The Overview:
Opportunity Camp has been held for over 35 years and serves the refugee communities of Memphis with a safe, fun, educational, and Gospel-filled camp. Coming from war and poverty-stricken countries, many of the children and their families find hope and new life in America. We exist to offer spiritual hope through the love of Jesus Christ with music, education, art and more.
This year we will be expecting 120 campers and will have over 40 volunteers involved! Find how you can be involved and serve these precious children by browsing our website!
The History:
Starting in the early 1970′s as a ministry of the Shelby Baptist Association, Opportunity Camp originally served inner-city children from the Memphis Metro area. The focus changed some years later when the Shelby Baptist Associational WMU took responsibility for the camp. At that point the focus became sharing Christ with the many refugee children who had settled in the Memphis area. Opportunity Camp has served the inner city refugees of Memphis for over 35 years.
Many people don’t realize that the Federal Government has selected certain cities in the US as official refugee resettlement sites. This keeps the influx of refugees from swamping coastal or border cities. Memphis is one such city and when the refugees arrive, they are usually connected with an organization to help their transition to America be as smooth as possible. We work with some of these organizations to recruit the children for camp.
The children who come to Opportunity Camp are grades 1-5 but cannot be older than 12. They come from all over the world to find refuge in America. Some of the countries that have been represented at camp are the following: Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Thailand, Laos, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bosnia, Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, Senegal, Mexico and the community is growing every year! Their religions represent Catholic, Buddhist, Islam, Ancestor worship…you name it and we have had it!
The Staff:
Elesia Turner, Camp Director & Head Camp Nurse
Richard Bushart, Co-Director
Beth Cox, Camp Administrator & Bible Study Coordinator
Amy Dale, Counselor & Volunteer Coordinator
Emily Mewborn, Assistant Coordinator & Camp Nurse
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