youth camp

Is it August already?

Summer is coming to a close and I must say that this summer has been amazing. God has worked in some amazing ways in my life and continues to be faithful. We just finished the month of July with a mission camp called WIRED, VBS, and BigStuf Camp! To say the least, it was really busy. God showed up and we saw students come to know Christ! God has begun to build leaders with students who want to lead through worship, speaking, ministry and evangelism. Student ministry is an adventure and is very rewarding when you see them passionately pursue God. The amazing part is that I heard many students say they enjoyed the mission camp more than the traditional "fun" camp. I love seeing students have a passion to serve the world.

I look forward to what God will do! We baptize three students this Sunday and there's nothing else that gets me more excited than changed lives!

Here are some pics from the summer!

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Youth camp

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I have been thinking a lot lately about youth camp. I've been to them every year since I was thirteen, they ranged from the "rough and tough" to the "super flashy-big name speaker" camps.

I'm planning next year's camp and for me it has become a much more in-depth search rather than picking a date and a camp organization. I remember the year I went to a camp in Shocco Springs, Alabama and I was 14 years old. One night at worship I began to hear God's call on my life. The memory sticks in mind so clearly today! It was a night of camp where we were challenged to seek God with our whole heart and life. It was that night that God began calling me into ministry...Camp holds a special place in my life because of the environment for students to hear clearly from God away from all distractions.

Camp is powerful and with all of the different options today, I'm left with a few questions to find the very best camp for my students.

What is the purpose of the camp?

What is their philosophy of ministering to students?

Is the camp pastor and band true examples of Christ on and off the stage?

I'm curious out there in "blog-land" if you have any comments to add on youth camp? What made camp exciting and special to you?