Melissa Motschenbacher shared a powerful update from Riverside Camp in the heart of Wisconsin, where she spent a week ministering to junior campers ages 8 to 10. Over the course of ten chapel messages, she walked students through deep truths—covering everything from Jesus as the ruler of our lives, to the reality of sin, surrender, and the call to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Hope didn’t just preach—she lived alongside the campers. From swimming at the river to swinging under trees and walking to the farm, every moment became a chance for gospel conversations. The fruit was evident. One child shared, “I’m sitting in this seat because this is where God changed my life last night.” Others said, “Chapel was my favorite part—we learned so much about Jesus,” and “I accepted Jesus into my heart for the first time ever. He’s changed my life.” God is raising up more Kingdom Laborers—yes, even among the youngest hearts. Thank you for praying!
Video Transcript
Hello prayer warriors. Melissa Motschenbacher here, Operations and Communications Director at Forge and also a Forge Itinerate Speaker. I just got the privilege and honor of getting back from Riverside Camp in the heart of Wisconsin.
We’ve had so many Forge speakers that have been part of this camp through the years with family camps or different age groups. And I had the privilege of being with the junior camp students, eight to ten years old last week.
And what a beautiful week that it was. There were about forty students. I preached ten different chapels and ten different chapel messages. From anything from Jesus being the ruler of their life, to sin and the consequences of sin, and acknowledge it for what it is, to full surrender, to the holiness of God, following Jesus’ methods and models of seeing and stopping and spending time with. So many incredible opportunities to be with the kids during chapel, but also from morning until night.
I was at the riverside with them as they were swimming and just having conversations on a swing, or going with them to the farm, or being with them there, and everywhere. It was an incredible experience.
And we heard things like, “M&M, guess why I’m sitting here this morning at chapel?” I’m sitting here on the right side, the fourth row in the middle, because this is where God changed my life last night.”
Or another student said, “My favorite part of camp was chapel because we learned so much about Jesus.”
Another one said, “I’ll never forget this camp. God came into my heart here.”
Someone else said, “I accepted Jesus into my heart for the first time ever here. He changed my life.”
Thank you for praying Kingdom Laborers.