How Camps at HeartLife Came to Be
by Kim Scheidegger, Director of Child & Adolescent Services
1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
This verse has been a north star to me over the years. Like all of us, I’ve struggled with insecurities, beginning in middle school and into college. As I grew closer to the Lord and learned more about how he created me in unique and useful ways, my intentions became more set on what He has for me, not what I am not.
When I was a little girl, I created an adoption agency in my closet. Every Cabbage Patch Kid doll had adoption paperwork and a whole process for adoption. Each of my 24 dolls had a specific bed to sleep in my room whether it was an actual doll bed or a cardboard box. For me, caring for these “children” was a part of my daily life.
As I grew older, babysitting became a regular for me. I started at a young age to babysit the neighbor kids while parents were home or ran a quick errand. As soon as I could, I got certified in babysitting from the local parks and recreation center in my Texas town.
Eventually, this love of hanging out with kids grew into me creating workbooks that I would bring to kids’ houses when I would babysit. I would pack up a bag of art supplies to use when I hung out with them. For me, babysitting was a great joy and served a creative purpose.
In college, I dreamed of owning a bookstore and having after-school kids’ classes at the store. I dreamed of teaching kids mental health concepts and creating a safe place for sharing while using art. I find it interesting how God can give you a dream that is not exactly realized, but that very dream helps point you to where He wants you to go.
I worked at a Christian camp in East Texas after college for a bit over a year. At this camp, I was saved. I felt at home, with a closeness to God and a purpose.
Camp at HeartLife was born out of all these seasons of God’s activity in my life. In these past few years, He has helped to build this beautiful child and adolescent team at HeartLife that makes this camp possible.
Last year was our first year of Sun and Sand camp and this year we launch the boys’ Wild and Wander camp. These camps create a safe place for kids where they can learn about God and how to honor Him with their emotions. When I am working with children, I love to share with them how God really does weave parts of your story together to create your passions, job and your life. That is our purpose for our camps.
For more information or to register for our summer programs, follow the link here or call us at 901.756.5788. We hope you will choose to join us this summer!