19 Jul Allendale Update

Over the course of the summer, we have sent groups of students and families each week to help run summer camp in Allendale, where we have partnered with two of the local churches. There are three interns living there and giving direction for the entire six weeks of camp.

Dai Miller, spending her summer in Allendale, explains that there are adults supervising during student trips, but our students primarily lead camp. “We are really pushing our students and trying to equip them to lead well on their own. We see the same importance in young leadership [here] as we do with local church,” she explained, “so when we look down the road, we have given our students some more drive and direction for something bigger than just this six-week camp. If we can get them on board with what we’re doing here in Allendale, it could really move things in a new direction.”

Nearing the end of camp in Allendale, Dai rejoices in the curiosity and respect that is being cultivated in the kids attending camp. Behaviors are transforming and Dai and the other interns are able to talk to them and truly build relationships with both the kids and our church partners. “Sometimes it feels like the behavior issues outweigh everything else—so it’s been sweet to watch the Lord break down some of that.”

It’s been equally as important and helpful to have students and families invested in the work in Allendale. While families bring maturity, diversity, and experience to the camp, students bring energy and several extra hands eager to serve. Each week has been entirely different as each team brings something new to the table.

As we continue to be involved in Allendale, it’s important that we stay invested in order to have input down the road. As we build up the local student leaders to continue serving their community, we want to make sure we are equipping them to come back each year with more than they had the last. While the day-in, day-out work is equally as important, our goal is “to build up young leaders by giving them some tools to push forward, to plant that seed, and have someone else harvest it in the future,” says Dai.

Church family, please join us in praying that the Allendale community would continue to rally around the camp as the end of this summer nears. Our desire is that the local churches are involved and encouraged by the energy we have going through the camp so that they are able to propel it forward into the days when we are not present in Allendale. Continue to pray for each student or family who make their way into the community to serve, that they would stay joyful, expectant, and confident in what the Lord is doing there.

To learn more about the work we are doing in Allendale and how you could get involved, go to our website at gracechurchsc.org/allendale.