Wade Street Church in Lichfield held our 7th annual Baseball Camp at a local secondary school in the first week of the school summer holidays this year.
The event was even bigger and better that our previous years as we had two new elements – cheerleading and a taster session for those under seven . Over two hundred and thirty children and young people took part this year.
The Camp began when our previous Minister, Ian Hayter, now retired, met a USA organisation, Synergy, who had run Baseball camps in Swadlincote, Derbyshire and in Germany. They were keen to partner with churches in the UK, and we teamed up with Woodlands First Baptist Church from Houston in Texas. This year they sent a mission team of thirty to work with us on the camp and we continue to see this camp as a major part of our outreach as a church.
The camp lasts a week from Sunday to Friday, and the team stays with families from the church. Baseball is a very inclusive game and, whilst many have not played it before, they quickly learn the skills. They do love listening to the Texans. We have a morning session for 7- to 11-year-olds, and an afternoon session for 11–18-year-olds. Each participant is a member of a team, equipped with shirts and hats of American Baseball teams such as the Astros and the Cardinals. We were wonderfully encouraged this year by the cheerleaders, who learnt and practiced from the excellent and experienced Texans.
The leaders of each team are the Texan coaches plus members of our church. Each day we have a team time where we engage with the youngsters about Jesus. We have begun in the last two years to involve the Methodist Church and Life Church, both in Lichfield.
This is something a church or a group of churches could consider. We would welcome anyone who is wanting to understand more to come along next summer and look at what we do or find out more directly from us. We are seeing families and youngsters engage with the church and with Jesus in a way that is new, exciting and hugely rewarding for all those we take part. As well as hosts for the Texans, and team leaders and adult members of the team, we have those who chat to parents watching, provide refreshments and man the site and the reception each day.
Keith Newton
Church Secretary
Wade Street Church Lichfield