Leeton Corps puts kids in the frame
Leeton Corps puts kids in the frame
9 January 2023
Leeton Corps member Bev Evans with some of the children who attended a recent kids camp – Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst, Hannah and Gemah.
Leeton Corps can see something really special happening in their youth and children’s ministry.
“It’s a miracle, basically,” Leeton Corps Officer Auxiliary-Lieutenant Lesley Burke said. “We can see what we are doing is having a fantastic impact.”
Lesley describes how many of their children and young people didn’t believe in God when they first engaged with the corps programs, but they do now. They tell the leaders they want to come to church and want to be involved.
“The young people are the ones growing the church because they go to school and tell their friends how great our church is,” Lesley said.
For many of the 27 children and youth on the corps roster, the journey began with the Kids in the Kitchen program, where they learn how to cook and eat healthy food like fruit and vegetables. Lesley said the kids are now cooking for their parents and contributing to community lunches put on by the corps. They get to do fun things like look after the chickens and tend to the community garden, which becomes the basis for the meals. They recently prepared three different meals for local seniors.
A big catalyst in the kids’ spiritual development was recent camps – one for primary-age children and one for secondary-age youth. They had a lot of fun together and came away believing they were special to God. “They absolutely loved it,” Lesley said. “They got involved in everything, they prayed and even wanted to lead activities.”
Quite a few teenagers are involved with corps life and ministry. Lesley believes they enjoy “being hands-on” and wanting to give back to the church. She said the corps works hard to create a fun and safe environment for them to thrive.
“Actually, what is happening now is that the kids are inspiring the adults with their energy, involvement and commitment,” Lesley said.
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