The Good News for all Cultures

by Elizabeth Greer

A quick glance in my home office reveals an accumulation of Christian literature, Bible commentaries and a collection of Bibles that dates back to my youth. There's the red leather Youth for Christ edition given to me by my grandparents; my black zippered KJV version awarded to me in Sunday school, complete with pictures of Noah's Ark and Jesus welcoming the children into His arms; and various newer translations, including NIV, NASB, and The Word on the Street.

I even have an 1821 edition that was once owned by my great-aunt and by generations before her. No doubt your home has a similar collection – but not every home does.

For the last seven years, my husband and I have had the privilege of directing Eagle Bay Camp (formerly Hilbre Bible Camp). We have worked largely cross-culturally, welcoming the majority of our campers from the first Nations communities in our area. This past summer we had the added opportunity of leading a day camp for 80 youth in the fly-in community of Garden Hill First Nation.

It is in this context that we have also been privileged to give Bibles to the campers. Through the generosity of various donors, including Eastview Community Church, we were able to distribute well over 1000 copies of New Testament. These NTs have been taken home to First Nations communities such as Little Saskatchewan, Fairford, Grand Rapids, Easterville, Poplar River, Bloodvein, Sioux Valley, Ebb & Flow, Lake St. Martin, and others. Children from the local towns have taken copies as well.

No longer can we assume that every home has a Bible and that someone in that home is familiar with its contents. Our society has become increasingly distant from its Judeo-Christian roots, and the average person passing us on the street cannot relate biblical stories or explain what the Gospel message is, or why it is good news at all. Many believe in a "god" but do not believe that this higher power cares anything at all about what goes on here on earth. This is what motivates all of us involved in children's ministries, whether in a summer camp context or through outreach events through the local church.

Children of all cultures are precious and need to hear that God loves and values them. They need to hear that there are better options than drugs, alcohol, gang involvement or suicide. We cannot keep the Good News to ourselves. We are grateful to the donors who support our camp and to organizations such as LifeLight Ministries. It is with their help that we can place The Word of God in more homes each year.

Elizabeth and Rick Greer became ministry directors of Eagle Bay Camp in 2000 after selling their family business and moving from Ontario. They have been married for 25 years and have three sons.