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Inaugural Nashville All Sports Camp teaches local students how to 'live a greater story'

Lipscomb Athletics | 

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was not the only summer sporting event that assembled athletes from all across the globe as Lipscomb Athletics brought together 30 young campers from more than five countries for its inaugural Nashville All Sports Camp, June 25-29.

Led by Lipscomb student-athletes, local seven through 11-year-olds, including 10 refugee students from Mexico, Burma, Sudan, the Congo and Nepal, spent the weeklearning and playing multiple sports in a positive, high-energy environment, as well as engaging in an intentional Bible curriculum.

With a camp theme of “Live A Greater Story,” and theme verse of John 10:10, campers learned how Jesus has lived the greatest story, and how they could live into His greater story as well, said camp director Chris Klotz.  

“It is incredibly humbling to see how God worked within every single detail of this camp,” said Klotz, who also serves as director of spiritual formation in Lipscomb Athletics. “From our camp partnerships with Carpenter’s Square and Christ for the Nations Church, to our amazing coaching staff and guest coaches, to the campers that participated and the donors who provided scholarships for 10 refugee families, we could not be more thankful for His hand over it all! It was truly an honor to spend the week with such amazing kids playing, laughing, learning and living into the greater story Jesus invites us to live.”

“It was amazing to see kids from all walks of life and from all over the world band together over sports and Jesus,” said Joe Hemphill, community outreach coordinator at Carpenter’s Square. “The coaches did an amazing job connecting with the kids, and on the final day I had one boy tell me that he wished camp went on until August 5th!" 

“Our kids came home talking every day about how much they loved camp,” said Jenny Hunter, mother of two campers. “Not only were they having fun playing with the coaches and campers, but more importantly, they were being spiritually nourished and came home with questions and a thirst to learn more about God and how they could live their greater story. I will definitely clear the calendar for this camp for summer of 2019!” 

Since 2017, Lipscomb Athletics has partnered with Carpenter’s Square and Christ for the Nations Church to serve local refugee families. To learn more about Lipscomb Athletics Spiritual Formation and how to get involved, contact Chris Klotz at cpklotz [at] lipscomb.edu.