Why Summer Camp Matters
by Jalen Gardner
If you spend significant time around me, you’ll likely realize that I’m wearing a shirt from camp or have a camp story related to our conversation. It has played a pivotal role in who I am. I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to attend camp in various roles and stages in my life. While most of my experience is with Fuge Camps, there are many summer camps that provide the same benefits and aim to point students to Jesus.
Just a few short weeks ago, nine students from New City attended Fuge Camps in Central, SC. For some, it was the first time they had been away from home for an extended period. For others, they had been to another camp at the exact location, so comparison and expectations were on the horizon. And for others, it was just another stop in their already busy summer. I was nervous going into this week of camp. Even though I have experienced camp many weeks before, there is something different about bringing a new group of students. I was worried about whether they would enjoy themselves and find it beneficial to their spiritual journey or if they wished they had just stayed at home.
As the week progressed, I was reminded that their experience was not dependent on the efforts of the camp staff, the New City volunteers who came, or even me. It was about presenting another space for God to reveal Himself to them. One of the things I have noticed more and more as I spend another day in student ministry is that youth are BUSY. They have school, sports, drama, jobs, social lives, and many other things vying for their attention, and they have difficulty deciding what they will give their time and energy to each hour.
Just like adults, teenagers have concerns, priorities, and influences calling for their attention constantly, and camp provides a unique opportunity to cut through the noise. While it is sometimes difficult to get them to commit to coming, once they are there, they are submerged into a world in which everything and everyone is pointing them to THE Creator, who loves them and desires to have a relationship with them. Each day is built around a Gospel message reminding them they have been created with a purpose. While life presents many opportunities to be distracted and numbed, they have a chance to engage with the One who can truly fulfill them.
To be clear, I do not think a week of camp can, or is intended to, replace the discipleship that happens in the daily life of a student. I encourage students to walk daily with Jesus and empower parents to help them. I want students to come to know Jesus personally and not participate in cultural Christianity in which their attendance in church equates to their salvation. But what I have experienced in my roughly 44 weeks of camp is the beauty of the Gospel being able to penetrate the hearts and minds of teenagers when they can get away from all of life’s distractions, even if it is just for a little bit.
This year, Fuge’s theme was Revival Generation, with the premise being this upcoming generation of teenagers is becoming more serious about their relationship with Jesus and encouraging them to spread the Gospel themselves. We explored this idea by discussing the importance of repentance, confession & prayer, obedience, and evangelism. We walked through the stories of Daniel and Nicodemus, amongst others, and the truth retained by the students was encouraging. Each night at camp, we had time as a church group to sit and reflect on our day, and we would always share insights and questions.
On the first night, the camp pastor talked about the Pharisees having an outward expression of faith without an inward transformation. Naturally, the question was asked how we knew there had been an inward transformation. I let the question remain unanswered to see if we could agree on something at the end of the week. At the end of the week, we reviewed each story we looked at, and I asked the question again, and we all looked around at each other. One middle schooler raised his hand and said, “It seems like we have an inward transformation when we have a desire to pray more, be more obedient, and spend more time with Jesus.”
It was at this moment that I was both humbled and joyful at God's goodness. During this week of camp, students were able to get a better idea and picture of what it looked like to have a relationship with Jesus. While camp is only one week in an idealized world full of high emotions and a lack of sleep, there is still something beautiful about what the Lord can do in such a short period of time.