My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are well into spring, and, unbelievably, quickly moving toward another Michigan summer. I do thank God that we live in a state with four distinct seasons, but nonetheless, am looking forward to the warm temperatures.
This summer is also a very special time of year for the Michigan District, LCMS. Why? Certainly one of the reasons is our tri-annual Michigan District Convention from June 24 through 26 on the campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor. We are grateful to have this opportunity every three years to bring the important business of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod before the delegates of our Michigan District congregations.
But as important as our convention is, perhaps even more important is our annual Acts 2 Enterprise (A2E) Sports Camps/VBS programs. While our convention deals with the important mission, emphases, and business of the church, the Sports Camps/Vacation Bible School programs make a direct difference in the lives of children who live in urban centers in our state.
Over the past several years we have held Sports Camps/VBS programs each summer. These camps are held in urban areas around Detroit. Pastor Christopher Bodley, who brought the Sports Camp/VBS program concept to the Michigan District six years ago, continues to oversee the Detroit programs along with a large group of missionary volunteers from around Michigan. Each of these camps has as many as 100, or more, children attend each summer.
Each summer we also consider camps in other urban centers in Michigan to complement the camps in Metro Detroit. Last year a camp was held in Benton Harbor, and this camp will occur again this year under the leadership of Pastor Michael Roth. We will continue to pray about and consider where other camps would help to extend the Gospel ministry.
To continue to provide these camp experiences for the children, your continued and faithful financial support is needed. Each summer our goal is to be able to provide every child who would like to attend a camp the opportunity to do so at absolutely no cost to them. Because of the generous monetary investments of many donors who love children and this Gospel outreach, 100% of the costs of each camp has been covered every single year the camps have been offered! We praise God and thank you for making this possible!
We are once again offering sponsorship opportunities to all who would like to see children participate in the weeklong camps. Each attending child will have a nutritious meal each evening, participate in a sports camp which introduces them to a variety of sports throughout the week and, most importantly, learn about Jesus through the daily VBS component.
Camps will take place in June, July, and August. The cost to sponsor one child is $55; $110 sponsors two children; $550 sponsors ten; and $1,100 sponsors twenty. Please prayerfully consider how you can help in 2018 and kindly respond soon by clicking here.
Thank you for assisting Pastor Bodley and Pastor Roth as they guide this year’s Sports Camp/VBS children toward meeting and knowing Jesus. May our dear Lord once again grant successful camps and generous donors for the sake of the children who will hear the Word of God this summer. May they know and experience His presence through those who will teach and mentor them each day of camp.
Again, thank you for your generosity and for helping to impact the lives of many children this summer, and, we pray, for eternity.
“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14 ESV). Thank you for helping to make these beautiful words ring true in the lives of many children this summer.
As Sports Camp/VBS gifts are given, if the A2E ministry is blessed to receive sponsorships that exceed the number needed to sponsor every child, any funds exceeding that need will go towards the general support of the A2E ministry.
Photo by Elisa Schulz/Michigan District, LCMS
