Church Camp: 2026

A Marked Week

There are moments in life that become markers... moments you look back on and know God did something that changed the course of your life forever.

This week at church camp was one of those moments for our family.

We signed our kids up hoping they would have fun, make friends, and grow in their faith. We had no idea God was about to do so much more. We thought we were taking our children to camp, but we came home changed ourselves.

Just a few months ago, I would not have made it through this week. God has been healing me from years of anxiety. The thought of being surrounded by people all week, serving, praying out loud, and stepping outside of my comfort zone would have completely overwhelmed me. But God has been so faithful. He is continuing to heal me, and this week I got to see the fruit of that healing.

One afternoon I was asked to pray over a young boy whose aunt has cancer. I remember feeling afraid. What if I don't know what to say? What if I pray the wrong thing? What if I mess this up? But God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. The Holy Spirit gave me the words, and I simply prayed. It wasn't about eloquent prayers... it was about being available. Then I got to pray over a young lady from our very own church and just speak life over her. Looking back, I'm overwhelmed that God would choose to use someone who once struggled just to be around people. Only He could do that.

Caleb experienced something just as powerful. He volunteered all week running the go-karts. At first, even using the microphone to explain the rules to dozens of excited kids stretched him far beyond his comfort zone. Anyone who knows Caleb knows public speaking isn't exactly his favorite thing. But by the end of the week, he had found his rhythm. He made the kids laugh, got them excited, and loved every minute of it. A young lady from our church would only ride with him, to have a child put their trust in you in a moment when they are nervous, warms your heart in ways words can't really describe. More than that, he got to build relationships with the boys in his group. Every conversation, every laugh, every hug reminded him how much these children matter.

Then came one of the most unforgettable moments of the week.

During one of the services, the leaders were invited to come forward to pray over the children. Kids kept walking up asking Caleb if he would pray with them. To have a child come to him.... that alone pulled at his heart in a big way. He said One young lady asked him to pray that she would be filled with the Holy Spirit. He prayed with her, hugged her afterward, and watched tears stream down her face as God met her in that moment.

Years ago, if you had asked Caleb if he'd ever serve in children's ministry, he would've laughed. Coming out of the Army left him with a hard heart in many ways. For years he prayed that God would soften him.... that He would "demilitarize" the way he thought and lived. Looking back now, we can both see how faithfully God has answered that prayer. He has given Caleb a genuine love for children and for pointing them toward Jesus.

Then there's our own children.

Zoey almost didn't go. She was nervous. And as her parents, every part of us wanted to keep her close because we knew camp would be hard for her. Zoey is autistic and lives with ARFID. She carried a puke bag around camp because eating is such a challenge for her. She got sick a few times during the week. There were moments she struggled. There were moments she wanted to quit. But she didn't. She kept showing up. She worshipped. She laughed. She played. (We even heard she was an absolute beast at wiffle ball and dodgeball—with just a little friendly trash talk mixed in.) Most importantly, she leaned into Jesus.

Then God did something none of us expected. When the invitation was given for anyone who felt called into ministry, our sweet 9-year-old walked to the front and said she felt called to become a children's pastor. Pastor Vickie smiled and jokingly asked, "Are you trying to take my job?" Without missing a beat, Zoey grinned and said, "Well... you'll have to retire someday!" Everyone burst into laughter. But underneath that funny moment was something incredibly sacred. God was calling our daughter.

Watching her walk forward wasn't just a ministry calling—it was another step in her healing journey. God is making her brave. He is teaching her that courage isn't the absence of fear; it's saying "yes" to Jesus even when you're afraid.

Then there's Elijah. Our quiet, tenderhearted, hilarious 11-year-old. He's autistic. Reading has never come easily for him because of severe dyslexia. Standing in front of people? Never. Speaking publicly? Absolutely not. At least... that's what we would've said before this week. During camp, God called Elijah to missions.

Caleb got to pray for him, they had a bonding moment that I truly believe Elijah will remember for the rest of his life. Caleb told him how so very proud he was of him and that he loves him so very much. He told him that Jesus is going to use him in a mighty way and he has great plans for his life. Then Caleb prayed for him and they both wept. After they prayed Caleb sat with him and then asked if he felt God speaking to him, that is when Elijah explained how he wanted to do missions and spread the gospel to other countries.

As his parents, our hearts overflowed with joy while also feeling the weight of what that could someday mean. Sending your son into a broken world isn't easy to imagine. But if Jesus calls him, Jesus will equip him.

The very next morning after we got home, Elijah asked if we could buy him a devotional because he wants to spend time with Jesus every single day. That request alone brought tears to our eyes. He also decided he wants to join Junior Bible Quiz. Then he told us he wants to participate in Fine Arts. This is our shy little boy who has always avoided being in front of people. When he told us that, I smiled and said, "Buddy, if God has called you to be a missionary, He's going to start equipping you now. He will shape you. He will grow you. He will give you everything you need." And I believe that with my whole heart.

A few years ago, our oldest son, Keegan, felt God calling him to preach. This week, Zoey was called to children's ministry. Elijah was called to missions. Every one of our children has now felt God calling them into ministry. What an incredible privilege... and responsibility..... it is to watch God write His story in their lives. They don't belong to us. They belong to Him. Our greatest prayer has never been that our kids would be successful, popular, or comfortable. Our greatest prayer has always been that they would know Jesus deeply... love Him wholeheartedly... and say "yes" to whatever He asks of them. This week, we watched them do exactly that.

Even after we got home, something was different. Our house sounded different. The kids woke up asking to play worship music. Conversations centered around Jesus. They talked about what God had done. There was a new hunger for Him. And honestly... the same was true for us. Caleb now wants to serve in Children's Church with me!!!!

Camp was exhausting. We came home physically worn out. But spiritually? We came home more alive than we've been in a long time. God stretched us. He healed us. He used us. He reminded us that ministry isn't just standing behind a pulpit. Sometimes ministry looks like sitting beside a child, praying over someone who's hurting, giving hugs through tears, laughing together, worshipping together, and simply being available when God says, "Go."

This week will forever be a marker in our family's story. A week where fear lost ground. A week where healing continued. A week where callings were confirmed. A week where our children discovered that Jesus is worth following with their whole lives. A week where two parents realized God wasn't finished with them either.

God is still healing.

God is still calling.

God is still raising up the next generation.

And if this week taught us anything, it's this: When you say "yes" to Jesus, you never know what He'll do next.

To God be all the glory.

<3 Michelle Warren

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