Full Life Sports Camp in Kingsport

More Than a Week of Sports

In the summer of 2024, Full Life Sports Camp welcomed its first campers at Ross N. Robinson Middle School. What began as a week of sports, Bible teaching, and fun has continued to grow into something much more: a place where children are known, relationships are built, and the Gospel is shared.

Over three summers of ministry, Full Life Sports Camp has welcomed more than 200 campers and worked alongside more than 200 volunteers—from seventh-grade students to adults. Each person has played a part in creating a place where children can have fun, learn something new, and experience the love of Jesus.

Every Camper Matters

At Full Life, sports are an important part of the week, but they are not the ultimate purpose of camp. Basketballs, footballs, crafts, games, and competitions give us opportunities to build relationships with children who need to know that they are loved, valued, and never overlooked.

One volunteer shared:

“I love doing camp because I get to intentionally invest in and love kids who don’t always receive that. Whether they get bullied at school or live in a difficult home, all kids need love—and some need a little extra love.I get to love them unconditionally, and that makes everything else throughout the week worth it. The stress, sweat, and exhaustion do not matter because I get to love these kids, and through that, I get to show them Jesus.Sometimes showing them Jesus looks like teaching a Bible lesson. Sometimes it looks like sitting with them at lunch, listening to them, playing a game with them, or simply making sure they know someone is genuinely happy they are there.”

That is the heart of Full Life. Ministry does not happen only during the Bible story or discipleship time. It happens on the field, around the lunch table, during a water break, and in the moments when a volunteer stops to listen to a child.

Volunteers Who Make Camp Possible

Full Life could not happen without volunteers willing to give their time, energy, and gifts. Students and adults serve together as coaches, team leaders, Bible teachers, discipleship leaders, recreation volunteers, craft leaders, medical volunteers, and more.

For many of them, camp has become one of the most meaningful weeks of their year.

One volunteer said:

“Working at camp is a big highlight of the year for me! I have so much fun working with all the kids and fellow counselors, and I love seeing how God moves through everyone throughout the week.”

Another volunteer described camp as both a place to minister and a place to grow:

“I love helping with camp because I enjoy ministering to the kids, spending time with them, and showing them the love of God. Camp is a safe space where kids can know they are loved, known, important, and cared for—especially when they may not experience that in other places.Camp is also a place where I can fellowship and serve with friends, meet new people, and be around others who love God or are just beginning their journey. It challenges me in several areas, and I always see growth come from it.”

Our volunteers arrive ready to pour into campers, but many leave realizing that God has also used the week to pour into them. They form friendships, grow as leaders, deepen their faith, and discover that service is leadership.

An Impact That Continues at Home

The impact of Full Life does not end when campers leave for the day. The experiences and conversations that begin at camp often continue at home.

One parent shared:

“This camp is AMAZING! It has allowed our kids to ask crucial questions about their faith and has allowed for great questions at home.”

That is one of our greatest hopes for camp: that children will leave asking questions, talking with their families, and continuing to explore what it means to know and follow Jesus.

Campers also leave with memories and relationships that bring them back year after year. One parent told us:

“This was my son’s third year and his most eagerly anticipated camp of the summer. He says he wants to keep going until he is old enough to be a CIT.”

Another camper said they “had a wonderful time and look forward to camp again next year.”

Those words mean so much to us because they show that campers do not simply attend Full Life—they feel like they belong here.

The Story Is Still Being Written

From our first camp at Ross N. Robinson Middle School in 2024 through three summers of ministry in Kingsport, Year after year, God has continued to grow the reach and impact of Full Life.

But numbers tell only part of the story.

The real story is found in the child who realizes someone is genuinely happy they came. It is found in the camper who begins asking questions about faith. It is found in the volunteer who discovers a gift for leadership. It is found in the friendships formed, the prayers offered, the Gospel conversations shared, and the families reminded that they are not alone.

Full Life Sports Camp is more than a week of sports. It is a community of churches, families, volunteers, and supporters working together so children can be known, loved, and introduced to the full life found in Jesus. And we believe the story of Full Life in Kingsport is only beginning.

Be Part of the Story

There is a place for you at Full Life. You can help by volunteering, praying, giving, sponsoring a camper, or partnering with us as we continue serving children and families in Kingsport.