Backyard Theatre Productions
WALL OF MIRACLES

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12
During our mentor meetings and all during camp 2010, we challenged the staff, the mentors, and the kids to look for the hand of God in their every day lives. We know that He is working, we were just praying for eyes to see Him! Sure enough, we did! This wall documents all of the miracles that we saw God do in both our personal lives and in this camp! Praise the Lord!
Of course God is always working in our lives, but it just so happened that this year in the weeks leading up to camp my parents and I were reading a book that was specifically focused on looking for the hand of God in our day to day lives. While I prayed that God would help me to see Him, I had no idea what He had in mind! It was getting close to camp and our registration was very low. We were honestly considering canceling camp because we thought that there was no logical way that we could meet our budget. Although my head told me that it was impossible, I felt God's spirit saying that he wasn't done with this ministry yet! I prayed and tested God like I never had before. I prayed that we could have a certain number of kids register in the next two days. The number was not extremely large, but it would almost double the amount of registrants that we had gained in the last two  months. I asked God to show me what to do through this; if we got the kids in the next two days it was God saying go for it! If we didn't then, He had a different plan for us this year. I don't know why I was surprised when God answered. I fell somewhat ashamed that I was surprised, but then again, any encounter with the Creator of the universe must be pretty surprising! In two days, we had exactly the number I had prayed for! From the outside this may not look like a miracle, but considering the low number of kids we had registered, I can tell you that it truly was!!!

Camp was still getting closer and although I knew that God had given me a sign, logic started to creep in again. We still would not have enough kids to meet our budget; we needed our enrollment to double again in a matter of days! Truth be told, I was afraid to test the Lord again. In the back of my mind I thought that the last time was doable but this was insane! I prayed again. Like the first time I prayed for a specific number by a certain day. This would be God's answer. I was blown away again when on the final day we got the exact number that I had been praying for! Looking back, I see that this was God's amazing answer to my prayer to see Him. I am a control freak and I like to try and do things by my own strength. Through God's grace, he brought me to a place where I had to trust in Him and because of that I was able to encounter Him like never before! I have always known that this is God's ministry and I am just blessed to be a part of it, but this year more than ever, God made it evident to me that this is a ministry not by my power, but by His! Although it was not my timing I know that everything worked out in God's perfect timing. I also had a great miracle to share when it came time for our mentoring meetings. We had already chosen our theme of "miracles" two weeks before our enrollment miracle. God truly does have a sense of humor. This is part of the reason why we entitled camp 2010, "the year of miracles!" Praise be to God for all that he has done!

-Melissa Beckert, Camp Director
Its hard for me to pin point one exact moment of camp this year to be my testimony. God has always shown up and showed off. Kids 4 Christ has been my miracle, as a whole! I'm one of the luckiest people in the world! To be a part of something so amazing almost brings me to tears at this very moment. To be one of Gods tools in this ministry is an honor! God has continued to fulfill my desire and has truly blessed me with every talented kid who has ever come to camp.

The night before camp started, during some worship time with friends, I was dancing but I was doing fast movements and throwing myself like a little kid would. When I was tired and out of breath I laid on the floor, God spoke to me. He said pay close attention to your littlest campers this year.Watch the way they give their ALL, take time in their moments. I did take time to see each little one do what they do best, which is bless the heart of the father. One moment, not to choose favorites, but my cousin, Megan Swift, brought the biggest smile to my face when she worked on the memory verse for the raffle. She was one of the youngest to do so (it was a long verse.) She did it! Even though she didn't win, she was sooo proud! As was I!  My heart has been touched by the little ones this year, they have reminded me why I love this ministry and I really miss them, and cant wait for next year!

-Alysia Smith, Assistant Director
God blessed me with another opportunity to attend Kids 4 Christ and be a mentor yet again....Because of Kids 4 Christ i got back into my music and love of performing....I'm so blessed to have Godly people around me to inspire me and encourage me to use my gifts to bring glory to God....God blessed me with a musical opportunity....in the form of a band =) we're called Un D Vided (pronounce undivided) i'm so happy that God opened this window of opportunity for me!!!!! thank you Lord!!!!

-Zoraida Milagros Marroquin, Participant in Camp 2010 Mentoring Program


Where do I begin? Kids 4 Christ was introduced to me through my friend Christine,and I came to camp for the first time during "the Mystery of Broadway". I instantly fell in love with this program, and I decided I would come for the following summers, which thankfully I did! But this year, things got a little hectic, and I almost forgot to register. Luckily, on the last night to register, I found this website and tried contacting Melissa. I was scared it would be to late to call and I would miss my oppurtunity to attend camp this year. It turned out that my grandma had already called and registered me! I was so exited, and thanks to that experience at camp that week, I started to become closer to God more than I ever had. And that along with a personal experience the next week I have become extremely close with God, even though I've had my doubts growing up as a child. Bless the Lord and all the wonderful staff and Kids 4 Christ, thanks for everything! :)

-Samantha Stapish-Higa, Participant in Camp 2010 Mentoring Program