Just last week, you were part of sending over 18 youth from Calgary to SkateCamp out in the Okanagan to join Skatelife crews from 5 other cities across Western Canada!
What it always comes back to for me is realizing how God is at work through even the seemingly silly or unnecessary things of life; like getting a fake sharpie face tattoo, a cul-di-sac haircut, or the many other examples in the pictures in this email.
Through these things, and the other happenings of the week at SkateCamp, you were part of giving hope, joy, and connection to youth in our local community who went as campers, and as work crew for the week.
God’s already been at work through these connections through the discussions after club talk times each morning, and in the conversations during the long van rides over the course of the week.
On behalf of our whole Calgary crew, thanks to the whole community at Zion Church for partnering with us in prayer, by giving snacks, and in giving youth the chance to go to camp through scholarships.
One thing I’ve learned is that the memories of a week like this don’t just fade away and disappear. For many youth they stick around for a lifetime, and can even become what God uses later on to radically transform a life.
A sometimes hidden impact from the camp week is in the lives of those that came as work crew; a group of young adults who’ve aged out as campers, and now decided to assist as volunteers for the camp week.
It was amazing to hear a story of one of these guys giving their friend a bible, others noting how the discussions about faith impacted them in distinct ways, and multiple wanting to continue being involved as volunteers at SkateClub programs in the upcoming year.
You’ve been part of providing youth in the skateboarding community the opportunity to grow in their faith, and realize ways they can be using their giftings as ways to serve and bless others.
One of the most amazing things at SkateCamp this year was watching God at work in bringing together a rapidly growing crew of girls at camp. Even just a couple of years ago we’d been scratching our heads thinking of how to make it happen, and now (not to our credit), the girls crew (9 campers) made up over half of the youth who came to camp from Calgary!
A huge answer to prayer for us this year was then having a couple really solid women leaders sign on to lead the girls crew; it was so encouraging to hear how God was at work in the girl’s crew throughout camp in bringing them together, and through the conversations they had over the course of the week.
Thank you for your consistent partnership in support and prayer to see this growing girls crew at camp come about!
Thanks Zion for partnering with us in reaching skateboard kids with the love, hope, and joy of Jesus through SkateCamp this Summer. I’m excited to share how God will continue to use your giving to make an impact in the hearts and lives of kids in our local skateboarding community,
Zach Creighton
Skatelife Calgary Area Director
Ps. This summer’s been a weird one for me, and it’s honestly been a season that’s stretched me in many ways. With kid #2 on the way for me and Emily due on August 28th, it meant I’d needed to step back from going to SkateCamp this year, and instead assisting remotely with the media and administrative aspects of the weekend.
While it was a difficult and uncomfortable decision to make, it was amazing to see our amazing community of leaders step up to the plate, and to hear how God used them throughout the week in the lives of youth. Thank you for being part of pouring into our young and upcoming leaders, and partnering with them in sharing the love and hope of Jesus with the next generation of skateboard youth in our community!
Pray with Us 🙏
For planning and prep for Run to the Hills, and that we'd be able to find a great speaker for this camp in September!
That God would continue to be at work in the hearts of the kids that came to SkateCamp
For our team as we start preparations for another year of indoor SkateClubs coming up in the next school year!