Now I am the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Mount Hermon, a Christian camp.  I love my job and I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of camp ministry in the lives of students.  In fact, it was Mount Hermon’s vision for three vital partnerships that enticed me into doing youth ministry in a camp setting.  I now believe, more than ever, that youth ministry needs camping ministry. However, youth ministry needs camping ministries that understand their role in the big picture of youth ministry.

For camp ministry to maximize it’s impact in the lives of students and fit into the big picture of youth ministry, it has to foster and build three main partnerships throughout the year:

1. Parent partnerships--Camps must realize that parents have the primary responsibility for discipling students.  First and foremost, youth ministry is not a camp’s job and it’s not the church’s job, it’s the parent’s job.  This means that camping ministry has the privilege of figuring out creative ways to communicate and partner with parents both before and after a student attends camp.  The more parents know about their student’s camp experience, the better.
2. Church partnerships–Christian youth camps must also realize that they exist to serve the church.  Youth workers in the local church are the ones who will see, and minister to, these students the other 357 days of the year.  That being said, we can’t expect that 1 week, or weekend, out of 51 is enough to sustain students in their faith.  Any decision made at camp needs to be reinforced and worked out in the community of the local church.  This has to be kept at the forefront of our minds as we plan out and execute camp programming.
3. Student partnerships–It’s great for camps to follow up with students if they understand the importance of the first two partnerships.  However, all of our work with students should strive to connect them with two main things: the Word of God and the People of God.  For camp to be more than just a mountaintop experience for students, they must get connected to God’s Word and God’s people.  If we can help them take steps towards doing this, we can help them draw closer to the God who loves them more than we could ever imagine.

J. R. Loofbourrow Director of Advancement

It’s January and a fresh new year lies ahead.  Over the last century God has generously blessed Mount Hermon through people just like you.  Your gift is part of a living legacy.

A wonderful note accompanied a 2011 year-end gift from a family with their own living legacy.

“…Last summer we sent our grandson to Ponderosa Lodge. His friend was able to join him, thanks to help from your Campership Fund.  Thank you for making that possible.  At the end of the week when we picked them up, the first thing they asked was: Will we be able to come back next year?  We would like to make that experience possible for twenty-five campers in 2012.  Twenty-five times three hundred thirty-one equals eight thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars.  May God use these camperships to bless and reach people for His Kingdom…”

We’re excited about 2012 because the opportunities to help people focus on Jesus Christ continue to grow!  Young and old can come to Mount Hermon, step away from the distractions of daily life and hear the clear loving message of the Gospel.  The need has never been greater, and because of your prayers and financial investments, you are a part of all that happens here.

Thank you for joining us on this adventure!  With the new-year we start all over again and we pledge to apprise you of our needs and to do so with integrity.  If we can serve you in any way, we are always as close as your phone, so please feel free to call us anytime at 831.430.1237.

On behalf of Roger Williams and the entire Mount Hermon family, thank you for being our partners in ministry!

This year at our  2012 Mount Hermon Writers Conference, EIGHT agents will be available to registrants, more than we’ve ever had.  Many have agented for multiple years and know the ropes well.  Janet Kobobel Grant, Steve Laube, Less Stobbe, Wendy Lawton, Diane Flegal have all been in the business for a long time and have well-known writers in their stables.  Karen Ball, Barbara Scott and Joel Kneedler have been in the publishing business for years and now have started agenting.  Their experience on both sides of the court is incredible.

Where else can you have access to so many agents in a limited space? Come get to know some of the best in the business and see what God will do with your writing through the connections available to you this year.  Check us out at www.mounthermon.org/writers.  Hope to see you in March.

Mount Hermon will always be near and dear to my heart because it is where Christ pursued me to be His disciple. This past summer, I experienced Ponderosa Lodge from an entirely new perspective; I was a CILT.  CILT, or Campers in Leadership Training, is a two week program in which high school students are trained to share the love of God with junior highers. As amazing as being a leader for younger girls was for me, CILT also provided me with the opportunity to dive deeper into my own faith, and to create bonds with other Christians in high school who truly love Jesus. When you’re a CILT, the entire Ponderosa staff pours their love into you constantly. Then, you are blessed with the chance to pour your own love into campers. CILT taught me a lot about what it looks like to not just be a follower, but a disciple. Serving God and others is so fulfilling, and at the same time you’re having so much FUN!

One of the most noticeable characteristics about being in a leadership role is the challenges you face. I’ve been a camper for seven summers now, and have always been terrified of the leap of faith. One day when I was with my campers at the ropes course, one asked me to be her partner for the jump, and without hesitation I accepted. I’m not sure why her request was so easy to answer, but I know that God was working through me. God really gave me countless ways to be a leader during CILT, and every boundary I grew past brought me closer to being a true disciple.

