What a joy to report from this year’s camp! Thanks to the generosity and care of our community, a group of children left their classrooms and routines behind for a week that was equal parts wonder, fun, and deep spiritual growth. While students at Point of Hope School regularly learn beloved Bible stories, camp offers something different: space to wrestle with those stories, ask honest questions, and practice faith in community — often for the first time outside a classroom setting.
This summer’s campers spent five vibrant days at Harghita Christian Camp where a dedicated U.S. mission team led an energetic VBS program. The VBS sessions brought Scripture to life through hands-on activities, memorable object lessons, and joyful worship that captured the kids’ imaginations. Yet what made the week especially transformative were the quieter, reflective moments that followed those big-group experiences. Small-group Bible times gave children a safe place to talk about what they were learning, to ask how the lessons apply to their lives, and to pray with peers and caring volunteers. Those conversations were tender and real — the kind that plant seeds which can grow for years.
Balance is the heartbeat of a great week at camp. Afternoons were full of team-building challenges that invited cooperation, problem-solving, and laughter. A twilight bonfire offered a gentle, sacred rhythm for storytelling and testimonies, where kids practiced listening and speaking about what God means to them. A group hike through the mountain trails encouraged awe and reflection — the natural beauty around them opening doors to conversations about creation and purpose. Add in games, songs, and other spiritually focused activities, and the result is an environment where faith isn’t only taught but lived.
The impact was both immediate and lasting. Teachers have noticed campers returning with new curiosity and openness to spiritual questions. Volunteers shared moments when a child’s shy comment or sudden courage revealed a quiet shift in their heart. Those are the small, profound ways lives begin to change: a kindness practiced, a fear faced, a question voiced aloud. Camp gave children room to try on faith, to stumble and to stand, and to experience belonging among peers and adults who care.
This week demonstrated the powerful role that intentional retreats play in a child’s spiritual formation. VBS provided the playful, memorable framework; small groups and activities created the space for honest exploration; and the mountain setting offered wonder and calm. Together, these elements helped children move beyond hearing Bible stories to beginning to own them.
We celebrate the campers, the mission team, the volunteers, and everyone who made this week possible. The memories, friendships, and seeds of faith sown at Harghita Christian Camp will echo far beyond this summer. Follow our blog for stories from volunteers and campers themselves — you’ll see how a week away can create moments that shape a lifetime.
