By John Smith
Recently Sports Friends Kenya partnered with a church in coastal Kenya to hold a camp at their facility. We like to partner with churches that have ongoing church-centered sports ministries running in their church already. Our goal is to help the church see how they can impact kids with the Gospel from their church, other churches, and from the community and how this idea of “camping” ministry is something they can do right in their own backyard. At this particular camp Sports Friends helped provide some of the food and some of the facilitators, while the church provided the venue, accommodation, cooks, firewood, chaperones, and other facilitators.
We had about 70 young people ages 16-20 at this camp, including 40 boys and 30 girls. Some participants came from the community, but overall we had 5 different Kenyan tribes 6 other churches also represented! Some of the campers were already believers in Christ while others were not.
The campers were divided into five different groups and enjoyed playing different kinds of games. In addition they also learned about first aid, career development, and different spiritual lessons such as living in peace with one another and Christian family. During just those few days three campers put their faith in Christ!
I was really touched by what one camper said: “There are many challenges that make youth give up in life as far as goal setting is concerned. We have tried to look for friendly mentors like you do but in vain; most of the elderly guys are criticizing us. Your approach of teaching is different from the other camps we have attended before.” This is why we’re here!
Sadly, the camp had to end early as bad fighting broke out nearby between two of the different tribes that live in the area. Villages were burned and over 50 people were killed. Since some of the campers were from the two tribes that were fighting with each other and since the fighting was so close, the leaders thought it was best to end early and help the campers get back to their homes. Thankfully, none of the campers were affected by these attacks, but we did learn later that one of their family members had been injured.
Please pray that the Lord will use this church-based camping ministry to bring youth together from different tribes and beliefs and that it will be a great opportunity to share the Gospel of peace with them. Please also pray that the people of coastal Kenya will put their faith in the true God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Pray that these bitter feuds that go on between tribes will end as people put their trust in Christ and learn to forgive one another, because we know we serve the God of unity and of peace.