An Epic Fail turned Impactful…Hear Isaiah’s Side of the Story

There is a story you may have heard by now - that of a young man playing the quiet game with the Summer Literacy Camp kids, only to lose the game when prompted to talk about Jesus. It is a favorite because it shows the organic and fun way your support allows the love of Christ to be shared with children. 

Today, we invite you to go deeper. Hear directly from Isaiah of the Eliot Baptist Church youth group, sharing his first hand account of the epic game, and how that failed "quiet game"  continues to impact him to this day.

“I had a group of campers with me that I had gotten to stay with as a volunteer assistant for several of the days at the beginning of classes. My group was being particularly rowdy on this day, and in an attempt to calm them down, I told them we would be trying the quiet game. A classic. I upped the stakes, telling them this is the “ultimate quiet game,” and participating myself. We took it far—to communicate, we ferociously waved hands. When snack time came around, and we had to tell the helpers what we wanted, we gestured and nodded up and down, hoping they understood.

I’ll be the first to admit that while I wanted to keep the kids quiet, I had convinced myself that I had to win the game to do that.

Until Nathan (my youth leader) gathered the attention of the kids at our table, looked at me, and said something that brought me back. 

“Hey, tell me about Jesus”

I immediately smiled, realizing the trap he sprung but appreciating the slam dunk opportunity to do what I had come to do. I launched into a speech about how Jesus loves each kid there and talking about how much I trust in him. I was forfeiting the game, because I could never forfeit the chance to plant the seed of hope in our Savior in these kids' lives.

I had gotten to know the kids well at this point, and taken the occasional opportunity to reinforce the teacher’s prompting to be kind to one another, but nothing quite brought me to my ultimate goal as much as the “ultimate quiet game” did. I still remember the kids by name, and pray that God works in their lives, and that they will respond!” 

Your investment creates these spaces where faith can ignite and grow in powerful, unexpected ways.

Ignite More Faith Building Experiences Today. Click here, Give Now.

*Impact stories have been lightly edited for clarity and/or length while preserving the original voice and message