Summertime at Bellevue is full of activities for the whole family. Camps, missions projects, CampOutrageous, and retreats–but what is it all for? Why do we do what we do?
Every activity is for one express purpose: to be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond. This is Bellevue’s vision and everything we do is to see a revival start in our church, our city, our nation, and the world.
This summer, our preteens will travel to The Grove for 4th+5th Grade Camp. Middle schoolers will head to East Tennessee for Camp Ocoee. High schoolers will go to Panama City Beach, Florida, for Beach Week. Young Adults will escape to Middle Tennessee for the Young Adults Retreat. For each of these events, our prayer is that God will meet each person in a special way that will impact their lives for eternity.
“Our spiritual life is a series of moments,” Jay Stephenson, Next Gen Pastor, shared. “We can look back on things like camp or VBS and see those as pivotal, spiritual markers when we experienced God in a new and fresh way. Camps and retreats allow these students and young adults to get away from their normal routine, and focus on their journey and their spiritual walk with the Lord.”
Bellevue also has six missions projects planned for this summer, in addition to Mission Memphis, a week set aside for ministry within our city. While we invest in missions for the sake of sharing the Gospel, missions projects hold eternal value for believers as well. Time and time again, we see God use these experiences as opportunities to grow and stretch us as believers on mission.
“These missions opportunities revolve around engaging people in the Missionary Task,” Ben Taylor, Minister of Missions, said. “Missions projects allow people to get outside their natural rhythm. They are stretched and learn ways they can do ministry at home, as well. This training allows them to go deeper in their relationship with God and realize that each of us has a responsibility to fulfill the calling on each of our lives to fulfill the Great Commission.”
Our prayer is that by the end of the summer, those who have been involved in these activities will be equipped and empowered to love God, love people, share Jesus, and make disciples as we seek to be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond.