Here I Am

What Matters?

If you read my blog, you will find I am interested in a wide variety of subjects related to camp, conference and retreat ministry.  I like to look at the ministry facilities we have as "Centers for Mission and Ministry" because they are one of the most flexible resources we have in our church.  From facilities for education and retreat, to acres of God's creation, to skilled and multi-talented/flexible staff to help put any idea into action, to their reach into all aspects of church life, our centers are truly under-used and undervalued.  I firmly believe that if we as a church/society could wake up to the promise for the future that was laid 50+ years ago at our camp/conference facilities we would be "blowing the doors" off our ministry - truly capturing "lighting in a jar."

So what should we focus on?  How are we unique and relevant?  Of course this answer is complicated and different for each center.  However it doesn't have to be - know who and whose you are, and do what you know.  Sounds simple but if you don't get your board and you leadership headed in the same direction - it's driving the bus around in circles in a parking lot wondering why no one is getting on.  If you don't know where you are going, why would anyone get on your bus?  Really.

I would love to invite theologians and camping professionals to comment on what they think are the essentials in camp and conference ministries and to dream the dream of what the centers they are related to can be doing.

The whole ministry starts with Jesus Christ.  If we don't embody what Jesus came to us as (God on earth, Emmanuel, God with us), and what Jesus came to accomplish (salvation, re-connecting and mending our relationship with God, and teaching us how to live God's kingdom here on earth while we wait for the hearafter), we need to be in another line of work.  So teaching and focusing on Jesus is a very important and valid aspect of our ministry.  Both in eduation, curriculum, how we welcome and how we invite those who visit our sites into a life in Christ, is essential.

But Jesus came to change the world.  To teach us to care for each other, and those served by no one.  To give the coat off our back when needed, to feed the hungry and care for the poor.  That makes mission trips, outreach, social training, and eco-stewardship that helps us care for our fellow humans and God's earth - all valid and important aspects of our ministry.

If we are only focused on teaching about Jesus and helping participants develop a personal relationship with Jesus, that is good and essential.  I would argue that stopping there only goes halfway.  If we are not using some of our focus to put into practice what Jesus is teaching, I think faith fades quickly.  

"14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."  James 2:14-17 NIV

So in upcoming articles, I will work to focus on some of the ministries we can be doing in our sites and invite conversation on why it matters, or doesn't in your context.

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The Narrow Gate

A good friend of mine, Ray Jones (and the Coordinator for Evangelism, the Mission Area Camp and Conferences is housed in at GAMC), posted this prior to Easter and I enjoyed his reflections so thought you might as well!

How are we living out the Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate at our conference centers and camps?  How do we model/teach faith in Jesus Christ as well as living out his instructions to us?  How does this commentary inform your ministry?

If you want to read more from Ray, visit Ray Jones' Blog - Real Lasting Life

The Narrow Gate

Lent is a great time to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In his latest book, Tim Keller writes about the significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. He writes, "...The whole story of the world--and how we fit into it--is most clearly understood through a careful, direct look at the story of Jesus. My purpose here is to try to show, through his words and actions, how beautifully his life makes sense of ours" (King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus). What if the beauty of his life has everything to do with forgiving love?

I grew up with Jesus being the ticket to heaven. It did not matter so much how you lived your life, but what mattered was what you believed. As I go deeper in my love of God, I am finding that the meaning of Jesus is so much bigger and deeper. It is about real life now, which will last forever. But when we are only focused on heaven, we miss God's mission for us in the here and now. We miss the purpose of our changed lives.

What if the forgiveness that Jesus displays on the cross is the secret to a beautiful life. I mean, as we experience God forgiving us, we are on a journey of being healed and forgiving others. And we are not only called to forgive and love people who are close to us, but we are called to forgive our enemies, too. What if the power of forgiveness is not only for our own personal sins, but also applies to the reconciliation of the whole world? What if what Jesus does on the cross completely absorbs the power of evil, which leaves evil impotent? The way of defeating evil is revealed in Jesus' love and forgiveness of his enemies.

I just finished reading one of the best books I've read on forgiveness. Unconditional, by Brian Zahnd has made me rethink the power of God's forgiving love, revealed on the cross. He puts together two verses of scripture that I've never put together. One is the passage on the Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14), and the other is the passage on the Golden Rule (Matthew 7: 12). Even though one runs into the other, I've always read them in two different contexts. The Narrow Gate has always been read in terms of going to heaven when you die, and believing the right things to get there. Whereas, the Golden Rule has to do with a way of life that we lift up as important, but do not see it as a part of our salvation. It's a way of life left for bumper stickers on our cars and a cross stitch that hangs on our wall. But what if the context is the forgiving love of God? What if it's all about this forgiving love, which has changed our lives, being lived out in such a way that the lives of people we meet are changing. Lives are changing because people are experiencing forgiveness, and they are passing it on--even to their enemies.

