Being a SPEC parent

​​Written by Kat Goheen
Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

Shannon asked me last week if I could write a piece about being a parent of a SPEC camper. This is my child’s first SPEC experience, and by the time you read this, she will already be down in Independence along with our other seven CWM campers, getting to know the Northwest delegation and eating, relaxing, and finding their place on sports teams along with everyone. Not to mention getting their matching delegation T-shirts!

A lot of being a SPEC parent is meeting registration deadlines and keeping up with communications from the delegation. It’s checking in with recent campers about what our kids will really need down there for those ten days. Driving down to SEATAC for a 4:30 am prayer circle before the flight. It’s sharing her excitement about the electives offered and having too much good stuff to choose from!

I am so excited that our best and brightest people offer ministry to our SPEC kids and will have carefully planned so much for them – from the theme of the week, to the music, to the testimonies shared.

I was fortunate to go to SPEC through high school and mostly remember the sports and worship activities from back then. I had a real feeling of being part of something bigger than myself, and that the church cared for me. It was fun – and it meant a lot to me to see how fun church could be!

For all of you who support campers going to SPEC and to our camps, I am truly grateful. Our Mission Centre provided significant financial support to each of our campers’ families to help with the fees, and that is thanks to your giving. Here in the CWM we’re always learning how to live in community and how to support one another in love. Having campers from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia journeying to SPEC will be leaven to our gatherings, bringing back enthusiasm, stories, and concrete ideas for how we can share together as Community of Christ – different horizons for how we can view ourselves and how we can reach out in mission.

​Let’s embrace these stories and show our kiddos that they are also part of something bigger than themselves here, and that they are so deeply cared for by God and by us.

Watch SPEC 2023 Promotional