The summer before my freshman year of high school something happened that, I believe, was one of the most pivotal events of my life. I went to summer camp. That week of camp changed my heart, my path, and ultimately my life. I look to that experience as one of the biggest reasons I am a youth pastor today.
Fast forward a few years - okay, decades - and camp is still my favorite thing on the ministry calendar... but I don't do it alone. I am lucky enough to join 12 friends who happen to be youth pastors to plan and execute the best week of the year.
We meet several times throughout the year to pray, plan, laugh and (of course) eat. We share ideas, resources and responsibilities.
Great Ideas Come from Great Teams
I suspect that I'm like most youth pastors when I say: "Every once and awhile, I have a good idea." But I have done ministry long enough to know that great ideas come from great teams. I love being in a planning meeting as ideas start flowing. I'm energized in those moments when an idea is shared, the initial idea leads to a bigger idea, which leads to a better idea; which leads to a great idea.
Great ideas are formed when trust is high and egos are low. I believe that great ideas happen in great networks.
Sharing Resources
A few years ago, we had the initial idea to have a "big event" during the week of camp. We wanted the event to have a carnival feel, complete with food, music and inflatables - I mean you have to have inflatables! We dreamed big. We brainstormed. Then we sketched out the "realistic plan" and made a budget. Even after we decided that we could not afford to book Lecrae, we still needed about $3,000. That's when everyone on the team decided to all kick in some money to make it happen.
But it doesn't end there. We also share other resources. I have borrowed a friend's bus to take my students to Dairy Queen one night during the week. I bring our 9-Square In The Air for the week for everyone to use. We use another friend's Download Youth Ministry Sidekick app.
When you share resources, you allow the camp experience to be better and increase the potential impact for everyone.
Sharing Responsibilities
It's easy for me to admit I'm not great at everything. And once you've done that, it's easy to ask for help. We have a guy on our team who handles all the "big games" and another one who leads the breakouts. I design the tee shirts and another person creates the list of verses for students to memorize. It is a true team effort - and I love it!
I can't even imagine planning, programming and running a great camp for 300 students by myself. I don't want the stress of making sure every detail is covered and every idea has been given a chance to become great.
It's easy to say things like "we are better together." But it can be so much more than a catchy phrase or a hashtag. These are my friends, my brothers and sisters, and while we do our best to make the week at camp the best week of the year, it's our friendship I value the most.
Todd is a Messy Jesus follower. Married to Lynda. Dad to Brianna, Caleb & Addyson. Youth Pastor. @DownloadYM author. @Steelers fan