RINCON, Ga. — What began as a summer camp for children has come full circle at Compassion Christian Church, where former campers are now returning as volunteers and leaders, investing in the next generation of students.
This week of camp was made possible through the help and support of 112 volunteers, 54 of whom are students and young adults. The majority of those volunteers once attended the camp themselves.
Church leaders say their return reflects years of investment in children's ministry and demonstrates how former campers are now stepping into leadership roles.
Investing in the next generation
Compassion Christian Church intentionally prioritizes children's ministry and works to create experiences and lessons that extend beyond a single week of summer camp. For Bill Whitaker, campus pastor at Compassion Christian Church, seeing former campers return as leaders is evidence of that long-term investment.
Whitaker said watching students grow up and use their gifts to serve others brings joy to the camp.
"I remember when they were kids in the kids ministry, and now they're serving and using their gifts, and they're pouring back into these kids," Whitaker said.
Seeing former campers return and choose to serve is a powerful example of generational discipleship and giving back to their community.
From camper to leader
One of those volunteers is Sam Tootle, who has attended Compassion Christian Church camps since he was 6 years old. Now 22 and serving as a leader, he said he has not missed a camp since he first attended as a child.
Tootle said serving is important because today's campers will become the future leaders of the church.
"It's so important to be here and just pour into these kids because they are the future of what's going to be happening in the church," Tootle said. "They are the next leaders serving in the kids ministry, and if you're not there to build them up, then who else is going to do it?"
Having experienced the impact of camp firsthand, Tootle said he considers it a privilege to serve younger students.
"It's an honor that I'm able to be here and have a little tiny bit of influence over the next generation of leaders," he said. "It's such an honor to think about, but ultimately it just comes down to how it's worth it for the kingdom and it's worth it for our community that somebody's here pouring into this next generation."
Another former camper who has returned as a leader is Bentley Braswell. She attended camp as a child and now spends her summers helping lead younger students.
During the week, she served as a small-group leader and shared lessons from the stage. Reflecting on her favorite memories as a camper, Braswell recalled the relationships she built with leaders who invested in her.
"I always want to be the person that I had when I was younger for another kid," Braswell said.
The positive experiences she had at camp have encouraged her to return as a leader year after year, hoping to provide the same support and encouragement she once received. As a small-group leader, Braswell has the opportunity to spend intentional time with students and help create meaningful memories similar to those she experienced as a child.
"Thinking about all the people who poured into me, and where I would be had I not had them, makes me want to be that for somebody else," Braswell said.
A lasting impact
While this year's campers spent the week making memories, building friendships and learning more about Jesus, their leaders hope the impact of camp will continue long after the week ends.
For many of this year's student leaders, that impact began when they were campers at the same church. If the pattern continues, some of the children participating this week may one day return to serve the next generation, continuing the cycle of investment that has shaped so many before them.
