Camping Ministry

One of my favorite things about working in a Methodist church in the North Indiana Conference is being able to be a part of our camping ministry. It's an incredible opportunity for churches to get their kids to a new environment where they are saturated with Christian fellowship, discipleship, and worship. Each summer, hundreds of students commit their lives (or re-commit) their lives to Christ. That commitment is a direct result of the ministries of the local church combined with the ministry of our camps.

However, sometimes I see too many churches that only give their students the opportunity to commit their lives to Christ at camp. Throughout the year, their youth ministries don't challenge their students with the opportunity to follow Christ. Too often, I hear students talk about how they just wait until commitment night to start over, to re-commit their lives. Somehow we've failed to teach the kids that they can commit or re-commit their lives to Christ any time, any where.

One of the things our camps lack are efficient facilities. At junior high camp, we eat and worship in the same room...not the best scenario. At senior high camp, the housing facilities are absolutely horrible. We lack the best facilities for our students because we fail to fund the ministry correctly. But, I'm not going to solve that today.

The biggest disappointment in our camping ministry would be the keynote speakers at Senior High Institute. Year after year, the camp hires some ordained UM pastor that hasn't worked with youth in years to speak to youth. What ends up happening is that our students fall asleep, get bored, and end up looking at the messages as the worst part of camp. That's too bad because the Message should be the most exciting thing these students encounter. I pray that they will start hiring professional youth speakers...people that speak to youth effectively on a regular basis. I hesitate to send senior high youth to NIC camps because I know they will struggle with the worship experiences. But, God is good and works through it all anyway.

Someday we'll get this ministry figured out. Growing up in Young Life camps, I guess I've been spoiled. But, there is no reason we should not offer our students the best facilities, ministries, and opportunities available to our youth.