Covenant Community Services
Covenant News from the "Frontlines"
Issue No. 1 June 2009
Greetings!

As you read this, I am in the mountains above the Valley serving foster children in the "cathedral of the outdoors". This week I have the privilege of watching 50 leaders minister to 50 foster children from Kern County at the 15th annual Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC). In case you didn't know, RFKC is a ministry outreach of Canyon Hills Assembly of God in Bakersfield, California. Kim and I have been directing RFKC for 13 years and it has been one blessing after another.

RFKC 2009 began on Sunday at Canyon Hills where Supervisor Mike Maggard made proclamations and the RFKC 2009 team was commissioned to serve foster children in prayer. The team left Bakersfield Sunday afternoon and the children arrived at camp on Monday. It was a great first day with many smiling faces and joy-filled hearts.

One of our staff was speaking to a new camper aged 7 named Sam. Sam anxiously asked a staff member, "So, when do we get to ride horses ... when do we get to swim ... when do we get to go on hikes?"
The staff member responded with some surprise, "Well, isn't this your first time at camp?"
Sam answered with a simple, "yep!"
"So, how do you know we are going to do all that?", responded our cool staff.
The priceless answer came forth, "I saw it on the news!"

Isn't that great. Here we are praying for camp, praying for campers and trusting God will make it a great week full of joy and compassion that leads to trust in God for life and a camper has the week completely scheduled from watching the news (shout out to Tim Calahan and KGET 17!). Sam had watched the news Sunday night and was ready for RFKC.

RFKC is more than a week of camp. RFKC is a week of hope and joy. It is a week where children that have suffered greatly experience childhood and God's unconditional love. I love RFKC and God's work at camp in, and through, campers, staff and volunteers.

This week, I will be posting to the Covenant website, www.covenantcs.net, facebook and youtube regular updates and prayer requests. This is a week of transformation. This is a week of destiny. I hope you enjoy the posts, updates and also participate through prayer.

For King and Kingdom,

Randy
RFKC celebrates 15 years of ministry to foster children
 
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Sixteen summers ago, Canyon Hills felt the need to serve foster children in Kern County and decided to do something about it. Pastor Vinson sent a team of ministry leaders to learn about Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC) and Canyon Hills became the 24th such camp in the United States.

This summers RFKC celebrates 15 years of ministry to abused and negelcted children served by Kern County Child Protective Services. It may sound weird to celebrate a ministry to children that have suffered abuse but that is not what we are hearing on the front lines.

At the second training for staff and counselors of this years RFKC, three former RFKC campers returned to share their story post-RFKC.

Our guests were Michael, Mike and Brandon. Brandon was the elder spokesman at 23. He had been to camp in 1995 and 1996. He shared words that pierced my heart and gave great encouragement to "stay the course". Brandon shared, "This camp changed my life. I would not be the man I am today or the father I am today without this camp." Wow!

RFKC - a mission of creating positive memories today that shape a child's tommorrow!
A Covenant Moment ~ Childlike Faith

The theme of RFKC 2009 is The Sheepfold. we are taking the children through the story of David and examining how his life relates to our life. Here is our five daily themes:

1 - God Cares for Me
2 - God Chooses Me
3 - God Gives Me Courage
4 - God Helps Me with My Problems
5 - God Blesses me with Kindness
 
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Aren't these great thoughts? Our verse for the week is from Psalm 23, "Because the Lord is my Shepherd I have everything I need".

I tell you, it may seem simple but each of these teachings is profound for the same God that is the Father of the Fatherless and Friend to the Friendless is your God as well. he is utterly amazing. And, His truth and life are for you and all those you know and love. God is not saving His compassion just for foster children at RFKC. One of the things I love about coming to RFKC is that I receive the faith of a child as I watch children move in simple faith to a great big God!
Friend, this week take time to engage your childlike faith. Think of the simple things God is doing and has done for you and simply enjoy your life in Him. Come to Him, not as a successful adult but as a child full of wonder and awe!
Please join our efforts by covering the camp in prayer. We are thankful for the team God has created to serve in the fight for the fatherless but we need your help. Everyday at RFKC we are reminded of our dependency upon God. There is nothing we can offer a child that has been burned by cigarettes, locked in a dog kennel, shut in a closet, deprived of food or beaten with garden hoses ... what can we say? But, God in His great mercy, grace and compassion continues His work to bring the "sheep" that are not yet in his fold under His care. You are a part of this mystery. Please join us in the fight and pray for the children and the camp. We need you!
 
Girls
 
Gabriella (12), Karissa (12), Shay (11), Daisy (11), Cheyene (11), Rubi (11), Riley (11), Kassandra (10), Maria (11), Jessica (11), Rose (10), Aleesa (10), Alorra (10), Veronica (10)
G (10), Mary (10), Jazmyne (9), Keeley (9), Aurora (9), Pricilla (9), Crystal (9), Julianne (8), Samya (8), Tabitha (7), Noemi (7), Urika (7), Elisa (7), Vivica (7) 
 
Boys
 
Adam (12), Isaiah (12), Anthony (11), Jazz (11), Robert M. (11), Robert R. (11), Joey (10), Jose (10), Marshon (10), Jeremiah (9), Angel (9), Matt M. (9), Wesley (8), Vernie (8), John (8), Leo (8), Thomas (8), Matt R. (8), Zack (8), Austin (8), Brycyndo (7)


For King and Kingdom,
 
Randy Martin
RFKC and Covenant Community Services
 
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