There are a few weeks during the year that I really look forward to. Polishing the Pulpit is typically at the top of the list. The Memphis School of Preaching lectureship follows. When possible we try to take a week of vacation, which is sure to refresh. But one week I can always count on to renew my spirit is church camp.
I never attended church camp as a kid. Yes, I regret that fact now, but I just didn’t. But it was in 2001 just after I had graduated high school that I was asked to come and be a counselor during a week at Reelfoot Youth Camp – and I fell in love. Since then there were a few years (four I think) that I have had to miss for one reason or the other, but camp has become one of those stable features of my life.
I love church camp. I love the anticipation leading up to it. I love seeing the smile on children’s faces when they talk about it. I love hearing the memories that are treasured throughout life. I love the planning. I even love the smell. Every year when we first get to camp I walk into the kitchen to unload the groceries and there is that distinct smell – it just smells like church camp.
More than all of that, though, are the really distinctive reasons that church camp should be a regular part of every Christian young person’s summer in some way:
- You cannot beat the atmosphere. Camp is unique in that every moment, waking and not, is spent completely surrounded by people whose primary concern is their relationship with God. You’re not just surrounded by them in Bible class, but in free time, mealtime, activities time, devotional times, etc. Going to church camp offers you the unique experience to be in an environment of absolute renewal.
- The concentrated time spent in the Bible. I know most every church camp is structured differently, but I can almost guarantee that they all are similarly devoted to Bible study and worship. At Reelfoot we have at least 6-7 periods during the day when time is specifically set aside for Bible study or worship. That doesn’t even include the impromptu singings or discussions that could pop up at any time in the course of the day. Church camp offers near solitude with God and His word.
- The friendships formed can last eternally. We have people from different cities, counties, and even states all come together for camp every year that inevitably form friendships. Those friendships cannot be kindled often because of sheer logistics, but it is also inevitable that those friendships pick up where they left off year after year. And the wonderful thing is that because they are friendships cultivated among God’s children that they can last eternally. We don’t have to worry about death severing our relationships. We have hope in Jesus that they can last forever.
- It’s just plain fun. We make it clear on day one that there are two aspects to the week that we will properly emphasize at the appropriate times. There are times to be very serious. These include our Bible study periods, chapels, devotionals, singings, etc. But there are also times to have fun. Each day has many portions of each. And while the kids do a great job at being serious when they need to be serious, we do a great job of having fun too. It may be organized activities or free time, but it doesn’t take long before everyone finds something they like to do and do it as often as they can. Matte ball, softball, dodge ball, basketball, swimming, capture the flag, crafts, or that 150 foot water slide we put together on Thursday afternoon are sure to leave us wanting more!
I could go on forever talking about everything I love about church camp. It is a week unlike anything else you can experience all year (which can be good or bad!). Sure you don’t get a lot of sleep (I averaged 4 hours a night this year), you leave sore and physically tired. But all of that pales in comparison to the renewal you receive by being around the type of people that make church camp what it always proves to be.
We already have our week reserved for next year, starting the second Sunday in July. Why not go ahead and make your plans to come (ages 9-18) and find the renewal that you need as well.
-Andy Brewer
I agree – it was a great week. The experience is roughly the same as it was 20+ years ago – but the recovery was a little longer.
One of the encouraging things for me was seeing how strong many of the kids were Biblically. At a time when it is easy to get discouraged – this group gave me a new confidence in the ones coming behind us.
Lord willing – count me in next year!
Great thought Mike. That kind of ties into a point I meant to make and forgot. That is that camp typically brings out the best in people. Not only did the kids shine from the standpoint of scholarship, leadership, hard work, etc.; but I had college age counselors (who couldn’t have had any money) offer to cover the difference on kids’ fees if they owed anything. It’s encouraging to me to see that most of these kids really get what Christianity is all about when us older ones sometimes forget!