Connection Christian hosts Worship Arts Camp
Jun. 4—About 50 kids are participating in Worship Arts Camp at Connection Christian Church this week.
The four-day camp is for children 4 years old through fifth grade.
"This is our fifth year to do it with the exception of one summer in COVID (when) we did it outside," The Rev. Dawn Weaks said.
"We have an arts emphasis because our schools have struggled to keep art in elementary school because of the emphasis on testing, and art you don't test for so we have music, drama, arts, visual arts, snacks and games all arranged around the Bible story for each day," she added.
The main theme for the week is the Good Samaritan — how to be a good neighbor.
The camp includes church families and community families. The kids will lead worship on Sunday.
"We're teaching them how to use their gifts in leadership (and) how to share their talents with other people," Weaks said.
The Sunday service will follow the same format as a regular service.
"But they'll help lead our music. They'll present a skit. Their visual art will be a part of our worship service," Weaks said.
Churches have traditionally had Vacation Bible School in the summer.
"It's similar to that, but our emphasis is on arts and then preparing them to lead and worship because we value integrating children fully into the life of the church. They aren't just off in another wing of the building while the adults are doing church. They're a part of our service, so that means we have to lead them to know how to lead others and be present and confident and understand what's happening in worship. So like every Sunday, they bring the light in for our opening worship. They're regularly involved in our worship. But this is just a special Sunday to prepare them for," Weaks said.
There is a team of about 18 adults and there are also 10 youth that are being mentored by adults to be teachers themselves. Some Ector County ISD teachers are also giving of their time, which Weaks said is amazing.
"It's such a blessing to be a part of a congregation that walks the talk of valuing children," she added.
Many of the kids have gone to Worship Arts Camp before. Seven-year-old Crosby Patton said he likes the camp because he can be with friends.
Kids made stretchers out of Fruit Roll-Ups and pretzel sticks to give to first responders.
Tylee Stevenson is one of the youth teachers, something she has done in previous years. She'll be going to George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa in the fall.
"I really like the environment and I like the idea of allowing the kids to learn these things young so that they can also help when they grow," Stevenson said.