Family, Faith, and S'mores

Family Campout

I can’t believe that it has been almost three months since we held our first family campout, and what a weekend it was! The goal was simple: invite families and give them space to connect with each other and with Christ. We had single parents, couples with kids, children attending with church leaders—everyone was welcome.  Our group included everyone from infants to middle schoolers, with about 20-25 people total. 

The campout took place at Stony Glen Camp in Madison, Ohio. It rained quite a bit, but no one seemed to mind. We had two huge cabins, which made it more comfortable, and the kids had a blast, mud and all. There were hikes (or mud trudges, really), fishing, archery, and lots of hanging out.

One of my favorite parts was Saturday morning devotions. I shared a message from the Book of John and gave parents tools to guide their own children in prayer and discussion. As they broke off in their little family groups,it was special to see some parents engage spiritually with their kids in a way they hadn’t before.

And the food—don’t get me started. Friday was classic campfire hot dogs, but Saturday morning, Don George and I were up at 5 a.m. cooking what felt like 40 pounds of bacon (okay, it was really 12lbs). We made pancakes too, and as the smell drifted through the cabins, parents started trickling in to help with breakfast and chat. That was honestly one of the highlights for me, the bonding over sizzling griddles and great conversation.

It was a time of fun, faith, and fellowship. We’re excited to do it again.

Todd Hixenbaugh
Children’s Ministry Director