First Baptist Church of Brownwood is where the action is this week as approximately 150 campers are actively learning how to play sports like a champion with Bible virtues during this year’s “Olympics” themed Champs Camp.
This is the 9th year of Champs Camp which is held during spring break each year. Children from kindergarten through 6th grade are enjoying the sports-based Christian day camp which is designed to aid families who have a need for child care during the week of spring break. The ministry opportunity, offered by FBC Brownwood, is spearheaded by the Children’s Ministry of the church. Volunteers from college Baptist Student Ministries (BSMs) come each year, devoting their spring break to Christian service. In the past, students from Lamar University in Beaumont and Howard Payne University have served at Champs camp and this year, students from Texas A&M and UT Dallas have joined in the fun.
“This year we have more colleges than ever helping out, four different universities’ BSM members have come to help teach,” said Interim Children’s Ministry Director Celeste Church. “Church members have been bringing them food for their evening meals and washing the clothing of the volunteers each night. It’s been great.”
Church said there are also volunteers from local high schools helping out. In fact, some of them have grown up as campers and now are teachers at Champs Camp, such as Brownwood High School student Bryce Vickers who enjoys helping with coaching basketball during the camp.
During the Olympic themed week, the students are divided by grade level and then within each grade, there are groups formed into teams with names of different countries. As they learn about sports, they are also learning a little geography while learning where their team county is located and things about the country as well.
Champs Camp runs through Friday, March 16th. To learn more about Champs Camp, please visit
