News & Events at SonRise

SonRise Summer Camp 2010 is off to a great start!

By Hannah Froehlich, Program Director, Camp SonRise

Gathering together on the front lawn for final goodbyes, the youth, chaperones and staff were a clump of laughter, hugs, and a few tears. In a few short days friendships were created and cemented, Christ was shared, and the joy of his love was present. The fourth grade class of First Lutheran School in Holyoke, Massachusetts joined the summer staff of Camp SonRise for a week of fun and learning early in June. The experience was the first time the 2010 summer staff worked together with youth and the week could not have been more positive for either group.

Jim Hart, one of the parent chaperons from First Lutheran shared, “My [daughter] Brenna has had a hard time sharing her faith of late and opening up about Jesus until this past week. This Sunday we celebrated the Lord's Supper (we do it the first Sunday of each month) and she participated in it for the first time in her life. She gave her life to Christ a couple years ago but never fully shared it with many people. All the ministering you all did made a tremendous impact on her. My wife and I wept in church as we saw her partake in the Lord's Supper and it was because of your love for Jesus that has helped strengthen her love for HIM. Again, you all have had a major impact on 14 souls, and I know God is very pleased! Keep serving the KING!”

This sentiment was not reserved for the visiting group. The staff also relayed an immense growth and impact resulting from the week with the kids. “When the campers first pulled up it was cool to see how enthusiastic they were to be here. That enthusiasm carried throughout the whole week.” shared Adam Rodriguez, a summer staffer better known at camp as Arod. “The more time I spent with them, the more I got to know them on a personal level and it great to watch them grow from where they were when they arrived on Tuesday to where they were when they left on Friday. You could definitely see God’s work being carried out through our staff and the impact that it had on the kids.”

Jamie Miller, Kiwi to the campers, said, “Each kid came up to me at the end of the week telling me they didn’t want to leave and that they wanted to come back to camp this summer. They all had smiles on their faces and when asked what their favorite part of camp was, they said ‘everything.’ It was amazing to see them cry at the end of the week because they had so much fun and didn’t want to leave. You know you made a difference.”

This year’s summer staff brings together college-age students from across the country, including California, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, who share a common passion for outdoors ministry. Hannah Froehlich, Program Director at Camp SonRise says, “The enthusiasm this staff has for working with kids is awesome. It’s been really neat to watch the staff interact with one another as well as with the campers. The dedication they have to each individual camper was great to see; they are definitely committed to making sure each kid has the best week of his life.”

SonRise continues to offer youth programs throughout the summer. If you are interested in learning more and joining in this life-changing experience, visit the website www.sonriseministries.com or call the office at 518-494-2620.