And what if when Jesus cries from the cross, "It is finished," he is talking about the old way of an "eye for an eye, " and the way of violence and revenge. So, what if the Narrow Gate is this life of forgiveness--treating others with the forgiveness we want for ourselves. We pray something like this every Sunday: "Forgive our sins, as we forgive the sins of others." What if this is not just something we say in church, but begin to realize that it is the mission into which we are called, though which God is saving the world? And this is the beautiful life which makes sense of our lives.

 

Hope for Meeting the Challenge of Camp and Conference Ministry (Part three of three)

Robert Allen, long time PCUSA camp and conference director and PCCCA Consultant Network consultant, shares his insights on the challenges facing camp and conference ministry today.  He provides questions and suggestions along the way on a variety of issues.

No matter what your situation, reading these articles will give you things to think about and a place to bring other people into the conversation.

If you would like to follow up further, there is contact information to reach the PCCCA Consultant Network.  They are very talented and willing to field any questions or needs you may have.

Download Meet the Challenge 3

 

Hope for Meeting the Challenge of Camp and Conference Ministry (Part Two of three)

Robert Allen, long time PCUSA camp and conference director and PCCCA Consultant Network consultant, shares his insights on the challenges facing camp and conference ministry today.  He provides questions and suggestions along the way on a variety of issues.

No matter what your situation, reading these articles will give you things to think about and a place to bring other people into the conversation.

If you would like to follow up further, there is contact information to reach the PCCCA Consultant Network.  They are very talented and willing to field any questions or needs you may have.

Download Meet the Challenge 2(WP)[3]

 

Hope for Meeting the Challenge of Camp and Conference Ministry, (Part One of three)

Robert Allen, long time PCUSA camp and conference director and PCCCA Consultant Network consultant, shares his insights on the challenges facing camp and conference ministry today.  He provides questions and suggestions along the way on a variety of issues.

No matter what your situation, reading these articles will give you things to think about and a place to bring other people into the conversation.

If you would like to follow up further, there is contact information to reach the PCCCA Consultant Network.  They are very talented and willing to field any questions or needs you may have.

Download Meet the Challenge (WP)

Trending up? Now what?

From my recent talks with several camp leaders, summer camp numbers appear to be heading up.  I know this is not the case for all of our sites, but it is exciting to see a trend moving up when the past years have been either generally even like last year or declining in the previous few years.

So now what?  Now is the time to get a plan together to figure out what really happened to bring your camper or retreat numbers up.  Often we use general knowledge to justify change – “the economy was down so less groups booked,” “the economy was up so more groups are coming,” “parents are scared so less groups are coming,” “church leadership has changed so less groups are coming” and the list goes on.  Often we make these pronouncements with our guts, not with evidence.

So, how can you, without making things complicated, as the right questions and gather the right information?

What are you asking campers?  Hopefully more than “did you like the food? What was your favorite activity?  Will you come again?”  What are “level 2” questions to bring in more information.

Asking questions of parents such as “why did you choose to send your child to camp?  Will you send them again?  Why or why not?  What makes our program different than other choices?  What other choices for summer activities did you have to choose from?”

These are just a few questions the elicit specific information.  What other questions would you or do you ask?

How do you gather the information?  Many use SurveyMonkey while most of us are probably still relying on camper or participant surveys that we can collect immediately on paper.  However, getting parent feedback can be harder?

If you are successful at getting parent feedback, how are you doing it?

Growth is good.  It shows our program and facility is valued and it is great to be able to affect more people with our ministries.  However, if we don’t know why, then our growth or decline is left to educated guesses and I think we can do better.

 

Why? Community Building as THE Mission

Just had a wonderful conversation with Rev. David Ensign, (for those of you who knew Rev. John Ensign, long serving director of Camp Hanover, David is his nephew) exploring where the ministry of camp, conference and retreat is heading.

It started with the question “is anyone else doing forward thinking in conference ministry like Rick and Kitty [Ufford-Chase] are doing at Stony Point?” and quickly led into other areas.

The question is a good one.  What are we doing?  What are you doing in your ministry?  What is the purpose of our ministries?  Or backing up further – Why do camp, conference and retreat ministry at all?  If we are not starting with the Why, we’ll never have good answers for the what and then the how questions to follow.

 Rick and Kitty Ufford-Chase, co-directors of Stony Point, are fostering an intentional, dispersed and interfaith community focused around issues of peace, while running Stony Point as a conference center.  A pretty big plate for sure, but the future of Stony Point lies in authenticity and missional purpose – while keeping the beds full enough to support the vision.  

Honestly, Stony Point’s accomodations for the most part, are nothing to write home about.  They are cinderblock buildings created for missionary training in the 60’s.  They have been adapted for use as a conference facility with mixed success.  If Stony Point is going to make it, it will be because their mission is so compelling, that people will sleep anywhere just to be there. 

David shared that he drives 5 hours, happily, just to be at Stony Point.  I would gander that he would not do that if Stony Point was not living with authenticity the mission they have set out to do.  Many others I know drive as far to come to Stony Point for similar reasons.

