When the Pastor Goes to Youth Camp
Just a few months ago, as our pastoral and ministerial staff were finalizing schedules for the summer months, we recognized that our student ministry schedule still had some gaps. Shortly, our teenagers would be finishing up the school year and entering into summer. Of course, summer now is only about two months long as school starts back in August. Add to that the summer vacations that families often plan in addition to band camps, football camps, travel leagues, and other events and the reality is we only have bout four weeks early in the summer when many students are even available to do large group events together.
Add to this the intentional strategy our church has to equip families well and to keep the high walls between age-graded ministries very low, and the scheduling options become even more narrow. What I mean is that in a multi-generational church family there are things happening that impact all age groups and family members, even if initially it does not seem so. For example, in our church Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a week-long event in June, and it is unwise to schedule any other events or activities during that week as it becomes an “all hands on deck” ministry opportunity for the entire church as adults and teenagers serve to make VBS happen for and with the children of our church and community. Then, there is kids camp in July. Again, with the cost of camp impacting families, it is not good to have two camps during the same month (youth and children) as families with children eligible for both will often have to choose who attends (of course, if we know that’s an issue, there are scholarships and others in church who will help financially) or opt out. Add to this activities for senior adults, collegians, and others and while it seems initially that events and activities for one age group should not impact those for others, it does. In fact, it always has. Thus, the equip families well and to equip the family of God well in the local church, all this must be considered.
Therefore, as we were honing in on an option for youth camp, it became obvious that the one camp we had initially considered was not going to be a feasible option. We had registered late, so we were on a waiting list and would only be able to attend if another church pulled out. At this point, that was unlikely, so back to the already filled out calendar.
We looked to a ministry we had partnered with for event curriculum in the past and due to references from other churches and friends, it was clear that YM360 and their Generate Camp was definitely worth looking into and considering. Our church has not historically attended camp the week after school, but this was the open week, so we checked it out. The camp was close enough to safely get to by check-in time, the location was a university campus (my favorite locale for youth camps,) and the speaker and worship leaders serving that week looked incredible (yes, we Googled them, their churches, ministries, and bios.)
The dates were set. However, the only pastor who could make that week work schedule-wise was me. I had not attended youth camp for twenty years and even then, it was our own camp and I planned it, preached at it, and did all the legwork. Perhaps that was why it was my final camp? After ensuring I could get enough ibuprofen for a week and that I would have a dorm room without a roommate (no one needs to hear the pastor snore for a week…and well, it is never wise for an adult leader to share a dorm room with a student. We just won’t do it.) I became our youth camp leader.
We only thought maybe seven to ten students would be interested or able to attend. Honestly, we had very low expectations on participation from our students, so we were planning to rent a couple of minivans and convoy up to the location. But we soon became the “ye of little faith” leaders as twenty-three students signed up. Some in our church were shocked we had that many. I was and am pleased. In addition to the ones going, there were almost a dozen others who wanted to, but due to the late scheduling on our part could not. That too encouraged me as suddenly I was seeing how God was growing this vital part of our church’s ministry.
So, I’m now packing for youth camp, loading a bus (so much for the minivans) at 4am on a Monday to take an eight-hour drive (with obligatory stop at Chick-fil-A for lunch) to Generate Camp at Lee University. NONE of these students had ever been to youth camp with our church before. This was the first FBCOP Students camp in years. I was working through my personal nostalgia as seven of these students on the bus are children of those I took to camp as teenagers over twenty years prior. Once I stopped calling the students by their parents’ names (that took three days to reboot my brain) I was good.
Camp was great. These students were incredible. There were many laughs. Lots of shared memories developed. Honestly, there were some very tired students too as apparently, many in this generation go to bed earlier than their parents did and “need their sleep.” I’m all about that!
I’ve been asked “Did you survive camp?” Oh yeah, but this was more than survive. I was blessed, truly blessed, to spend a week with these teenagers. God is stirring something up within them. A number of students surrendered their lives to Christ this week. But before you say “Oh yeah, camp conversions” like it’s the equivalent to “jailhouse conversions” know that there was no emotional, manipulative, everyone “pray a prayer” and get saved moment that sadly has been so prevalent in the youth camp scene for years. We were able to strip away all that as Generate was focused on the non-emotive, manipulative strain. The Gospel was clearly shown and God was drawing students to himself. In many cases this was something clearing happening in their lives prior to camp. God used this week to remove the noise that often keeps teenagers (and adults) from hearing his still, small voice. They responded. Others are doing a deep evaluation of their own journey as the “I was baptized at seven…but I didn’t know what I was doing” story resonates. We’re working with them to help gain clarity. God is not the “author of confusion” so he’s on this.
I went to camp, but thankfully this week was not about “Pastor Dave went to camp” but about God working in and through the lives our teenagers. Some things did happen this week that gave me some insight. It was not accidental that our schedule worked out the way it did. As pastor of First Baptist Church of Orange Park, I have been called to shepherd the entire church and thus need to know our sheep. This pastoral role does not end at an arbitrary age-grade divide. While it is very hard to know every sheep by name in our church (I’m trying,) I recognize the heavy responsibility God has place upon me and our two associate pastors/elders to shepherd well the family of FBCOP.
We have some great things happening at FBCOP. Some new ministries to be revealed soon. Some new opportunities as well. We have an equipping strategy we believe is God-centered, gospel-focused, and biblically correct that drives us to minister to and with those of all ages and life-stages in our church family. There is more to come, but as I reflect on last week at youth camp, I am convinced of a few things.
First, senior pastors should go to youth camp if able.
Second, when the church members lament that certain ministries are not as large as they used to be, or do not look like they did when they were younger, God remains sovereign. In fact, God is not worried or concerned about the size of our youth group. He is concerned about the hearts of our teenagers (and of every other age group member as well.)
Third, these students are more spiritually discerning and think more deeply than many give them credit. They also have more distractions and voices in their ears than any prior generation. Youth ministry today cannot be like youth ministry of twenty years ago. Yet, the youth of today are primed to reach this world.
Last, ibuprofen is now a necessity for me. It goes well with my coffee at breakfast.
