Network for Camp

Summer is my favorite season in youth ministry. Students are out of school and more available than any other time of the year. We shift the focus of our weekly programs from small group studies to relationship building and inviting newcomers. But my favorite part of summer is...

CAMPS!

I've been blessed to be a part of an amazing group of church leaders who put together some of the best camps our students could ever ask for! Our vision for these camps has always been to "Create the best environment possible for students to hear from and respond to Jesus."

Our leader from the start has been Mathias Califf, youth pastor at Gateway Church in Washougal, Washington. Here's what he has to say about how our network of churches has helped us to achieve our God-given vision.

"Working with other churches to organize and walk through summer camps with students has had a profound impact on how our youth ministry at Gateway Church functions throughout the year. Early on, it opened the door for mentoring relationships with more experienced youth pastors. My roles at camp have given me vision for how God has shaped me personally and how God wants me to lead within my own context week in and week out. I have gained so many creative ideas and new ways of serving students simply through the sharing of hearts, talents, and resources that has to take place to produce a summer camp together. The impact extends way beyond one simple week together each summer!"

In early March we start our camp planning meetings. I can't think of a meeting that I'm more excited to attend than these. We gather leaders from 8+ churches from 4+ denominations, and this year will be our 19th year together!

The men and women on our planning team, as well as all the volunteers who are a part of these camps, embody perfectly the values we have for networks at NNYM:

• Building relationships

• Praying together

• Developing strategies

• Sharing resources

Whenever we meet, we always allow for some "catch up" time to connect with each other on a personal level. We start and end every meeting with prayer - thanking God for what He's done and what He will do this year at camp and in our ministries. A lot of brainstorming ideas and planning go into our camps. We divide up the responsibilities and recruit among our volunteers, looking for the best fit for all of the key roles: director, speakers, worship leaders, counselors, prayer team members and kitchen staff.

As Mathias said, the impact extends beyond the week of camp. It allows our leaders to build relationships with the students from our respective churches, which gives us greater opportunity to disciple students throughout the year. And it brings together students and leaders together from several churches in a way that we aren't competing with each other. On the contrary, we celebrate what God is doing in all of our youth ministries, knowing that we are BETTER TOGETHER!

Questions:

1. What role do camps currently play in the spiritual development of your students?

2. Does your church/denomination prefer to put on your own camps, or a camp where the staff and program is run by others? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each for your ministry?

3. How might networking with other local churches to run camps together boost the impact they have on your students and ministries?