I love Reelfoot Youth Camp. I spent the better part of ten years working as a counselor getting to know the kids and altogether just enjoying what camp is all about. The last three I have been privileged to direct a week. Directing a week of church camp is a job that presents its own unique challenges but offers its own unique satisfaction too.
For those who have never experienced a week at church camp this is how I try to explain it to folks – it’s the slowest and fastest, most frustrating and most fulfilling, and energy sapping but fun week you could ever experience. There are ups and downs, pains and pleasures, successes and failures, but it is a week unlike any other. This year’s camp proved to be all of the above, only far more fulfilling, fun, and uplifting than not.
From my perspective Reelfoot Youth Camp was a tremendous success this year for at least a few reasons. First, our enrollment was up for the second straight year. Two years ago when we restarted our week of camp we only had 35 kids. Last year we had a huge increase to 57. This year we went up again and had 65 kids on campus. But with the increase in enrollment came a new problem we had not experienced before – we had some cabins that were completely full (capacity is 80). That is amazing to me considering that this was also the first year that we even had enough kids to justify using all four cabins on both sides. Up to this point we had fit everybody into just three. In addition to the 65 kids we had 18 total overnight staff and numerous helpers that came in each day to help with things like crafts and kitchen work. Camp just couldn’t function without all of these folks and they are the real reason that our week of camp was a success.
Second, camp was a success this year because of how well everyone worked with each other. Not once did I have any trouble out of any of the kids or the counselors. You would expect with that many different ages represented in such tight quarters over a full week that it would be hard to avoid turmoil. And in any other camp setting that might happen. These kids deal with each other like Christians, though. The younger kids respect the older kids and the older kids always gladly step into the role of mentor and friend to the younger. They play together, study together, sing together, eat together, and work together and I can say that in three years issues have been at a minimal.
Third, camp was a success because of what the gospel accomplished. More than four full hours of every day at camp are committed to Bible classes, chapels, devotionals, etc. Those are the real reason we are there. And it never fails that the gospel does exactly what it has the power to do – change lives. Sometimes those changes are subtle and take place without anybody ever knowing. Other times they are more public. This year our Bible class teachers and devotional speakers did a tremendous job communicating the message of each lesson to the kids in an easily understandable way and the kids did great in paying attention and learning. More specifically three of our young people made eternity altering decisions at camp. One young lady came forward after an evening devotional asking for prayers and then later a young man and young lady each put Christ on in baptism. After working primarily around adults the majority of the year the tender hearts of our young people are refreshing to see. I pray that that will never change.
There were so many different highlights of the week for me neither time nor space would allow me to list them. But suffice it to say that it did not disappoint, and it never does. Many of you reading this had a direct influence on just how great our week of camp turned out to be whether you were on staff, came as a day volunteer, or donated money to offset cost. Thank you so much for all that you do to impact the lives of our young people. Your efforts are immeasurably important. Stay tuned for news about RYC 2015. It’s going to be great!
-Andy