“Stepping Stones”

Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (NASB)

The big reveal came this morning. The four tribes built their names, colors, cheers, and shirts, and your kids did not hold back.

Tribe 1 is the Humblebees, in black and yellow, built around the theme of humility. A humility pun and a bee pun on one shirt. We are fully on board.

Tribe 2 is the United Stakes of Areté, better known as the Stakes. The name is a nod to the cross, and they turned out in red, white, and blue.

Tribe 3 is Joy Story, in yellow and blue. Part movie reference, part tribute to the joy that runs all through Philippians.

Tribe 4 is the Fellowship of the Phillies, with “Philly” standing in for Philippians, wearing just about every color they could round up.

From there it was a full slate of competition. The shirt-and-cheer judging this morning, Ice Breaker Games in the afternoon, and Team Trivia with Pastor Brad tonight. Somewhere in the middle of it all, the camp managed to build a human pyramid ten people strong before it came down in a heap of laughter. No injuries, just bragging rights.

The Word was everywhere today, three trips into Philippians in all. David Roseland opened the morning in chapter 1, verses 1 to 11, going back to the original Greek and taking it apart phrase by phrase. Jeff Phipps taught on giving, and how generosity pushes the gospel farther than we can imagine. Then Brad brought it home in the afternoon, and the timing was almost too good. After a morning spent building something to be proud of, he taught on what to do when life knocks it down.

He started with Joseph. Sold by his own brothers, falsely accused, thrown in prison, and then forgotten by the one man who promised to help him. If anyone had earned the right to be bitter, it was Joseph. Instead he kept doing the right thing, and God turned every one of those betrayals into the very thing that saved his family and a nation.

Then Brad pointed to Paul, who wrote Philippians from a prison cell, chained to a Roman guard. Paul never asked how to get out. He flipped the whole thing around. As Brad put it, Paul basically said, “I’m not trapped in here with them. They’re trapped in here with me.” One guard at a time, the most powerful military unit in Rome started hearing about Jesus. The prison became a pulpit.

That is the heart of the day, and it is a big one for your kids. Our trials are not dead ends. In Christ, they become platforms and stepping stones. That is why Paul could write the line the whole book turns on, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When Christ is at the center, even the hard things carry a purpose.

Brad left the tribes with a challenge they can run on all week. When a trial comes, ask “how can I point to Christ in this?” Then speak up with courage, check your heart, and serve the people right next to you.

The moment of the day, though, had nothing to do with the scoreboard. A camper named Jadon spent much of it right beside Drew, a newer camper who is vision impaired. Instead of throwing himself into the games, Jadon made it his mission to make sure Drew had the best day he possibly could. That is the servant heart Brad was preaching, lived out before the lesson even ended. Well done, Jadon.

A quick welcome to our visitors, too. Rachel, a Camp Areté alum, was back in the mountains. Ana and Sarah joined us all the way from Brazil. And we were glad to have Amber here as well. Grateful for each of them.

Standings after Monday

1. United Stakes of Areté (455)
2. Humblebees (437)
3. Joy Story (411)
4. Fellowship of the Phillies (333)

The Stakes hold the lead, but only by 18 over the Humblebees, with Joy Story right behind them. This one is going to be a race. And a bright spot for the Fellowship of the Phillies: they took first in tonight’s trivia.

Praises

• The four tribes came together fast and took real pride in their names, cheers, and shirts.
• A servant heart already showing up among the campers, thanks to kids like Jadon.

Petitions

• That the “trials become platforms” truth would stick as the week gets tiring.
• Unity inside each tribe as the competition heats up.

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I hope to add Monday’s pictures on Tuesday. Apologies for the tardiness with the photos.