Every summer, students arrive at Hume carrying stories we may never fully know. Behind the smiles, laughter, and excitement of camp can be grief, anxiety, trauma, family struggles, and questions about faith. That’s why one reminder from our staff this week has been especially important: our students have real life going on.
At Meadow last week, a youth pastor is here with students who lost their dad just two weeks ago. They chose to come to camp, and our staff have the privilege of walking alongside them as they navigate an incredibly difficult season.
At Wildwood, staff recently cared for a student experiencing significant panic attacks following a traumatic event earlier this year. After two difficult attacks early in the week, her fellow campers rejoiced when she no longer needed to visit the Health Center. They had prayed with her for strength and they saw God meet her in the midst of her fear.
And in the middle of all these stories, God is still drawing students to Himself. This summer at Wildwood alone, 12 students have made decisions to follow Christ, five during decision night and seven more through follow-up conversations with their youth pastors.
From students carrying grief to those wrestling with anxiety, from churches walking through seasons of transition to campers hearing the Gospel for the very first time, Hume is a place where students can come as they are. We don’t always know what they’re carrying when they arrive, but we get to remind them that they don’t have to carry it alone.
Thank you for praying for our campers and staff this summer. Thank you for creating a place where students can be known, loved, and pointed to Jesus. And thank you for helping make Hume a place where God continues to meet students right in the middle of their stories.
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