Kingdom Living takes shape when a congregation chooses to stay rooted in its neighborhood and invest in the flourishing of the people around them. This kind of love is seen in long-term commitment: showing up and caring for children and nurturing relationships year after year. The images and stories below highlight GCI congregations that continue to build meaningful connections in their communities through neighborhood camps.
Big Sandy, Texas, US
Market Harborough, Leicestershire, UK
Richardson, Texas, US
One way we live out Jesus’ instruction to let young people come to him — and not hinder them — is through the annual Richardson Neighborhood Skills Camp (RNSC).
With the theme “Frontier Skills,” this year’s camp brought together forty-nine campers ages 6 to 12, eight teen volunteers, and thirty-two adult volunteers from our membership, American Heritage Girls troops, and the neighborhood. From July 6–8, 2026, they shared practical, artistic, and relational skills in a friendly, high-energy setting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
RNSC creates a cross-generational, relationship-building space where adults share their hearts, gifts, and talents with neighborhood children while pointing them to Jesus through four simple guidelines: Love God, Love Others, Have Fun, and Be Safe.
This year’s skills included clock-making, music, drama, dance, ice-cream and butter making, robotics, cake decorating, bicycle and auto care, soldering, Chinese language and culture, videography, chess and checkers, party planning, wreath making, STEM challenges, and more. Campers also practiced relational skills such as trust, loyalty, determination, humor, awareness, and serving. The camp concluded with a family dinner where campers shared what they had learned, including drama and dance presentations.
Feedback was enthusiastic. One parent said, “I attend a church of more than 25,000 people, and we don’t have this. Thank you for making this available.” Several campers asked whether they could return as teen volunteers, and one returning camper exclaimed, “I’d forgotten how good the food at camp is!” One parent has already begun exploring space options to help Camp continue if relocation becomes necessary.
Gabriel and Christine Ojih, Pastor and Camp Director
Richardson, Texas, US
Ladson, South Carolina, US
GC Ladson’s 2026 neighborhood camp, “Mission: God’s Love Is Out of This World,” was a three-day experience helping children discover the depth, wonder, and reach of God’s love.
Through Bible lessons, worship, crafts, games, fellowship, and a special outing to Stars & Strikes, campers learned that God’s love reaches farther than we can imagine and that we are called to share it with others.
A highlight of the week was seeing adult and youth volunteers serve side by side, creating a safe, welcoming, Christ-centered environment where children could learn, grow, and build meaningful connections. The youth volunteers played an important role in encouraging younger campers, assisting with activities, and helping to create meaningful connections throughout the week.
The week concluded with children participating in Sunday worship, sharing songs they learned during camp and celebrating what they experienced together.
Beyond the activities, campers built friendships, grew in their understanding of God’s love, and experienced the joy of belonging to a caring church family.
Grace Communion Ladson is grateful for the volunteers, families, youth leaders, and church members whose prayers, support, and participation made this year’s camp possible. We give thanks to God for the relationships formed, lessons learned, and opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with our children.
Mary Robinson, Love Avenue Champion
Ladson, South Carolina, US
