Middle school kids brought a lot of energy to the LCU campus this week. Between relay races, scavenger hunts, and shaving cream fights, campers learned how to connect with God, themselves, the church, and others at Camp Champion. The campers learn these lessons through classes taught by youth ministers, through team building activities, through quiet time at prayer stations, and through the example their college-aged counselors set for them. Eighth grader Noah Yeldell loves the games and silly songs at Camp Champion. He says it gives him the opportunity to put everything out there and “goof-off” without people asking him what he’s doing. Noah is going to take with him a lot more than just the fun of Camp Champion, however. “I’m going to take home the feeling of being able to connect with God,” explained Noah. “I want to put aside everything else, and I want to set aside time to talk to him.” One of his favorite parts of camp is worshipping on the McDonald Moody steps. Noah says that is when he feels the most connected with God because it’s so peaceful. Other campers, like seventh grader Reagan Gore, also come to Camp Champion for the worship. “I came here to worship God. We are praising Him in a fun way,” exclaimed Reagan as he talked about the silly songs they sing, entertaining ways they learn about God, and the nightly worship. For Reagan, middle school is no breeze. After being picked on at school, Reagan is taking home a new sense of meaning from Camp Champion. “I will take home that we are all different in a unique way. God doesn’t make someone useless. I get told that a lot, but now I know it’s not true,” Reagan expressed. 1 Corinthians 12 was a key verse for the week. This scripture explains how we are all different parts of the same body. Likewise, the campers, each unique individuals, connect with God and the church to make-up the same body. Camp Champion started about 15 years ago in the early 1990’s when a culture shift was occurring with middle school kids facing decisions at a critically formative time that previously hadn’t happened until high school.