Another challenge brought on by CILT was knocking down your walls. The entire first week of CILT is spent training to be a leader, and bonding with your fellow CILTs because they are your family. We all had to open up about the tough stuff, but being able to admit your struggles brings you so much closer to God and shows you how much your “family” cares about you.

CILT was undoubtedly the best adventure I’ve ever experienced.

Christianity has been defined as many things. Some say hypocrites. Some say extremists. Some say goodie-two shoes. For me, Christianity has been defined as a relationship with the Creator of the universe and the God that “the waves and wind obey,” not a religion with a list of rules and regulations that I have to follow in order to please a deity that may or may not punish me.

It is because of Mount Hermon programs, mostly Ponderosa Lodge, that I have developed this definition. I have learned in my eleven years attending Mount Hermon camps that God is not about making us do things or punishing us when we are wrong—which is quite often. God is loving while powerful. God is compassionate while jealous. God is giving while just.

I wasn’t living a godly life. I didn’t really accept all the things that God commanded and said. I didn’t understand that the Bible is the Truth and that is final. There’s nothing I can do about that. Before last summer, I was much more liberal and less in tune with the Holy Spirit. I didn’t read the Bible very often (in fact, I resented the Bible), nor did I pray (at all, almost). I watched things I shouldn’t have watched and read things I shouldn’t have. I indulged in the devil’s delights more than I care to remember.

All the while, I was attending church, leading worship for elementary and high school-aged kids on Sundays and Wednesdays. I participated in church functions and invited people to youth group. I guess you could say I was a stereotypical Christian for a while; my hypocrisy and defiance was so insane, it’s scary just thinking about it.

This place is life-changing. I came to camp last year expecting to be let down by people and not be included, which is exactly what happened. I had thoughts that people didn’t want me around and were annoyed by me. I let that get the better of me and it showed. People avoided me because I was completely shut off and unwilling to be moved. It wasn’t until Wednesday night, D.O.S. night (discipline of silence) that things turned around. After ten years of lying and crying, complaining and hating, God washed over me in one small motion, but a huge movement occurred within me.

This place is safe. My heart is secure in the Lord because of the people He surrounded me with there. Those people have helped me keep my camp high moving and getting better. Through them, I see God’s grace and God’s love. Thank you, Ponderosa Lodge.

featuring
High in the Redwoods
Lives are being transformed through challenges.

Why We Do What We Do
Ponderosa Lodge: Intentional. Excellent. Focused. Amazing.

Socially Networked
Sharing the stories of mount hermon in new mediums

Liz will make you hold your sides with laughter, motivate you in your writing, and make you think about spiritual things in light of your projects, all in the same breath.  If she was the only thing scheduled, it would be worth it, but there’s going to be much more . . .

Since the industry has recently been affected by e-books and self-publishing on the internet, we’re going to put more of an emphasis on finding out what’s involved in this area.  Learn from Advanced e-book authors, James Scott Bell and Randy Ingermanson, some intermediate e-book gurus, and some who have just tried it recently and been successful.  We hope to hit every level of writer in the process so you know what you’re getting into if you think this is what you’d like to do. 

But we aren’t forgetting the value of our book houses and editors of magazines, either.  Check out our faculty listing on the web www.mounthermon.org/writers to see who will be here to instruct you in the traditional art of publication.  There are some great ones coming.

And this year we have EIGHT agents as well.  In the past years agents have been the avenue for most successful writers being signed to contracts.   Have you even considered this?  Do you have a project that would warrant talking with an agent?  It’s worth a try, isn’t it?  This is a great spot to have that chance for networking with industry people.

Of course, there are the other intangibles that make this conference worth it’s price . . . connecting with other writers and finding encouragement and support, gaining instruction from our 8 Major Morning Tracks and the 40 afternoon workshops, enjoying some wonderful food around tables of eight, taking a break for a soul refreshing hike on our Sequoia Trail, or meeting an editor or a friend in the Snack Shop for a good talk and some awesome homemade ice cream. 

Spring is a spectacular time of year in California, so don’t forget a camera to capture the incredible beauty of the towering redwoods, the splashes of color from the Dogwood trees, or Azaleas and Rhodedendrun bushes.  It’s one of the best places on earth at the end of March!!  Particularly if you’re from the Midwest or further East–get out of the snow and join us!

The website goes live tomorrow morning, 8:00 PTS.  We look forward to having you here!

