Learn more about the ministry of Camp Hope and what happened last week as well over 200 volunteers and 150 children came together to play, worship, and learn. Rev. Jody Ray and Encounter worship leader Nic Slade came out to camp to talk to the Camp’s founder and President, Rev. Diane Parrish, on how the camp began and its impactful ministry to children of men and women who are serving time in the Georgia State Prison system. While there, they also interviewed a camper who has grown up in the ministries of Camp Hope since its inception in 1999. This camper is now a counselor. You need to hear what all they have to say!
Save the Date! There will be a Commissioning Service at the 11:00 traditional service in the Sanctuary at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 29th for all those attending Camp Hope. After the 11:00 service, we invite you to attend a cookout at the Pavilion (located on the fields behind the church, next to the gym) for fun and fellowship. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet the counselors and to learn of the campers that will be in your cabin.
Your families are invited as well. Please RSVP with how many people to expect by e-mailing Cris Hunt at cris.hunt@kidz2leaders.org or by calling the Camp Hope office at 770-977-7751.
Our own Diane Parrish has been announced a winner of this year’s 11Alive Community Service Award. Each year, 11Alive honors 11 outstanding local volunteers who have demonstrated selfless devotion for the betterment of the community. 11Alive News Anchors Brenda Wood and Ted Hall host the live, prime time telecast. Proceeds from the event go to charity.
Diane was selected for her involvement with Camp Hope, part of kidz2leaders, inc., which she started in 1999 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. Camp Hope is for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade children whose parents are incarcerated in the state of Georgia. The purpose of Camp Hope is to help each child learn that they are precious in God’s eyes and to provide a positive, fun-filled week away from the worries of their world.
Teens from Mt. Bethel UMC and surrounding churches spend one week every summer in a one-to-one counselor/camper relationship with these children. Adults serve as cabin “moms” and “dads” as well as in director positions to help in all camp activities. The goal is to provide plenty of food, songs and FUN - but most of all, to help those campers understand that no matter what their circumstances are, no matter what paths others in their lives have taken, that they are precious children of God with a special future of their own — that there is HOPE!!
Mark Your Calenders! Camp Hope® will be July 12-18, 2008 at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, GA (new location for 2008!!!). Applications and Training Dates are posted online at the Camp Hope ® website. We hope to see you at camp!
Announcing the 4th Annual Camp Hope® Golf Tournament on Monday, April 28, 2008 at the Woodmont Golf and Country Club in North Atlanta. Registration and more information available soon at www.kidz2leaders.org.
Looking for more ways to impact our campers? We are in need of teens, college students and adults interested in participating in our mentor program. We ask that all potential mentors go through training. If you are interested, or would like more information about mentoring a camper, please contact Cris at the Camp Hope® office at 770-977-7751 or by e-mail at cris.hunt@kidz2leaders.org.
On Saturday, December 15th, Mt. Bethel hosted over 300 for the annual hope4christmas® party. For the first time this year, campers’ parents were invited to attend so they had the opportunity to meet the staff and counselors of Camp Hope®. It was a wonderful time of fellowship for the campers and counselors – it brought such joy to see them reunite with hugs and high-fives. The party included a delicious pancake breakfast that was later topped off with sugar cookies for the campers to decorate! Each table was festively decorated by the 5th grade classes of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy.
Everyone had a great time writing Christmas cards that would be sent to soldiers in Iraq and singing Christmas carols. Rev. Diane Parrish led the group in the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” She invited campers and adults to come on stage to sing. The party concluded with campers receiving a Christmas present, a devotional book written by the 5th graders of MBCA, and a CD with pictures from Camp Hope® 2007. Each of the camper’s families received a Kroger gift certificate to help provide for their Christmas dinner. With all of this warm weather recently, Camp Hope® definitely got the Christmas season started!
Just like we did for the recent 
We have a ton of camps and trips scheduled for this summer, so we thought it would be useful to put them all in one place for you. Here you go!
