Clinton Kids Get Closer to God at Summer Camp

Centri-Kid campers Hunter Martin, Morgan Washam, Wesley Thomas, and Chip Pratt

Thirty-seven children from First Baptist Church in Clinton relished their week at Mississippi College sipping iced coffee at Jazzman’s, praising God at worship services, and building friendships.

Add sports like archery, swimming and wiffle ball to quiet time for Bible study and you‘ve got the right mix for a five-day Centri-Kid camp in late June.

 “It’s never boring at all,” says camper Hunter Martin, 10, a fifth grader at Eastside Elementary. “This year only one person got homesick. It’s a great camp to go to.”

Eastside Elementary School classmate Morgan Washam, 10, says he would have spent another week sitting around at his pool at home if he wasn’t in the MC camp across town. “This is a lot more fun. It’s a good place to make friends.”

As Central Mississippi temperatures again climbed beyond the mid-90s, Scotty Rogers, the children’s minister at First Baptist Church, summed up what the Centri-Kid camp experience is all about.

“Spiritually, they learn what it means to be a child of God,’’ Rogers said. “They are unique and God has a great place for them.”

Rogers returned for his second summer at MC to join seven other adult chaperones keeping tabs on the Clinton kids. The Mississippi College graduate also invited parents and their children to First Baptist Church for a Wednesday evening session to talk about camp activities and build upon the week’s experience. “We want parents to follow up at home – that’s most important.”

What was most important to Jamee  OBriant, 11,  a Lovett Elementary student, was practicing her “foot praise” steps one more time to prepare for the camp’s final worship program at Alumni Gym Thursday night.

“I like all the singing we do,” added Wesley Thomas, 10. The parties at night plus  the meals at the MC cafeteria got his approval, too. “I wish that camp was longer.”

The June 21-25 camp for First Baptist Church Clinton is part of the annual wave of nearly 10,000 kids from 14 states visiting the Christian university from late May through late July. “I’d encourage other kids to come here,” says 10-year-old Chip Pratt. “You make some of the best friends ever.”

Parents like Penny Pratt are big believers in  the summer camp’s benefits. “It’s a great experience for children to gain a little bit of independence and see what it’s like.”

MC Vice President for Christian Development Eric Pratt served as one of the chaperones. The camp, he said, “is spiritually challenging” for the children. “It is kids learning to be kids, enjoying each other and learning about Jesus.”