Young Camper's Baptism Decision Touches Grandmother's Heart

SOQUEL, Calif. — When Pastor Stephanie Elick and her team knocked on a tent door at Soquel Camp Meeting, they expected to deliver good news. What they didn't expect was the initial panic it would cause.

TJ, a participant in the junior program, had checked a box on his camp card indicating he wanted to be baptized. Staff members went to find his tent to speak with his parents about this important decision.

"Cheryl was like, 'Oh no. What did TJ do? Is he in trouble?'" Pastor Elick recalled. "And we're like, 'Oh no, no, no, no. He checked a card that he wanted to be baptized.'"

A Grandmother's Joy

When staff knocked on the tent door, TJ's grandmother Cheryl answered with immediate concern.

"They said, 'Is TJ staying here?' And I'm like, 'Yes, I'm his grandmother. Is anything wrong?'" Cheryl remembered. "You don't know if a little boy did something wrong or got hurt."

When staff explained TJ's baptism request, Cheryl's worry transformed into overwhelming joy.

"It just blew me away. My heart filled, swelled up," she said. "Just like any grandma, you're happy about it."

Camp Meeting's Influence

Cheryl attributes TJ's decision directly to his camp meeting experience, noting that he isn't typically surrounded by such a faith-centered environment.

"It was because he was here at camp meeting that he made this decision," she explained. "He's not around this type of environment at all."

The influence of camp meeting staff particularly impressed her. "Through the influence of the staff here, they reached him, and that's very positive for camp meeting," Cheryl said.

A Grandmother's Prayer Answered

For Cheryl, TJ's decision represents the fulfillment of every Christian grandparent's hope.

"Just like any and every parent and grandparent, you want your children to love Jesus and to know Him," she said. "Knowing that this is end times and Jesus is coming soon, we want all of our family to be with us."

TJ's baptism decision stands as a testament to the powerful impact of camp meeting ministry on young hearts, demonstrating how a week at camp can plant seeds of faith that will last a lifetime.

Filmed by Ricardo Camacho

Written by Justin Kim