When I was at Westminster Woods, the young campers slept in “Adventure Camp” on canvas on the ground in tents.  But they came and enjoyed it.  My youngest loved it.  Why?  Because the program was compelling, the community was built with great young adult leadership and intentional adult oversight.  That is where my premise that kids will sleep anywhere if the program is good enough and I hold that true for adults too now through my experience at Stony Point.

Stony Point and Westminster Woods Adventure Camp are just two of many examples of passionate leaders using the facilities and resources of a conference center to do leading edge ministry for our churches.

 So the crux of the question is what is the overall purpose, the mission of our shared ministry? During our conversation, David brought up the point that for Hanover, and his uncle, the mission was all about community building.

Community building in the sense that they intentionally brought campers in, taught them how to share and live together in all activities throughout the day, while learning about Jesus’ call to us through Bible study.  The next level goal was to teach them how to foster community outside of the camp setting.  To value community and instill that value in those around them.

Jesus called us to more than to creating churches, or creating camps and stopping there.  Jesus formed a community of disciples.  A community not about following and incorporating whatever the world threw at them, but in living as a visible witness to God’s welcome and love for all as God’s children.

What do you think?  What is the mission of camp, conference and retreat ministry?  Why do we do it?  Why not just adapt to the culture?  When do we stand as an instructional example of living God’s community on earth?  How do we invite kids, young adults and adults into this world, when their daily lives and focus’ are so different than that?

I firmly believe we need to be living our ministries with integrity.  To do what we say we do.  I also believe that there is no one size to fit all.  But saying that, there is a commonality in the why we do it no matter where we do it.

I think David hit it right on the head.  What if we lived into our work with an overall framework that the ministries, programs, and hosting we do, all fits into the umbrella mission of building community and encouraging those who encounter that Christian inspired community at our center, to go and do the same in the rest of their lives?

That is a mission statement I can believe in and one I think the church and society are hungry for and willing to support and attend.

 

Go to Church...It's good for your ministry!

When our camps first started, they were an outgrowth of the Christian education in our congregations.  During the school year, children would go to Sunday School and in the summer they would be encouraged, or would all go together to “their” church camp.  Over the years, more and more opportunities have encroached on summer and many of our camping ministries have become an option among many for the children in our congregations to attend.

We can lament this change and I’d be happy to expound upon the myriad reasons I believe this came to be, but I would rather focus on the part we can control and impact.

Let’s not ask why are congregations not encouraging their children to attend our camp, let’s ask, why are we not encouraging or giving tools for our campers to attend congregations!

If the 2002 Presbyterian Panel showed us that more than ½ of our church leaders who profess to having a singular formative faith experience had it at a camp, conference or retreat – then we are a catalyst of evangelism and church growth!  We can be an intentional partner in strengthening congregations.

I often here from those who no longer attend church that their congregation was just not feeding them or relevant in their life anymore.  That is a sad commentary and a reality for many – but I’m not willing to accept that as the status quo.

We can learn from sites such as Crestfield outside of Pittsburgh, PA who equips churches to offer day camps, or Hanover outside Richmond, VA who continues to offer traveling day camps at churches that we need to engage and become tools of and relevant to our congregations for the sake of the call we have to “create disciples of all nations.”  This action is healthy for both the congregations who partner, as well as the sites.

What other ways are we engaging our Presbyteries and congregations?  What needs do they have that they are no longer able to, or are no longer the correct venue to fulfill?  How can our centers become more intentional centers for mission and ministry as we partner to help fill the needs of our church?

How are you encouraging your campers to attend and become active in a congregation?  How are you sharing tools on where to find a congregation when they get home?

If we are just one week mountain-top experiences – we are not serving as a connectional component of the body of Christ but instead as a stand along faith experience.  If we have become a commodity, and have become disassociated as a component of the whole church, we need to be active participants in changing that.  Our survival as connected and relevant Presbyterian Camp, Conference and Retreat centers depends on this – otherwise we might as well be non-denomination, or perhaps even, non-church camps.

 

Welcoming the Other

Jesus tells us story after story about how we are to welcome the other even at cost to ourselves.  Whether it’s the story of the persistent neighbor who knocks and knocks until he wakes his neighbor to help him provide for a stranger, or the story of the woman at the well – the stories we share with campers are rooted in welcome and hospitality of those different than us.

However, at most camps I visit during the summer, I see a predominantly, often exclusively, Caucasian community.  How are we welcoming immigrants, African Americans, Asians, and others who may not be currently included in our programming?

There are successful models of intentionally welcoming a diverse community, and there are well-intended programs that have not broken down stereo-types or created a safe, welcoming community for all.

Do you have stories to share of efforts you have experience that have been successful at fostering multi-cultural community at your center?  Do you have stories to share of efforts that have not borne fruit?  Do you feel called to this?  Is this not a focus of your ministry?