FAIRMONT - Not every child in Robeson County has the opportunity to attend church, despite living in a place where churches are more numerous than convenience stores.
In Lumberton's downtown section alone, there are 11 churches, and rumor has it that the county has more churches per capita than anywhere else in the nation.
Yet despite this target-rich environment of places of worship, too many children don't have access to Sunday School services.
But a dent is being made in the problem, thanks to a little "grace." Camp Grace, that is.
The nondenominational organization is an outreach of Christian Bible Ministries, which for 40 years has taught Bible lessons to public school students. It also holds numerous five- and three-day camp sessions during the summer.
Mission: Children
The camp is located on 240 acres on Raynham Road between Fairmont and Pembroke. Camp Director Bobby Williams said that, while building new features and making improvements to the camp is a goal, it is secondary to the organization's primary objectives.
"Our big thing is about the slogan, 'Win a child, win a life,'" he said. "I'd say probably 60 to 70 percent of students in our Time Release classes do not attend church. We're not looking to take the place of church, only to aid the local church."
Williams and those connected to Camp Grace say it goes beyond Bible lessons.
"It's about teaching things like honesty, obedience, respect, courage, discipline, understanding, work ethic - all good and worthy things," Williams said.
St. Pauls Middle School Principal Deena Revels attended the Camp Grace prototype, New Life, in Raleigh as a youth and has seen its benefits as a mother and grandmother.
"Time Release and the camp can make a difference in students, our schools, their parents and our community," she said. "I've seen it work on so many different levels. This summer, four of my grandchildren went to camp and three gave their life over to Christ."
Revels took lessons from the late Grace Garthwaite, for whom the camp is named after, and later worked with her as a counselor. She called her mentor "dedicated, compassionate, genuine about her work, and a person who radiated Christ in her life."
Kent Lowery was another person who caught a small flame from Garthwaite. His experience took place while he was a student at Magnolia Elementary. He is now a volunteer at Camp Grace and avid supporter of its mission.
"It's about planting seeds and looking to God," he said. "This is something we desperately need here. We need to reach kids before their minds are ingrained and set. I give of the talent God gave me because it's up to us to teach our young children."
Sharing 'Time'
Time Release is a program that takes children out of classrooms for one hour per month for Bible lessons. Students are either escorted to a church in the vicinity of the school or go to Camp Grace's mobile classroom, The Rolling Chapel. Parents must sign a release form for students to attend classes.
Hector Miray is the head counselor of Time Release. He oversees nine volunteer teachers who visit 28 schools and teach about 4,400 students in grades 2 through 8.
His wife, Danielle, is responsible for the mailbox lessons sent to children each month. Every lesson a student completes deducts $5 off his camp tuition.
"It would shock you how many children in this county have no bible teachings, no adult guidance and as a result we have childrenthat haveno focus," Revels said."Child-ren thoroughly enjoy this time because it's about them andtheir lives."
Tommy Swett - a formerteacher, coach, counselor with the public schools and director of student support programs at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke - said as a volunteer fund-raiser and board member, he would like to see Time Release expanded to once a week.
"We have a golden opportunity in this county to make a difference," he said. "A survey a few years ago said less than 30 percent of our people go to church. That's unreal if you think about it. Those of us around here know this thing works. It's positive and even those who go to church find it beneficial. Kids are hungry for the class. They love to sing, and I've always believed if you put a song in a kid's heart it will stay there forever."
Summer fun
There are two cabins at Camp Grace that house a total of 48 campers. Each has electricity and bathing facilities. A third cabin is under construction.
A man-made pond that measures almost two acres is another attraction. There is also a 2,400 square-foot screened pavilion for games, activitiesand assembly, hiking trials, picnic areas and a soccer field.
The facility is available for retreats and meetings. More than 200 volunteers have helped out in some capacity at the camp.
Williams, a physical education teacher and coach for 12 before coming on board three years ago, said one of the goals of the camp is to see it used throughout the year. Williams and the board of directors at Camp Grace also have ambitious ideas for the master plan at the facility.
"Some of the things I envision won't come in my time, but I feel they will come," Swett said. "I'd like to see six or eight cottages, a dining hall, a multi-purpose room, ballfields ... just a lot of things but they have to be done properly. My wife and I have worked with the ministry for 20 years and have seen good things. My dream as a fund-raiser is to get 30 or 40 groups to give about $1,000 for a three-year period to help us with our base."
Ideas for the camp include a horse stable and riding trails, water slide, obstacle and ropes course, playground, amphitheater, shooting range and go-cart track and gymnasium.
The organization raised about $30,000 at last year's golf marathon, a 100 hole tournament. It will tee up again this summer for another benefit. It also receives donations from churches throughout the area.
"We invite people to be a part of the ministry in whatever way they can," Williams said.
"Whether it's praying, giving us money or materials or coming out and working. For me, this is a life mission that I can only hope will someday be as great a place on the outside as it is on the insides of those children that come here and find newfound hope and love."
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