Junior High Camp

rag-a-muf-fin

Grades: Entering 7th-9th

Dean: Brian Schreiber

Check-in: July 29 @ 9:00am

Parent Pick-up: Aug. 3 @ 10:00am

rag – a – muf – fin

  • Noun -  An idle, worthless fellow; a vagabond; now, especially, a disreputably ragged or slovenly person: formerly used as a general term of reprehension.

  • Base; beggarly; ragged or disorderly.

Identifying the word ragamuffin may have first been heard when reading a Dicken’s novel.  It may not grab your attention. Why would it? Who wants to be labeled ragamuffin when looking at this definition?  Nobody right?  But when we run into Jesus, something changes in us and we find that Jesus came for ragamuffins.

We may not feel like we always deserve it, but the fact is, that God’s relentless pursuit of His raggedy creation is the purest picture of God we have.  There is so much to discover experiencing God’s amazing grace and confidently knowing it’s a new chance in life.  In your darkest of times, God’s grace abounds so much more.

The center of our hearts, this week, will be around our theme text from Ephesians 1:6-8 which says, “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding.”

The reality of this week of camp is that we come to the understanding that everyone of us are ragamuffin people.  How is that?  Ragamuffins speaks to the spiritual condition of all of us.  Here are just a few of those conditions.

  • Ragamuffins throw themselves on the mercy of God. (Romans 8:1)

  • Ragamuffins unfailingly trust in the love of God. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

  • Ragamuffins don’t sit down to serve; they kneel down to serve. (Matthew 20:28)

  • Ragamuffins are happy to have a church to go and mingle with other beggars at the door of God’s mercy. (2 Corinthians 8:24)

  • Ragamuffins are not suited to say long prayers and big words. (Luke 18:13)

  • Ragamuffins are quick to say “yes,” especially in response to a command of Jesus.  (Mark 6:50)

  • Ragamuffins deem themselves wealthy beyond compare. (Matthew 13:44)

  • Ragamuffins have no choice but to be simple, direct and honest. (Philippians 3:10)

  • A Ragamuffins' road will always lead to Calvary. (Galatians 6:14)

Come and join us becoming beggars for the great mercy of God at this life changing week.  Lots of fun, lots of memories and new places for your soul are all available to you.  Experience what Sue Kemp described when she said, “Beggars know how to open their hands, trusting that the crumb of grace will fall.” 

Come and find out how to live with the weight of your own trying off your back and just live like the you that Jesus came for…Ragamuffin – Living in Scandalous Grace.         


About the Dean

Where are you involved at church?

I have been at the Fairfield Church of Christ for 32 years.  I began my time with the church as their youth minister for 22 years.  The last 10 years I have served as the Lead Minister.

What is your favorite Bible verse? 

Too many to list – Romans 12; Romans 8:35-39; Prov. :3:5-6; Proverbs 4:23

What does camp ministry mean to you? 

It truly is a place where you can leave distractions, finding yourself better connecting with the Lord and with others, and finding that what you really needed was for your soul to find rest again.

What is your favorite camp memory?  

Truly, it is watching what only God could orchestrate by being away from distractions and submitting in real worship and service as kingdom workers.

What is your favorite dessert? 

My favorite desserts are warm coffee cake in the mornings and peanut butter/corn flake bars.