Covenant VBS merges fun with prayer

At Hinsdale Covenant Church's annual vacation Bible school, fun shares a pew with prayer and scripture.

Covsports offered kids in first through sixth grades the chance to play a favorite sport, learn a new one, expand their dance and cheerleading moves or tap into their artistic creativity, all while learning about the role God plays in all of it.

Before embarking on their chosen activity last week, campers began each day of the four-day camp in the church's sanctuary. Led by Pastor Lars Stromberg, campers and their counselors gathered to share a daily devotional, sing songs and learn about the role God plays in all aspects of their lives.

On the second day of camp, 9-year-old Demi Sommers said she enjoyed hearing about how God can find lost things, including people who have lost their way. By the second day of camp Demi had also learned a couple of new cheer moves and was improving her jumping skills.

"It's my favorite," she said of cheerleading.

Campers who chose sports camp spent time learning and playing soccer, hockey and basketball. Hinsdale Central High School junior Piper Griffin was one of several teens to lead the campers throughout the week.

"I like all of the positive energy," said Griffin, who was still a camper herself when she decided she wanted to be a counselor one day.

"I wanted to be someone little kids looked up to," she said.

This was Griffin's second year as a counselor, a job she shares with classmates and fellow members of the Covenant youth group. She said part of her job as camp counselor is to encourage campers to participate, not only in the sports, but in worship. At points throughout the day, Griffin and the other counselors work in conversations and small-group discussions about the day's Bible lessons.

This was the first Covsports camp for Collin Kemp, director of youth ministry, who joined the church staff in 2023. Kemp said that while the camp is only four days long, fees paid by campers help to keep the church's young people engaged throughout the year.

"It's a good way to fund our youth ministry fund for the year," he said.

It also can introduce elementary students to the opportunities that await them as teenagers.

Trisha Bragg has attended several camps since joining the church in 2021 and stepping into her role as director of children's ministry earlier this year. Bragg said Covsports is a homegrown program that is enjoyed by her own children and unique to Hinsdale Covenant.

Of the 50 children who participated in Covsports this year, more than half chose to pursue sports, while more than a dozen spent the week practicing dance and cheer. Seven campers spent the week stretching their creative muscles in art camp. From papier-mâché masks to bracelets, all of the projects were designed by Addie Hsieh and her fellow art camp counselors.

"It's nice getting to know all of these kids," said Hsieh, a junior at Hinsdale Central and church member.

While enjoying a mid-morning snack, the young artists participated in a small-group discussion that included the chance to make prayer requests and to pray for one another.

Each day at camp ended as it began, with a gathering in the sanctuary and a chance to reflect on the day's lessons and the fun that was had.

Griffin said that while she has heard all the Bible lessons before, Covsports still works to make her a better Christian.

"Kids bring me closer to God," she said.