Louisville—More than $200,000 is the goal set for campers attending Crossing Camps this year to raise for missions. And, Crossings Ministries will double what the kids raise, said David Melber, president of Crossings Ministries.

This is part of a “unique partnership” that Crossings has started with the International Mission Board, according to Melber.

“The biggest thing for us this year is the mission focus,” Melber said. “Not that we haven’t had that in years past, but this is a goal unlike anything we’ve ever done.”

He continued, “We’re hoping to raise between $400,000 and $500,000 this summer to help facilitate non-American missionaries to go into restricted areas where the gospel has not been taken.”

“We hope through all the videos and all the education we show during camp that students would not only understand but also have a heart for the Great Commission and proclaiming the gospel in their lives, whether that is one day to be an accountant and sharing the gospel in their job or whether that is to be a missionary or a pastor,” Melber added.

The year-and-a-half in the making partnership is in addition to various international partnerships Crossings is a part of in the Philippines, Trinidad, Zambia, Moldova, Ukraine, India and, most recently, Haiti.

“They (IMB) had a vision of taking the gospel to some of these unreached people groups. We had a vision of wanting to see the gospel being taken. The two just wed perfectly,” Melber said.

David Platt, IMB president, addressed this partnership in a video to Crossings Ministries. “I want to take just a quick minute to thank you for what you are doing there at Crossings as you are praying for the spread of the gospel to go to the nations and as you are giving sacrificially toward that,” Platt said.

He continued, “As you’re celebrating the gospel, I’m so thankful that you’re turning your eyes and your ears and your hearts toward those who have never heard this good news of what God has done in Christ.”

“So I want to encourage you to give sacrificially, to think through individually, and then collectively look at what we’ve got an opportunity to be a part of as we give to see missionaries mobilized from churches to take the gospel to those who have never heard it,” he said.

“I praise God for all the great things I have heard about what He has done and is doing at Crossings, and I pray that as you give toward this offering that the fruit of your giving would have ripple effects literally all around the world for ever, for all of eternity, that as a result of your giving, people might hear the gospel and be saved from their sins,” Platt concluded.

A typical day at Crossings Camp, whether on the Cedarmore campus in Bagdad or at Jonathan Creek in Hardin, starts with breakfast and “morning celebration.” Bible study and group discussion go on until lunch time. After lunch, students participate in recreational activities and spend time with their church groups. After dinner is worship and “checkpoint” where what was learned in the day is discussed, followed by more recreation time.

This year, in addition to renovations—new rooms, exteriors, common spaces and expanded housing—at both campuses, new “Points of Impact” or POI’s are available. POIs are timez of recreation/activity that take place every afternoon. New POI’s include gaga ball, human foosball, Zumba, illusions, Legos, Minute to Win It, and science experiments (for kids camp).

“We have a lot of changes with our program as far as the daily schedule where there’s more integrated missions teaching opportunities,” Melber said. “People who come back will see some of the same things that they have experienced over the last years, just different nuances.”

To those considering bringing groups to camp, Melber said, “We want them to know the gospel is going to be proclaimed. We want them to know that there are a lot of fun activities at camp.”

He concluded, “There’s a lot of things at camp that would make it appealing to a lost student, so use this as an evangelistic opportunity and bring your unsaved kids. And your saved students are going to be presented with how to partner with the Great Commission in taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, especially through this new partnership with the IMB.” (WR)