A local church will again hold free youth summer soccer camps in June, July and August. In its seventh year, Vineyard Christian Fellowship at the Barn near Landenberg, Pa., has a twofold purpose, said the church’s pastor and the program’s director, Christian Dunn.
“Our church really believes in expressing our faith in practical ways, instead of just talking about it,” said Dunn, 31, of Elkton, Md. “I love soccer and I know a lot of kids love soccer but can’t afford it. I talk about how faith impacts our lives, and we end everyday with an inspirational talk from me to the whole camp.”
Dunn played for his alma mater, Wilmington Christian School in Hockessin, where he graduated in 1995. He later coached the Warriors’ varsity girls’ team, the boys’ junior varsity and other club teams in Hockessin. He’s also been coaching at the YMCA in Jennersville, Pa., now that two of his children are old enough to play.
The soccer camps are a win-win situation for Dunn.
“I want to be an inspiration to people and help people find God in life,” he said. “I don’t think finding Jesus is about preaching at people all the time.”
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Vineyard Christian Fellowship Summer Soccer Camps
5 – 8: June 30 to July 2 12 – 17 August 4 – 8
Paper Free (610) 255-5073 |
The field time is donated by the Hockessin Soccer Club, most of the equipment is donated, and as for instructors, Dunn relies on high school and college players, a few coaches and players who went through the camp themselves.
Dunn’s former coach at Wilmington Christian, Doug Haas, has helped him by referring him to good soccer players that would work well with children in a camp setting.
“As Christians, we believe that we are called by God to serve those who are in need,” said Haas, soccer coach and head of the upper school. “These children who attend Christian Dunn's camp can not afford the fees that a regular soccer camp would charge.”
Dunn’s neighbor, Kristen Puican, is a member of the church because of her children’s involvement in the camp. Her daughter Brie, now 17, will be a counselor for the second year, and her son Evan, 15, will be a counselor for the first time at the camp for the 9- to 14-year-olds. Both play for Elkton High School and the Cecil Soccer League.
“When you get out there, you don’t feel like a pastor is leading a soccer camp,” Puican said. “You learn skills and build up your stamina. But it’s done with a lot of love. This is really cool.”
During an end-of-camp barbecue after the first summer camp season seven years ago, Dunn nonchalantly invited Puican and her family to visit his church, she said. When she went, she was drawn to the contemporary style of worship.
“It’s not a traditional church setting. You can wear shorts and a T-shirt and the topics are relevant to today,” she said. “Every time I go there now, I take away something that’s relevant to me in this world.”
