The Olympia, Washington, congregation accomplished this feat by sponsoring a yard sale and most importantly, working together. Several ads were placed in the local newspaper that announced the yard sale and then the donations began to flow in from brethren and neighbors. The yard sale funds came to just under $105 per member. That is impressive.

The funds will be split between Northwest Camp and the Tacoma Family Weekend. But perhaps the most important byproduct of this effort was the unifying effect it had on the members themselves.

Have you heard about the United Youth Card project? This is an annual fundraiser for various projects in the United Church of God, which is organized by a group of young adults. This year the sales of greeting cards at the Feast of Tabernacles will be donated to equipment needs for United Youth Camps. Be looking for these displays at the Festival sites this fall.

The value of preteens and teen campers spending time with one another in a godly environment is virtually beyond words to describe, but here is what one parent wrote about their son’s experience at a past camp: “We are just so thrilled I don’t know what to say! What a wonderful blessing! This has brought great joy to my heart and tears to my eyes! Thank you so much for helping us! I wasn’t sure what to expect. My son asked to go to camp this year for the first time and I wasn’t sure how we’d get him there. Thank you for all you do for the kids! It really does make a difference!”

There continues to be a need for additional donations for the camp program this summer. But most importantly, please ask God to bless all the remaining preteen and teen camps this summer wherever they are being held.

We have a motto in UYC: “camp changes lives.” Prayers, personal donations and congregations sponsoring fundraisers for camps and family weekends all have a positive impact on the campers who attend camp. When God’s elect come together in a unified purpose, God does bless those efforts.

(If you care to donate to the UYC fund, make your check out to “United Youth Camps Fund” and mail to: United Youth Camps Fund, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027.)