I live at the _________Home for Children. They put me there, because my mom is not supposed to know where I am….

Friday afternoon I drove a van load of boys back from Royal Family Kids Camp here in Granbury. Most of the 78 volunteers who direct, counsel, coordinate crafts, and otherwise pull off RFKC here in this area worship at the church, where I serve as preaching minister.  Royal Family Kids Camps are the nation’s leading network of camps for abused, neglected and abandoned children. The mission of the camps that take place worldwide every summer is to create positive memories for abused and neglected children ages 7-11, in a one-week camp experience. In 2009, nearly 7,000 kids were touched by the Royal Family Camp experience in 35 states. Internationally speaking camps were held in 8 different countries.

Counseling at Royal Family Kids Camp is not for the weak of spirit. My son Daniel served as a relief counselor this year. The relief counselors go out to the camp every evening, so the counselors can get a short break after a  full day of working with kids with significant emotional needs. One counselor is responsible for no more than two campers.  I could tell that every member of the staff was tired when I drove out there Friday afternoon, but it appeared to be a very satisfied form of exhaustion.

All of the children they served for the duration of the week have experienced horrific abuse. Child Protective Services in Texas removed those children from their biological families for a reason. As a law enforcement chaplain, I have been exposed to every imaginable form of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse out in the field for nearly 21 years. I have wondered on more than one occasion if there is any sanity left in the world.

It is encouraging seeing something like RFKC that is positive and enriching for the kids. Every child has a birthday party during the course of the camp week, regardless of when their actual birth date falls. There is fishing, swimming, and all forms of entertainment. The Bible is taught in creative and engaging ways for kids who most likely have never been in a Sunday School environment. But mainly they just get to have fun with wonderful adults, who really care about them.

I had been in the van with the kids for less than 5 minutes when the little boy said: I live at the _________Home for Children. They put me there; because my mom is not supposed to know where I am….I don’t process that kind of experience very well. It hurts my heart. I only know of one solution. I think it would be good for me to join Daniel next year. We will partner as relief counselors. Perhaps both of us can provide a little fun for some struggling kids, who have not had the breaks that both of us have experienced in life. And the children can see a father and son together who really love each other.

 Pray for abused and neglected children tonight.  There over 3.6 million cases of child abuse reported every year.  I can tell you from experience that there is lot more going unreported.  I dealt with such a situation at the police department this afternoon.  Too bad the young man, who is now an adult, never expereinced Royal Family Kids Camp…