Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/81

Contributor - Rev J. Drost

Title - A Reflection on The Function and Ministry of Summer Camping at Camp Shalom

Topic - Ministries

Camp Shalom, as we know it, is in a state of transition, that is to say that if God wills, things will be very different here in a few years and certainly in a generation from now. The principal change may best be described in that for the one function now in existence there will be several functions. In a sense there will be a shift in emphasis. The Camp will no longer and simply be a youth-oriented place but it will be inter-generationally oriented, that is to say that all generations, young people, their parents and grandparents will find a purpose of some significance here, a purpose that relates to their total well being.

However, youth camping as we know it from the past eight years will continue to be a very important function here at Camp. The Lord willing, youth camping will continue to grow as we make provision for growth. As we look toward the future, I believe there are six areas or dimensions in which these provisions must be made:

1. Is the spiritual dimension - our Biblical standards;

2. Is the ecclesiastical dimension - our relation to the local congregation;

3. Is our relation to the community -

4. Is the leadership dimension - the building of leadership especially that of the counsellors;

5. Is the program dimension - stressing the importance of program as a vessel or framework for our ministry;

6. Is the physical dimension - the need for physical expansion or accommodation if growth is taken seriously.

First there is the spiritual dimension, the maintaining of Biblical standards. I believe a Christian camp wants to encourage three things. First of all it wants to be instrumental in the Christian or spiritual growth of the individual.. The objective of all Christian education is that "by warning and teaching every man, we may present him mature in Jesus Christ"(Col. 1:28). We are concerned here with a personal and saving relationship with God. Secondly, we want to be instrumental in encouraging a Christ-like conduct. Peter tells us in view of the coming Judgement Day: 64 since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness" (II Peter 3:11). Our young people are pressed by the overt moral corruption of this age, our Christian life style and conduct experiences a good deal of cultural seepage. Therefore it is important that an explicit stand is taken with regard to Biblical moral standards. We also want to be instrumental in the experience of Christian Community, the interaction of individuals in the manner that God has purposed in the Church and of which John says: "Beloved love one another for love is of God" (I John 4:7). The question is how do we make provision for these things to be realized.

I believe leadership has a great deal to do with it, a leadership that is conscious of the Biblical standards: from the Board on up (or down) to counsellors, kitchen staff, maintenance staff and all those involved in Christian camping. I also believe that Biblical teaching both structured (in Bible lessons, music, devotional and vesper exercises), and unstructured (by example and reference to experience) is of the utmost importance.

Secondly, there is our relation to the local congregation of which we need to give account as we look to the future. I see the Christian Camp as a strategic arm of the local Church. Together we are in the business of Christian nurture, feeding people with the Word of God.

I value the nurture of the Church in teaching and preaching very highly and if at Camp a child or youth happens "to come to Christ", if there is that new discovery in his life, it is only because of what has gone before through the nurture of the local church. But still there is a difference between a camp experience and an experience in the local Church. The difference is in the setting and the experience. God uses the camp setting and the camp experience to bring people closer to Himself. The advantage of the camp experience is that it is a sustained experience, it is carried over a longer period of time, and the extended time creates opportunities to apply the Word of God to day to day living. That opportunity does not exist in the same way in the local congregation and it is often neglected in the family. For these reasons camp is such a welcome and valuable supplement to Christian education at home.

I am convinced that Camp is the strategic arm of the local church . I am not sure whether the church is convinced of the same. We receive about 400 children and young people from Reformed churches across the Classis of Ontario. That is an average of about 20 children per church which in terms of the total youth population is less than 50%. I believe that in many instances the impression persists that Camp is a luxury toy rather than a strategic arm, helping the local church to accomplish its task in Christian Education. I call upon you to help change that image. It is true that camp fees are increasing. We can't help that. But let the local church assist the camper and realize the investment they are making both in individual lives and in the community of believers.

Thirdly, there is our relation to the community. Over the years Camp Shalom has harboured children and young people whose lives are hardly related to Christ, young people who are sponsored by different agencies and who, often demonstrate special needs. As we make provision for the future we want to consider our witness and mission to those in our community who are handicapped, either socially, or perhaps mentally or physically, or spiritually.

Fourth, there is the leadership dimension. When I think of leadership in a Camp, I think of all levels of leadership, but particularly of those who are directly relating to the young people who come here ... the counsellors.

The counsellors at Camp Shalom have traditionally been volunteers from the churches, and I think there is a great deal to commend that tradition. First of all their service involves the local church directly in the camping ministry, and we saw how important that is. Secondly, the volunteer element encourages a wider core of people to be engaged in youth ministry. And this is important as youth ministry in the local church is often treated as the step child a lot of people are reluctant to work with youth. Thirdly those who work with young people in the congregation do so in a formal setting, in the Sunday School, Catechism classes, etc., etc. At Camp they have opportunity to work with youth in an informal setting and as a result they view their work from a different angle. A week at Camp become s their training ground for youth ministry. Finally and ideally, Camp provides a ministry to counsellors. The camp experience often is an experience of spiritual renewal. Many have testified to that effect.

As we look to the future, we must make the most of the volunteer element 'n all of the considerations just mentioned. In a way we have taken the volunteer for granted. We have done little to promote the opportunity, that is to say, little effort has been spent in encouraging, informing and alerting people concerning the opportunity. Some have !Mold me that they had no idea of what Camp was like ... what counselling was like before they came to Camp. Also we have done little in training counsellors, particularly young people who show an interest in being at Camp in that capacity.

Two things then are important as we make provision for the future in this area. One is promotion, and the other is training. It seems especially important that we have an ongoing training program for young people so that each new generation is prepared to assume their responsibilities in Camp ministry.

As a fifth point, as we look to the future, we must also look at program. Program is the total of things to do at Camp. The program is important not only because it determines the happiness of the campers, but also because it forms the context or framework of our ministry. If the program is little stimulating, chances are (humanly speaking) that the camper is little stimulated to respond to the Christian message. So for these reasons we must offer the best in programming. We want the camper to be happy, but also, we want him to grow spiritually. The following are important in good programming:

a) Program philosophy and objectives that grow out of this philosophy. For example, our program philosophy last summer dictated that we incorporate as much camper initiative as possible. Rather than doing everything for the camper, we encouraged him to take the initiative. In last year's program, so called option packages, individual camp sites, and interest groups all reflected that philosophy.

b) A good program staff and enough program staff. The program staff should come with a good variety of expertise: the quality of the program stands or falls with it. There should also be enough program staff so that the burden of programming does not fall on a few and performance can be optimal.

The program should contain an interesting variety of activities. Things that are different from what is done back home, and things that offer a sense of accomplishment to all campers.

Again, to make provisions for these conditions to be met, we will seek out people with the best qualifications and continue our search for challenging activities in keeping with a responsible program philosophy. We will also continue to offer opportunities for out-tripping, realizing how challenging and successful this can be in terms of a Christian ministry.

And as the final point, as we look to the future we cannot ignore the physical needs of the Camp. Additional cabin space, additional shower and washroom facilities, additional kitchen space, additional sports areas are all part of the future planning of the Camp.

As God has used this Camp as a mighty instrument for many, let us dedicate ourselves to the task and to what it takes to accomplish the task.

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