to construct 17 Sunday School shelters (see picture, right), print enough curriculum for 136 years, train children's leaders in 17 different African locations, and build enough benches to seat over 1,700 African children.

Not bad for $5!

This year the Potomac District challenged every kid attending kids' camp to bring with them $5 to help missionaries Phil and Robin Malcolm build Sunday School shelters for churches in Africa. Five weeks and 1,123 campers later, the kids had raised a total of $8,639.46. With 71 of 315 churches represented, the Potomac District exceeded their goal of $7,500.

Several weeks before their arrival, each registered camper and chaperone received a newsletter in the mail, detailing the BGMC project. They were challenged to bring $5 with them to camp to help build Sunday School shelters in Togo, Africa. For every $5 donation, their name was also added into a drawing for one of two iTunes® gift cards. For every $15, they were entered in a drawing for one of two iPod® shuffles.

Each week as the campers arrived, they were invited to bring their donations to a replica of a Sunday School shelter (one-fourth the size of those built in Africa) that had been built onsite at the camp. The shelter served as a visual representation of how their money would be used.

The kids were able to sit in the shelter (see picture, right) and hear more about the project, very similar to the way kids in Africa would be hearing about Jesus. They felt the breezes that went through the structure to help keep them cool in the heat of the day and enjoyed the shade that protected them from the hot sun. During rainy days they could keep dry as they made their way into the protection of the shelter. For five weeks the shelter was a reminder to each camper of the difference they could make in the lives of children around the world.

BGMC is all about children helping children. God ministered to the kids of the Potomac District in a powerful way because kids became more aware of the needs around them and how they can impact the world for eternity. Many of the kids gave and asked that their names not be added into the drawing. They were giving out of a genuine desire to help other children in Africa. At the end of each week, the kids were still digging deep into their pockets and giving whatever they could find to help.

Kids want to make a difference in their world. BGMC challenges them to do it. All they need is the opportunity.

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