Accomplishing Vision through Summer Camp

In the opening of Colossians, Paul provides us with his prayer for those who are in ministry. 

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:9-13). 

Three primary ideas Paul is praying for: that those in ministry would grow in their knowledge of God, serve him through their actions, and remember their community in Christ. Likewise, we strive for everyone who comes through Ridge Haven; whether campers, adults, group leaders or staff; will experience what Paul is praying here and go from Ridge Haven knowing Jesus more when they left than when they arrived.  

In order to accomplish this, Ridge Haven Camps seek to model sincere life transformation through its staff, by their service and by providing the context for conversations that speak Gospel truth and demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit. This is all for the sake of staff and guests knowing Jesus in their own lives and bringing their spiritual rejuvenation from camp into their home communities for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.  

For our campers, the most direct care they will receive is from his/her cabin counselor. Counselors are Christian men and women who have been selected based on their evident faith, desire, and ability to care for and invest in the lives of campers. They are instrumental in accomplishing Ridge Haven’s mission to campers.  

With that being the case, Ridge Haven plans each week with the goal of fostering a relationship between the counselor and their cabins and providing campers with a genuinely fun and memorable camp week(s). While having fun is not the ultimate goal, it is a practical vehicle through which campers can experience a gospel-centered community. Staff are instructed to be fully invested in activities, not exclusively for personal enjoyment, but for the sake of the cabin. Many campers start the week with apprehensions and insecurities, but interactions with counselors and cabin mates through games and conversations help campers feel a part of the community. 

Camp should be an encouraging and rewarding experience for campers as they enjoy time investing in new friendships and exciting accomplishments, all the while drawing closer to God together. There is set aside time for communal worship as a camp, hearing tailored preaching of the Word, breaking into small groups for cabin devotions, one on one conversations with counselors, and individual quiet time for reflection and prayer with God.  

We pray that every aspect of the camp week can be used to draw kids closer to God and experience a community of believers who strive to glorify Christ together. Staff should seek every opportunity to promote this end, whether it be chatting with a camper during a long walk, sitting out during an activity with someone who does not wish to participate, or spreading mulch during a service project. 

This ministry is only possible through the service and support of all Ridge Haven staff. As staff at Ridge Haven, you will be asked to serve diligently and fervently to serve our guests, and each other, for the glory of God. The role of leadership, operations staff, camp service interns and full-time staff is not simply to support camp functions through practical help, but to be agents themselves towards Ridge Haven’s mission. Through service and encouragement, staff should seek to reflect the love of Christ as Paul writes in Philippians. 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. There God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11). 

With this in mind, staff are encouraged to be actively aware of the pedestal that campers are likely to put them on and, with great care, point them away from themselves and toward Christ. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the greatest gift staff can bestow upon the lives of the campers is an inspiration to draw near to Jesus. Additionally, staff should be mindful of how they engage with one another. Ridge Haven has a unique community of varying ages serving alongside one another and our goal should be to honor Christ with how we treat and serve one another. 

Ridge Haven staff therefore are expected to be beyond reproach and held to a high standard because of who we are representing, Christ Jesus. With this in mind, let us seek to be a community that prays for one another, encourages one another, and holds one another accountable as we aim to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ… standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).”   

Ridge Haven seeks to faithfully serve in Brevard and Cono so that Christ’s Kingdom might be advanced!