Photo courtesy partner Impact Africa

AIDS orphans the focus of camp ministry in Zambia

Every Orphan's Hope runs a Bible camp outreach ministry designed to share the Gospel with the AIDS orphans of Zambia, reports MNN.

Called Camp Hope, President Gary Schneider says it's one way to build relationships between the community and the local church. "Many times, it's five to seven churches in a local community to host a Bible camp, and over those four days, the Gospel of Christ is shared with them. They're loved on, they're cared for, fed three meals a day, provided with blankets and a Bible. It's a powerful outreach opportunity for the local churches."

The children not only work through life application lessons, but they also get instruction on AIDS awareness/prevention, as well as the normal camp activities including crafts, games, worship and prayer. The curriculum is designed to anchor life-transforming messages in the hearts of the orphans.

Every year, the program grows. Why? According to UNAIDS statistics, every 35 seconds, a child becomes an orphan because of AIDS.

Since 2003, EOH has hosted 11 Bible Camps reaching an estimated 2,100 orphans. According to the ministry, more than 200 North American short-term missionaries have traveled to Zambia to help conduct the Bible Camps with more than 600 Zambian believers serving, teaching and leading the camps.

In addition to each orphan receiving new clothing, a blanket, craft materials, and a Bible, three meals a day are prepared and served to the children. With the thousands of meals served in a single week of camp and the need for counselors, there's an urgency that requires many to be involved.

Schneider says, "We are asking the Lord to give us 1100 orphans at our camps. It costs about $30 to support an orphan for that week at Bible camp, to provide the food, clothing and such. We would really appreciate the prayers of your listeners along with their support, maybe even sending just one child to Bible camp this year that they might meet Christ."

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[02/27/2008]

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