Christian Recreation
MIDDLESEX TWP — Hundreds of children of all ages playing Ping-Pong — or a dozen other sports or baking or fishing — sounds like controlled chaos.
But for Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 161 McFann Road, it sounds like another successful summer.
The church has held its Christian Recreation Program for 59 years.
Running from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday this year from June to July 27, the program is directed by Trisha Doverspike.
Doverspike said, “This is our 59th summer. We have registered 375 children. We average about 196 a day.”
“They are registered but they don't have to come very day. They can come when they want to. If they don't want to come every day they don't have to,” she said.
Doverspike added registration is open to the community and families can register online.
Registration is ongoing. Children can be registered by going to the church website, www.gospelfellowshippca.org, and following the links.
The program has been free for the children, although there may be an added cost for some of the trips to Moraine State Park or the upcoming July 14 Faith Night at Lernerville.
“We serve children 5 through 14. We have board games, table games. We have a gymnasium and 85 acres that we are able to utilize to play all sorts of activities,” she said.
Those activities, according to a church brochure, include kickball, baseball, softball, soccer, capture the flag, dodge ball, football, basketball, archery, fishing, baking, pool, table tennis, golf and foosball.
“We have a gym. We put in an addition a few years ago. We have a full gym and a kitchen the kids can use to bake,” Doverspike said.Doverspike said participants are asked to leave all electronic devices at home. Staff and church phones can be used by campers when necessary and with permission.Riding herd over all the activities are 17 paid staff members and additional volunteers from the church.The Rev. David O'Leary, the assistant pastor at Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church, oversees the program.“I used to write the devotions, but Trisha is taking a lot more of that on herself,” he said.“I am here during the program. On a typical day I am here doing something in an informal way.”Asked why he felt the program was entering its 59th year this summer, O'Leary said, “People have a real love for families and children in the area.”Doverspike said the camp began “when the pastor had 11 children. He was looking for a way to play with his kids. The neighborhood kids, and then kids from the congregation began to come.”Today, she said, “It's just a way to interact with kids. Get them outside and interact with Jesus, too,” she said.“He's called us to notice and be faithful to the families around us,” O'Leary said. “And we know what it is to belong to the Lord, so we want to tell other people what he has done.”O'Leary said the days typically run with a 90-minute play period, then a half-hour Bible lesson and then another 90-minute play period to end the recreation program's day.The 250-member congregation fully supports this program, O'Leary added.“We believe in it. It's a service to the community, and we love doing it,” he said.
