Hessel Children Monthly Update

July 2026

What a month it was here at Hessel! We hosted 260 elementary campers for our Rainforest Falls Adventure Camp - and it was amazing! I was so encouraged and blessed to be a part of such a powerful week. I want you all to know that I am continually praying for your families and asking God that He would continue the work that He’s been doing in the lives of your children. One of the biggest highlights for me was hearing so many of the kids express a desire to take the next step in their faith journey through the ordinance of baptism - praise God!

If you’ve ever been camping, you’ve probably sat around a campfire. It is one of the most peaceful and relaxing things you can do. There’s something about sitting and staring at the flames while the birds whistle around you that brings calmness to your soul. However, if you’ve been around the campfire, you also know that you need to maintain it to keep it burning. Over time, the flames die out, and the wood is consumed. It requires adding more, strategically, in order to keep the fire going.

I liken Adventure Camp to starting a big fire. I know that it was a spiritual “high” for many of our campers. But the truth is, for many, that fire will die out. The cares of the world, the busyness of our schedules, and all the rest tend to choke out the flames before they have their intended results. So, my encouragement to you, as parents, this summer is to keep throwing kindling (as well as some large logs) on the fire of your child’s heart. Long-lasting growth requires maintenance, just like when you’re around the campfire. It doesn’t need to be stressful or frantic, but calm, consistent, loving pushes that keep the fire going.

There are many different ways that we can help children burn for Jesus, but one key, dare I say irreplaceable way, is consistent fellowship around the Word of God. Week in, week out. Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights. With that in mind, I would HIGHLY recommend signing up for our Awana program this coming fall. Awana is a weekly discipleship program focused on memorizing Scripture and building a faith that lasts. For more information and to sign up, see the bottom of this page and the ChurchCenter app.

One of the great things that Awana does is provide resources for ministry leaders as well as parents. The resource of the month for July is the Child Discipleship website which is a great tool you have to check out!

I wish you all the best through the rest of the summer!

Blessings,

Julian Marcel | Pastor of Children’s Ministry | Hessel Church | julian@hessel.org