How camps support
healthy
youth ministries
The Summer Educational Program (SEP) in the United States is a camp ministry of the WCG that serves children, teens and college age young adults.
Youth ministry back home
Those involved in the leadership of our camp ministry seek to be more intentional about integrating the incredible ministry that occurs in a camp setting with the essential youth ministry that occurs back home. But how is this done?
With our camps closer to home, more
parents will have firsthand opportunities to see a regional camp in action. Almost all of
the SEP regional camps last year reported that parents could observe camp in operation. I
met with several parents on the last day of camp at SEP Ohio last year, and listened to
how grateful they were for the support to their family ministry that the camp provides.
Another way to support the congregation is to encourage campers to not only take back the energy they may have experienced at SEP, but look for opportunities to support their pastor. Whether helping with the sound system, passing out songbooks or engaging in peer-to-peer ministry, campers and staff are encouraged to go back to their congregations and find a way to make a difference.
Youth-oriented evangelism
SEP is an outstanding venue for youth-oriented evangelism. Pastors and members involved in outreach activities are urged to point unbelieving youths toward SEP. SEP is a youth-friendly Christian haven that has helped many nonbelievers develop relationships with Jesus.
SEP can assist the congregation by helping young believers begin to be established in foundational Christian beliefs. An entire spiritual curriculum for one camp focused on the Apostles’ Creed, and campers learned the fundamental doctrines of orthodox Christianity. This is such an important benefit of camp ministry in a time when many young Christians are bombarded by conflicting and confusing messages about what Christianity is all about.
Because the numbers of young people in many congregations have declined, and because teens (especially) are relational, SEP helps to keep young people connected in an expansive network. Many of these young people continue to network with SEP friends years after camp.
One of the greatest opportunities for linkages between SEP and the congregation occurs through the staff. SEP staff volunteers are immersed in the SEP experience for a week where they learn important youth ministry skills. They return home with a spiritual enthusiasm that can have many positive benefits within the congregation.
SEP thus serves as a means for building and equipping young spiritual leaders. Counselors and other staff members receive hours of focused training to help them better serve campers in their care. Many methods taught to SEP staff for use in a camp ministry setting are relevant for youth ministry within a congregation.
Pilot programs
This year, we are piloting a program at SEP South Carolina where those who have a passion for youth ministry will take several classes on how to engage in youth ministry, and then participate in camp ministry, where they can immediately apply what they have learned. At SEP Ohio we will have a pilot program where members of all ages will join with the campers for the last days of camp to see youth ministry in action and experience the joy of youths leading the church in worship.
Because the role of volunteer staff members at SEP is so powerful, we envision a time when each congregation will find a way to encourage a member to apply to the closest SEP to serve on the staff. We hope to partner with pastors to ensure that those staff members who experience SEP are given the opportunity to bring what they learn back to the congregation.
In addition, SEP is stronger because so many volunteers with diverse experiences come together and share those gifts at camp. Camp directors take those methods that appear to bear the most fruit in the camp setting and build on them.
SEP is an important part of WCG youth ministry. We are working to ensure that it complements ministry in the family and the local church. I invite your suggestions on how we can improve this linkage. Please drop your suggestions to me at jeb_egbert@wcg.org
Jeb Egbert
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