October 1, 2026
McDONOUGH, Ga. — Send Me Now missionary Lily Raine Hollister said serving children at Camp 323, Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church’s summer day camp, reminded her of the importance of childlike faith and the joy of pointing children to Jesus.
“Something I felt became evident at this camp was the importance of having a childlike faith,” Hollister said. “The children were so excited to hear the gospel and worship Jesus.”
Hollister was one of four BCM students serving through Send Me Now at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough. Last year, the Acworth resident served through the program at a camp in Riverside, California. This year, she served as a counselor for 15 rising second graders at the day camp.
The camp included games, music, snack times, chapel, Bible study, and other activities. Hollister said the camp promoted the event through local schools and churches, resulting in a strong turnout.
Under the supervision of Luisa Duren, director of Eagle’s Landing Kids, the camp also set aside time each day for gospel conversations following chapel and Bible study.
“You could tell the camp had been prayed over,” Hollister said.
Hollister said many of the younger children in her group were still beginning to understand the gospel, while some in the older groups were being drawn closer to Christ.
During the week, Hollister found herself applying Colossians 3:23, the verse that gives the camp its name.
“It’s about doing everything for the glory of God and working for the Lord with all your heart,” she said. “That was the message we were teaching the kids day after day: We’re doing this for the Lord.”
Hollister said she also began applying the verse in her summer work as a waitress and as she prepared to begin a new teaching career this fall.
One memorable aspect of the week, she said, was working with a camper with special needs who had been diagnosed with ADHD and autism.
“I definitely felt like I was placed in that group for a reason, because I’ve worked so closely with students like him while student teaching,” Hollister said. “He was a little overwhelmed by the noise and activity, but we had a great week. There were moments I had to pick him up and take him out of the room to have a little cool-down or take a walk. I really enjoyed working with him, and he was super sweet.”
She said the Send Me Now experience was meaningful not only because of the ministry opportunity, but also because of the support she received throughout the week.
Hollister said Send Me Now is well organized and placed her in the right setting to minister. The fellowship with other workers and church members was especially encouraging as they were hosted and fed during the week. She said she highly recommends the Send Me Now mission experience to others.
Hollister recently graduated from the University of West Georgia with a degree in elementary education. She will begin teaching second grade this fall at Glanton-Hindsman Elementary School in Villa Rica, Georgia. She has also begun pursuing her master’s and specialist degrees through West Georgia, with the goal of graduating in 2028.
Because she has graduated, Hollister will no longer be eligible for Send Me Now assignments. Still, she has already committed to return to Camp 323 next year as a volunteer.
She said the week renewed in her the importance of childlike faith.
“As adults, it’s so easy to disagree or dispute different topics or aspects of Christianity, like predestination or free will,” Hollister said. “Obviously, those are important things to discuss, but the children were so excited to hear the gospel and worship Jesus.”
For Hollister, it was one of the clearest lessons of her Send Me Now service.
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