4:12 RETREAT

October 3 – 5, 2025

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” 1 Timothy 4:12

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4:12 Retreat

Ages 9 – 13

The 4:12 retreat is a full weekend of Camp that is all about our younger campers, inspired by 1 Timothy 4:12. Many of our Summer Staff will be returning for the retreat to continue their roles as counselors, and we have prepared a full schedule of camping activities for the retreat. Group Bible, Canteen, Quiet Time, Hymn Time and Ball Games will all be a part of the experience. 

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Get the Details

4:12 Retreat Key Details

DATE: October 3 – 5, 2025


DROP OFF:  6:30 – 8:00 pm Friday

Please let us know if you will be late. Check-In will take place in the pavilion (basketball court) and the Camp Nurse will be present to receive camper medications if needed.
Please stop at the pavilion upon your arrival to receive your cabin assignment.

PICK UP: 11:00 am -12:30 pm Sunday

Sunday morning Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. Parents are welcome to join us for worship before checking out their camper and heading home.

PRICE: $100 per camper

Includes meals, canteen, activities and a t-shirt!

4:12 Retreat Packing List

The same things you’d bring for a normal week of camp, but with colder weather!

Bible

Sleeping Bag or Twin sized Bedding
Pillow
Toiletries
Towel
T-shirts
Jeans
Sweatshirt
Rain jacket
Comfortable Shoes
Flashlight

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UNTIL 4:12 RETREAT!

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Day 1 - God Comes First

SCRIPTURE:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6


DEVOTIONAL:

This is a verse that we hear often. It’s a common memory verse. It’s the basis for countless worship songs and hymns. It strikes at the core of all Christian faith and life. These words come from Moses, as He speaks to the Israelites before their entry into the Promised Land. Behind them, there has been a long journey – from slavery to freedom a promise of a land of their own that is very good. But along that journey there has been temptation, and the Israelites have time and time again lost sight of their covenant with God and forgotten the salvation that He delivered to them. Because of that, they spent 40 years wandering in the desert instead of going straight to the new homeland that God had promised.


It’s a lesson to all of us that when we lose sight of God, when we forget about Him and His Word, when our focus drifts away from Him, we end up wandering in a desert instead of enjoying the good things He intended for us.


At Camp Deer Run, we leave behind many of the things in our day to day lives that distract us from God. We leave behind the phones, the TVs, the social media, the stress of school or work, the trials and struggles that we carry with us. When you step through the gates as your session begins, you can leave all of it behind you and just focus on God, pure and simple.
When we set those burdens down, and remove all the distractions that are keeping us from seeing God clearly and putting Him first in our lives, we come closer to Him, we grow deeper in our relationship with Him, we feel His love. And when we know His love for us and understand that we are His beloved children, our love for Him grows too.


But Camp doesn’t have some kind of magic forcefield around it that makes you leave your worries at the door. It’s definitely easier at Camp to leave those things behind. There’s so much fun to be had, so much nature to enjoy, and so many friends to surround you. But at the end of the day, it’s still up to you to let go of the things that distract you from God and to put Him first. Sometimes that’s hard to do, and sometimes it takes a little while to figure it out. That’s ok!


As you prepare for Camp, we just want you to know that God wants to have a relationship with you. God knows you. God loves you. And He wants you to keep your focus on Him, because He doesn’t want you to be lost in the desert. He wants to lead you to the Promised Land!

 

DISCUSSION:


What are some of the things that make it hardest for you to focus on God at home?


Can you leave that behind when you go to Camp? How?


Camp Deer Run is all about seeing God in everything, not just worship or Bible lessons, but in the games and activities and friends and fun. How do you keep your focus on God in all of these different situations?