I was a single mother to Keller for 3 years. Because Keller was my only son at the time I tended to shelter him more than I should have. If he wanted to do something that had a little risk involved I would keep him from it, and fill him with reasons why he should not take the risk. I talked too much about the dangers of the world, and not enough about what adventures there were to discover and God’s love and protection. I told him too often that he was smaller than other boys his age. And that it what okay to not engage in sports and other physical activity.

Keller and I have a new family now. My husband adopted Keller 2 years ago, and we are now a family of 5. God has revealed to me through time spent in a healthy family how Keller has been affected by my previous fears. We have been encouraging him, and teaching him in every way we know possible to help him not to be fearful. But it has been a slow process. When I read “Warrior Week” on the postcard from Kidzone I knew Keller needed to go. That is my prayer for him. That he would be a warrior for Christ. That he would have the confidence not only to engage with other kids his age, but that he would be confident in Christ that he is loved, protected, and empowered to make a difference for Jesus.

Soooooooo… When I got to the bus to pick him up, he wrapped his arms around me and said ” MOM, I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU!” He did not stop talking until he fell asleep on the couch at 10:30. I couldn’t even get him to stop and eat. I had to force him to eat a bite of his dinner between stories. He told me how scared he was at each platform of the obstacle course and at the start of the zip line when he had to unclasp his harness from one line and reclasp it to the next all while standing on a tiny platform WAY up in the air all by himself. How dangerous it was when he walked the tight rope, and almost fell 5 times, but he did it. How hard it was to climb up the trees, but he did it. How there WERE snakes in the lake but he swam and had sooooo much fun on the blob anyway. (I had told him it was a spring fed lake, and the water was too cold for snakes. I totally made that up. I have no idea where snakes live.) He told me how awesome his form was when he had to do all those push ups. He has never been more proud of himself. The thing that almost brought me to tears was when we were standing in my kitchen, he said “Mom, I’ll just never be the same. I’m just different now. I’m just more confident.”

Praise God. He can do all things. Sincere thanks to all of you who served our boys during Warrior Week. You truly are making a difference in these children.

Truly Grateful,
Ginger Wilder

Jarod loved camp and we are sad that it is his last year to particpate but he cannot wait to be a JC. He said tonight at dinner “can I be a JC next year?” You both do an awesome job and the swords are exceptional!
Jarod’s words were “It rocks”!

1. A new tube of tooth paste and tooth brush $ 2.50
2. A new swimsuit $12.00
3. Snack Shack money $10.00
4. The experience of fellowship with other little girls that love the Lord……………………………………PRICELESS!!!!

There is also a girls camp from BHDM that occurs the same week as the boys camp. My daughter attends this camp. She really enjoys getting away for a week to spend time with close friends and wonderful, loving counselors, and worshipping the Lord! I have seen the positive changes in her life and her attitude because of this ministry. My wife was a first time counselor at the camp this year too, and she is “hooked” as well. Brett”

At the beginning of the week it pretty much seemed like a normal camp experience and overall feel, but by Tuesday things had already changed. All the kids, JC’s alike, began to break down age barriers between them and amazing things started happen. I’m tellin ya Jason it’s incredible. To have a sixth grader spending his free time with a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grader by choice may not seem extraordinary, but in today’s world that’s ludicrous. And the way the kids interacted (although I am still missing a considerable amount of flesh from my back) was unlike most boys there age would interact with each other. When you started to talk about everyone being brothers in Christ, which wasn’t even the main part of your message, I didn’t know what an incredible effect it would have on the boys, because that is a topic that I have been taught at camps growing up and although I had understood the concept I never got the feeling of unity like there was during that week.

The thing that I will never forget from that week is a question that came from a Super Sensai, Hunter, a camper outside of my own Scorcher family. Somehow I started to talk to him, and build a friendship probably from chicken fighting in the pool. At some point during the week a few of the boys, Hunter and I, included started talking about, how old everyone’s brothers and sisters were and things like that. When I asked him if he had any siblings, he quietly said “No.” And the look on his face suggested that he was a little sad about that after he heard most of us tell funny stories about our brothers and sisters. Anyway later on that day Hunter asked me “Ian, Could you be like my big brother?” It’s funny because although I have three little brothers, I have never before been asked that question or anything like that. At first I was taken back by the question. But I felt like although i didn’t know what exactly I was going to say the answer that I gave was ” I will always be like your big brother.” At that moment his face lit up and just then I cared more about that kid, than anyone outside of my immediate family. I was a little weirded out by this. I mean it’s kind of weird caring that much about some kid you hadn’t known until that week. I still don’t know what to make of it, and I still feel that same feeling today. I constantly find myself praying for him and his family whom I don’t even know. That question he asked made me think about how I could be like a brother to those around me, and how much alot of people need a brother. From that week on I have had a fire burning inside of me that I haven’t had about anything before. My new motto is “Nothing else matters” and by that I mean that living as God has planned for you is the only thing that truly matters, and that I can be like a brother to those around me who don’t have one or a friend to those that need a friend. Through you, and Matt, and everyone including the boys at Warrior Week, God has made me Dangerous for Good, and a Barbarian forever. Your Brother, Ian (Junior Counselor & Co-Worship Leader)”