'We had planned for 2,000 the first summer. 'The mandate from Lord was to build a headquarters of faith for the youth of the world,' Rachel Burchfield explained. The family affair started with their parents, Tommy and Rachel, who bought the property and quickly began teaming up with local churches to train their youth. 'My life got drastically changed as a child, and so it gave me proof that Jesus can touch a child,' Cirkles said. Now, he oversees the ministry with his brother, Andrew, and sister, Abby Cirkles. Peter told CBN News that's what happened in his own life as a child. 'When students discover Jesus and discover Jesus's plan for their life at a young age, it really does carry them through their life.' Peter Burchfield, one of the camp pastors, aims to create a transformative experience for the kids. 'The people here set the atmosphere.'Ĭreating a 'Transformative Experience' for Campers pray for every single night,' Martinez explained. The behind-the-scenes perspective has given him a new appreciation for the camp ministry. 'I feel like no matter what I'm going to do: washing dishes, cleaning restrooms, cleaning dorms, helping campers, it's like I'm doing it for Him.' 'God has called me to do this,' Martinez said. Four years later, he returned as an intern working in the kitchen. He first visited when he was 13 years old. Many, like Daniel Martinez, 17, feel drawn into the ministry. This summer alone, 538 kids were baptized at the camp facility. Most leave with a passion to follow Jesus Christ. Since 1989, the camp has taken in more than half a million children. 'We've had kids and groups come from all the way from Hawaii to all the way from Japan,' said Andrew Burchfield, who serves as Discovery Camp's ministry director. The ministry started nearly 30 years ago and has grown to include around 200 workers and volunteers who manage the 1,088 acre, 1,200-bed property, which can host up to 20,000 students during a summer season. It's not uncommon for those services to last for hours – with kids praying together, learning lessons from the Bible, and seeking to grow spiritually pursuing God's anointing on their lives. The Heartbeat of Discovery Camp: Spiritual Renewal While the kids who visit Discovery Camp enjoy go-karts, horseback rides, and a 440-foot water slide, many say the activity they relish the most is the daily and nightly worship services. One camp in southeast Texas has a mission that digs a little deeper. COLUMBUS, Texas – Each year, more than six million kids make friends, learn new skills, and build self-confidence at the 14,000 day and overnight camps across the United States.

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