Growth through Service

Running the games at Summer Escape sounds simple: get the kids moving and have fun! But I didn’t understand that at first. When I first started serving, I put a lot of pressure on myself to create the perfectly designed game experience. I wanted every minute to be maximized, every activity to go according to plan, and every kid to be having the most fun
possible. I thought if I could just control all the details, I could somehow produce happiness and make the experience perfect.

But I quickly realized that wasn’t working. The more I tried to control everything, the more stressed and focused on myself I became. Games didn’t always go as planned, kids had their own ideas, and sometimes the unexpected moments were the ones they enjoyed the most!

With the help and encouragement of the other volunteers, I began to see that my job wasn’t to make everything perfect. I learned to pray that God would take my eyes off myself and help me simply make room for the kids to see Him. I didn’t need to control every moment—I just needed to be present, serve with joy, and trust God to work. That’s when it became simple again: lead the kids, get them moving, and have fun! Somewhere in the laughter, the silly games, and even the chaos, I found the joy of serving together and watching God work through our community.

I’ve taken that experience with me as a reminder for my daily life. I’m learning to loosen my grip, set myself aside, and trust God more. I love growing closer to our community as we serve together, encouraging one another and working toward something bigger than ourselves. Summer Escape gives me the opportunity to practice putting others first and helping kids grow in their faith—and every year, God uses that experience to grow my faith too.