Every parent knows the feeling of dropping their kid off somewhere and hoping it goes well. You want them to have fun. You want them to make a friend. What you don't always expect is for them to come home different.
That's what WinShape does.
WinShape is a chance for a kid to step outside of a normal Sunday, be themselves, have a blast, and learn about Jesus in a place built entirely for them. Lauren Witt, one of our Children's Ministry Directors, put it simply: the kids show up with a huge smile, and they leave with one too.
But this year, one moment stood out. During team time, Lauren sat with a camper from our Bristol campus, a kid she had watched grow up in our Children's Ministry. And right there at camp, she got to walk with him as he decided to follow Jesus. That's not a small thing. That's the whole reason we go.
None of it happens by accident. It takes Difference Makers, the people who give and the volunteers who show up. Some trade a day. Some trade a full week. Some spend their vacation time on a camp cabin instead of a beach chair. They may not always see the results of what they pour into these kids, but the difference is real, and it lasts. This is also one of the ways Highlands gets to work shoulder to shoulder with our community, partnering with local schools and other churches to do more together than any of us could do alone.
If you've ever given or served, this is what your generosity looks like from the inside. Thank you.
A few things to think about:
- Who was the adult who showed up for you when you were a kid, and what did that do for you?
- Where could you trade a little of your time this year to make a difference for someone who won't be able to pay you back?
- When was the last time you did something generous without needing to see how it turned out?