‘Jesus and Me’ camp benefits Brenham’s children

Updated: 9/21/06

‘Jesus and Me’ camp benefits Brenham’s children

By Elizabeth Staples

Communications Intern

BRENHAM—For a dozen years, children from low-income families in the Brenham area have formed lasting relationships, developed important skills and learned spiritual values at JAM—the “Jesus and Me” summer day-camp.

Many children, ages 5 to 12, experience Christ’s love for the first time during the day-camp, said Marcus Lawhon, director of JAM and pastor of House of Worship Church in Brenham.

The Brenham Housing Authority and the school district have partnered with JAM to provide free breakfast and lunch for the children.

“We hope to be a holistic, evangelistic ministry with low-income families, beginning in the Brenham Housing Authority,” Lawhon said.

Churches in Independence Baptist Association worked with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to launch House of Worship Church and JAM to reach low-income families in their area who did not attend any other church.

This summer, more than 100 children were involved daily for eight weeks in games, crafts, Scripture memorization and science and reading programs that challenged them spiritually and academically.

The Brenham Independent School District provides JAM with reading and science specialists. They have created a curriculum specifically for JAM that has helped to raise standardized test scores.

It’s helping these children to not only catch up in school, but even get ahead, Lawhon said.

The “Jesus and Me” summer day-camp helps low-income students catch up and get ahead in school.

For five years, the Brenham Housing Authority and the school district have partnered with JAM to provide free breakfast and lunch for the children.

But the ministry doesn’t end when the children leave JAM each summer afternoon. Many days the counselors go home with them in the evenings to meet their families, play games and bring a more positive environment to the community, Lawhon explained. JAM works closely with the House of Worship church and receives support from the BGCT and from First Baptist and Fellowship Baptist churches in Brenham.

“We are just tilling the soil,” Lawhon said. “These aren’t church kids and have a very limited background. We’re helping them to build a strong foundation.

“When the light is brought into the darkness, it changes the tone of the community. When they’ve seen the light they have something to look forward to. Just the presence of light makes a difference, even if we’re not seeing it right away.

“These children come from families and backgrounds where they don’t see the light on an everyday basis unless someone tells them. And that’s the mission of JAM—to be humble Christians, loving people and showing the light of Jesus to lost children and families.”

Many children, ages 5 to 12, experience Christ’s love for the first time during the day-camp.