A Special Creation of God
James was a 9-year-old foster child from Brooklyn. He came to Camp Deerpark with his little brother, although they were not in the same foster family. Someone had instructed James to watch out for his brother while they were at camp. James took that charge very seriously and became overly protective. In the process he was involved in many conflicts that the counselors had to defuse. Although James was a spirited camper who often required much attention, he soon became a favorite among the staff because of his soft and loving heart. He was always the first to volunteer a song in chapel or at campfire. He was also the first to share what he had learned in Bible class and to confess how he had fallen short that day. He wanted to learn how to be loving and nonviolent, but in the process of protecting his brother he couldn’t seem to stop what he had known for the nine short years of his life.
James was very excited to have his birthday at Camp Deerpark. There was a birthday celebration earlier in the week, and after observing how the camp staff honored the other child he was even more excited. He confessed to the staff that he had never really had a birthday party. Every day up to his birthday he would ask the staff if they still remembered and if they were still planning to have a party for him. “Hyacinth,” he said, “tell me something more about the birthday party.”
Although James had been labeled as a bad kid, he was loved and accepted at Camp Deerpark as a very special creation of God. With about two days left in the camp session James approached his counselor with his desire to change his life. (The Camp Deerpark position on child evangelism is that we invite children at all ages to say yes to Jesus. We acknowledge that they will probably need to continue to say yes as they grow and mature in their personal and spiritual lives. However, a tree that is never planted will never grow.) James said yes to Jesus, he repented of his actions and he made a commitment to walk on the path of love. The camp staff members were well aware of the struggles that would be facing James upon his return to Brooklyn and did their best to prepare him.
James packed all of his belongings into a large black garbage bag and boarded the bus armed with his new faith. His brother would be returning to the same foster family, but James would be moving on to a new family. The camp staff take several specific steps to prepare children emotionally to transition from camp back to the city, but only the grace of God can keep a child in these kinds of situations. As James got off the bus in Brooklyn and said good-bye to his brother, a very tall, intimidating woman approached the bus. “Where is James?” she asked. “I heard he is a real trouble maker.” Hyacinth Stevens, the Camp Deerpark program director, replied that she must have the wrong person because the James we knew was a sweet and loving boy. The woman went on to explain, “My husband and I don’t play any games, so they give us all of the bad kids.”
As the skinny 10-year-old was dragging his large bag away, he looked back at Hyacinth and said, “I’m going to remember everything I learned at camp. I’m going to remember, and I am going to be back next year.”
The camp staff tried to keep in touch with James throughout the year, but the foster care system made it very difficult. We honestly don’t know if this story has a happy ending. Please pray for James and the many others like him who pass through Camp Deerpark every year.
—Written by Ken Bontrager, current camp director. Written April 29, 2004
Hyacinth Stevens, program director, 1997–1999 and 2002–2005, pastor of King of Glory Tabernacle in the Bronx.