1. Youth workers are some of the most amazing people in the world--Youth workers give up their time, energy & resources to hang out with students who don’t often thank them or even realize the sacrifice that’s being made.  Regardless, youth workers continue to be present with these students while modeling the love and grace of Jesus.  Not only that, but each youth worker who attended Recess gave up a weekend of their free time to learn how to be a more effective minister of the gospel.
2. We need each other–I have a tendency to think that I can do things on my own.  Sometimes I am even so arrogant to think that I know better than any one else.  The older I get, the more I realize how stupid that kind of thinking is.  I was encouraged by spending the weekend with like-minded people who have similar passions and who are reaching and discipling youth with creativity.
3. We all need seasoned mentors speaking into our lives and ministries--Our Recess speakers this year were Brian Berry and Duffy Robbins.  For me, it was a blessing just to spend time with men who have been doing youth ministry for years and who have learned from their failures and successes.  I could’ve spent many more hours with both of these guys just asking questions.
4. You can never have too much training–The longer I am involved in youth ministry, the more I’m tempted to think that I’ve learned everything I need to learn.  Yet, I always learn something new when I read, go to conferences or spend time with mentors and other youth workers.  The old saying, “leaders are learners” is true.  I want to continue to learn as long as I’m alive.
5. Volunteer youth workers are my heroes–I get paid to do youth ministry; it’s my full-time job and that job pays my bills.  Volunteer youth workers, on the other hand, have full-time jobs (or they are full-time students) yet they spend their precious free time ministering to students because they believe that they can make a difference for Jesus.  That blows my mind!

Because Recess was such an amazing weekend, Mount Hermon will be hosting it again in 2012 on September 28-30.  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details!

J. R. Loofbourrow Director of Advancement

I recently heard someone say:

Be ye fishers of men.  You catch them – He’ll clean them.

When you think about it, Mount Hermon is on a non-stop fishing trip.  Through God’s grace, there are plenty of life-changing fish stories to tell.

This past summer at Redwood Camp our staff was encouraged and challenged to be on the lookout for God on the move.  We called them God Sightings, and they were amazing, exciting and numerous.   Each staff member was asked to detail at least two. Below is how one counselor shared one of her experiences:

This summer the Lord has been teaching me and testing me in issues of trust.  So often, I become anxious, and this occurs when I take matters of God, rip them from His hands, and clumsily try to juggle them.  One week, my cabin was full of campers that knew nothing of Jesus or the Gospel.  There was Buddha, reincarnation; you name it who, but no Jesus.  I was overwhelmed and prayed that the Lord would at least plant some seeds.  By the end of the week, Christ had been so transformational in my cabin that my girls committed their lives to Him.  They spoke easily and with joy about the Gospel.  They felt God’s love and presence as He perfectly orchestrated moments during the week that brought them to Him. I just needed to trust and lift my hands so that He could use His.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Thanks for being such an important part of our fishing crew!  Your prayer and financial support enable the nets to be cast over and over and over again!

Ponderosa Lodge CILT Campers 2012

This is a guest post written by Evan, a high school student who attended Mount Hermon’s CILT camp this past summer.  CILT is a 2-week program for juniors, seniors and graduated seniors that focuses on leadership development.

Whenever I am asked to put my experience of CILT in a few words I honestly don’t know how to do it. But in general CILT did the unimaginable for me and my walk with Christ. A quick way I’ve been able to explain the experience for others back home is telling them how, for basically forever, I have had NO idea what I wanted to become or do with my life after high school; what college I wanted, what job, any of it. No clue. But I can honestly and full heartedly say, after the blessing of the two weeks at Mount Hermon’s CILT, it was the very first time something felt RIGHT. It felt like it was exactly where I needed to be.

I have been going to Mt.Hermon since primary week at Redwood Camp, and that place has been like a second home to me. Something that I realized is that I have always been provided FOR there. And the most beautifully amazing thing CILT gave me was the opportunity to provide for others and not myself…and honestly, building people up in Christ is the most beautiful and incredible thing to ever be apart of, at least to me. And I got to do that for TWO WEEKS!!!

I became so vulnerable and open with people I had only known for 3 days and then God stepped right in and made those into friendships that I’m still in touch with literally everyday to this day and I still care for them SO much.  I’ve seen God work through that in such ridiculous ways by bringing us together and it has been so so extremely cool. What was all the more rad was then going our separate ways into cabins of our own but still having each other as we put all our effort and strength pouring into these kids to bring them one step closer to Jesus.

Meanwhile, God himself was bringing us so much closer to him as well whether we knew it then or not. It’s that indescribable!