Don't Lose Steam

Did you spend a week at SpringHill this summer? Did you get excited about God and learn how much he loves you? Back at home and school it can be hard to stay as excited and interested in having God in your life as you were at camp. But God wants you to stay strong, to continue growing your faith and learning about him! See what Gracie has to say about staying excited about God in this issue of The Hopper. You'll find some fun stuff, too. Take a look!

News @ SpringHill Michigan

Summer camp may be over, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get back to SpringHill this year!

For example, there's Family Camp! Finish out the summer by flying down the zipline with your mom or ducking for cover in the paintball field with your dad or sending your little sister soaring off the blob. Have out-of-this-world fun and experience God in a real way with your whole family. It all happens here September 1-4! Check out all the details on our website.

3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders - tell your church youth leader about SpringHill's fall retreats! At SpringHill Michigan we'll be meeting at the Hill for two Juniors retreats: November 17-19 and December 1-3. Live bands, out-of-this-world activities, time to grow with God and as a group - it'll be your group's greatest event of the year.

Tell Your SpringHill Story

If you spent a week of your summer at SpringHill this year, we want to hear about it! What's the craziest thing that happened? The most special moment? The biggest thrill? What made your heart soar-the blob, the zipline, campfire or lunchtime skits? We want to know!

Email us and give us the scoop on your summer at SpringHill. Be sure to let us know if we can share your story in an upcoming issue of The Hopper. Write to us today!

Staying on Track

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
-Hebrews 12:1-2a

Have you ever run a race or watch someone else run one? What happens if you stop or go off the course or run backwards instead of forward? You don't finish, right? In these Bible verses, we learn the same thing about our faith. When we decide to follow Jesus and live our life for him, it is as if we have started a race. We want to stay on track and "run" for him with all our hearts. 

The great news is that we are not alone when we live for Jesus and make an effort to move forward in our faith. These verses tell us that we are "surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses." The writer is talking about the great heroes from the Bible like Moses, Abraham and David. The lives of these heroes are written about to encourage and teach us as we live for Jesus. We also have "heroes" in our lives today - parents, grandparents, church friends, your SpringHill counselor - acting as role models and "fans" to cheer us on!

Share some questions and answers with your parents: Have you started the "race" these verses talk about by deciding to follow Jesus? Is it easy for you to get off track in living for Jesus? What hero from the Bible inspires you the most? Who are the "fans" in your life who are excited about your relationship with God and will encourage you to grow? How can they help you stay on track with your faith?

Do-It-Yourself SpringHill Adventures - Mini Challenge Course

Did you navigate the Challenge Course at SpringHill this summer? Here's a way to create a miniature replica to remind you of what you accomplished!

1. Get a bag of regular size marshmallows, some toothpicks and some skewers, straws or coffee stirers. You may also need a pair of scissors to cut the straws or stirers.

2. Using the marshmallows to hold the various types and lengths of stick-like materials in place, build your own mini challenge course. 

3. If you'd like, use string, yarn or twine to add rope swings and ladders. 

4. When your challenge course is complete, give a lego man or an adventurous Polly Pocket a mini SpringHill adventure!

I Wish God Would Tell Me

Dear Gracie,
     When my friends asked about my week at SpringHill I told them all about the fun stuff but not so much about God because I don't know what to say. How can I tell people about Jesus without sounding weird or too religious?
          From Awkward

Dear Awkward,
     It can be hard to talk about God and Jesus and salvation when we feel like we have to convince someone to believe or prove that we are right. But, luckily, this isn't what God wants us to do. God just wants us to tell others, honestly, what we know to be true from his Word (the Bible) and what we experienced in our hearts when we discovered that he loves us and how much he loves us! Try telling your friends what you talked about with your cabin and counselor during campfires and what you learned during your morning watch. They'll see that you're sharing from your heart and, even if they don't understand, a friend will respect your sincerity and belief.
          Love, Gracie

Is there something you wish God would tell you? Ask Gracie.

Say Something

1. Why is it important to stand firm in your faith?
To grow closer to God
To honor God and what he's done for me
To show others that Jesus is in my life
Because the Bible says it is
I don't think it's important
I don't know

2. Has God done anything in your life that is worth standing strong for?
Yes
No
Not sure

3. What most commonly draws you away from God?
Friends
Being lazy
Lose interest
Doubt
Activities
Other

4. Have you ever told a friend about your relationship with God?
Yes
No

5. When you think about the coming school year, how do you feel?
Excited
Sick
Bored
Anxious
Neutral
Hopeful

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What You Said

Who do you depend on in tough situations? 50% say God; 25% say family and the rest are evenly split between yourself and your friends.

75% think God is most interested in a pure heart; 13% say good deeds.

Just over half of you polled are looking forward to going back to school.