In a million years, I never thought I would be working at a Christian camp doing youth ministry. Four years ago, I was convinced that Christian camps were dying. I honestly thought Christian camp ministry was outdated, irrelevant and clueless. I was sure that Christian camps didn’t understand their role in the big picture of youth ministry. This is one of the many reasons I stopped taking my high school group to a Christian camp when I was a youth pastor.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
J.R. Loofbourrow provides an update on the ministry taking place at Mount Hermon as well as an update to to the repairs to the buildings damaged by the storms experienced last winter. Thank you for your prayers and concerns about Mount Hermon during these times. Be encouraged! God is continuing to transform lives.
In addition to the photos below, you can also view a live webcam during the construction of Sequoia Lodge.
The true value of the relationships made at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers conference is the focus of Tracy Higley’s video testimonial. Are those just social relationships? Watch the video to hear more.
The rains may come, the lands may slide, but God is bigger and He continues to do great things at Mount Hermon! Thank you for your prayers and concerns about Mount Hermon during these times. Be encouraged! God is continuing to transform lives. JR takes some time to give an update about what’s happening at Mount Hermon and we posted a few pictures.
Workers at Mount Hermon assess the damage to the area surrounding Pine Lodge
The Meditation Chapel (bottom middle) covered by migrating redwoods
Landslide on Conference Center Drive - photo:Dan Dawson
Crews begin the clean up process to clear Conference Center Drive - photo:Dan Dawson
Writers conference is only a week and a half away! Can it really be so close? It takes all year to plan it, and 5 days to live it. Then it’s over for another year. But don’t let me get ahead of myself.
I just wanted to remind those of you who will be attending our conference this year that the binder is now on the website under “Forms”. All the outlines for all the sessions are there, as well as the faculty photos and descriptions of their workshops. Download everything you want in your own binder and bring it with you. Or upload everything to your laptop and bring that with you to take notes on along side the outlines. Unless you have the special pdf software that allows you to type on pdf’s, you’ll need to take notes on something other than the outlines if you bring the binder on your computer. This is all in the hope of being good stewards of the beautiful trees in God’s gorgeous earth. No more wasted paper and notebooks left after conference this way.
Can’t wait to have you here on campus, learning together and networking with each other. We’ve got the lights on, and are looking for you!
With more than ten years of experience under her belt, BJ Taylor continues to attend the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Why you ask? Well listen to what it continues to provide her with year after year.
Doug Newton expresses how the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference lines up so well with his own personal passions in life. Take a moment to watch and learn what we have in common with Doug.
As the Senior Editor for Light & Life you can learn more about Doug at http://dougnewton.org
