Being at a Bible camp offers us a unique opportunity that we do not get in our normal Sunday church services – we get to do life together. We get to model faith in action. Therefore, it is possible to model and teach authentic Christianity and true spiritual formation in the space that being at a camp together allows. This post will offer you some tools and thought processes to craft a missionally-minded faith journey at the next camp you lead.

Note to the leader: Navigating faith and leadership

Bible camp leadership is fun and wonderful; it is also exhausting and trying…

Whether you are doing camp ministry or you’re doing full-time ministry, it is important to look after your own heart while you empower young hearts. Even before you put your leadership skills to the test and craft a compelling camp outline… Have you considered pausing and becoming still?

Asking God to direct your steps as you work is the most important step in putting together your plan. Have you heard of the term ‘Missio Dei’? Essentially, it is a term used to describe God’s mission (as opposed to our own efforts). God has been painting a picture and we can slot into what He’s been doing all along. You don’t have to do it on your own.

“You will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me].” – Acts 1:9 AMP. This verse highlights how the Spirit is the One who empowers and equips us for the good works God has prepared for us to do.

While solid Biblical teaching is of crucial importance, there are building blocks to being a discipleship director or camp leader that you will probably not learn while at seminary (At least, I didn’t!).

The building blocks of spiritual growth for youth leaders

Healthy spiritual formation is about more than reading the Bible and praying. It is not about charismatic leaders or flashy decor either. And it does not end when the camp is over…

You can imagine yourself standing next to God in a crowded room of people. Your job is to take people by the hand and lead them to God. But, once you’ve done that, your job is not done. You need to keep holding their hand and teaching them how to relate to God. Even then, your job is not done just yet. It is important that you gently loosen your own hand and connect them with another person standing near God. You have succeeded in your task only when you successfully step away and the person is connected to 1. God and 2. Someone else who’s connected to God.

     Mentorship in faith

(Take them by the hand and place their hand in Jesus’)

The discipleship journey is about building believers’ faith. Discipleship is about transforming lives so that people look more like Jesus, not like yourself. Everything that you do at camp (your Discipleship curriculum, Bible study sessions, Worship activities, all of it…) needs to model how to do it.

Your first mentoring job is towards the counselors or camp leaders. You cannot possibly get around to praying for each person attending the camp and being everything for everyone – That is a recipe for burnout. The volunteers or staff that are present with you at the camp are like the hands and feet, but you are like the head and heart.

• How are they being spiritually prepared for the upcoming camp?
• How are they resting while the camp is going on?
• Is there a strong sense of team among all the leaders?
• Do you know their strengths? Are you utilizing them?
• Do they understand the Great Commission and the Missio Dei?

Your second mentoring job is towards those attending the camp. From the planning perspective, you can consider what someone’s discipleship experience might be if they attend the camp. The general goal is that each person will be closer to God at the end of camp, but each situation also has a unique goal that can be dependent on the church or organization leading the camp, the context you are in, and many more factors.

• How are camp-goers being drawn closer to God?
• Are they empowered or spoon-fed?
• Is each individual connected to a leader?
• Are they part of a team?
• What are they learning that they can take with them when the camp is done?

     Building Community

(Take them by the hand and connect them with someone else)

Young people (and everybody, actually) need faithful guidance from fellow believers. They need you, but the truth is, they need good friendships even more. Community in Christ is an important element of being a healthy Christian.

A crucial element of any church camp is creating a supportive environment for spiritual growth. A big aspect of feeling empowered is realizing that you do not have to do it alone – It is like Hebrews 12 says “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness],— let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us”. Let them embark on the spiritual adventure together, not by themselves!

• What will happen when the camp ends?
• Can you identify who might feel alone?
• How can you help friendships grow?
• Is it possible to gently pull people out of cliques?
• Is there space to share testimonies?

How to make Bible camp mission-driven

You are leading the next generation closer to God and that is awesome! It is important and valuable that people take the time at camp to reflect and go inwards to reconnect with God. However, if it stays inward-focused it cannot be healthy either.

Think about a river with running water. The water is clear and plants are growing in it, but the water keeps moving – and therefore, it stays healthy. If a side-pool is formed next to the river, that’s great. It is a place for more water to gather and form a dam. But, what happens if that small pond never gets a release? The water will come in healthy and with lots of movement, but if it has no place to exit, it will become murky or even sickening.

It’s the same with our faith journeys. If we just receive-receive-receive and never get to the point of overflow where we share with other people, we can get a little murky too. It’s like Jesus said: “(The person) who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], — ‘From (their) innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” – John 7:38 AMP.

     Missional ideas for Bible camp

Below are examples of missional ideas that can work for all ages of camp-goers. These ideas will empower people to have a missional heart and grow in their confidence by either sharing the Gospel with words or walking out their faith in action.

Kids or children:

• Break them into groups and have each group perform a skit or a dance sharing a Bible story with the others.

Teens or young adults or emerging adults:

• Have an activity where people make collages about their personal faith testimonies. Then have them share it with someone else on the camp.

Millennials or older adults:

• During worship time, have people write a letter for someone back at home (or at work or school) telling them about an experience they had at camp.

All ages:

• Make something together (food / crafts / build something practical). On the last day of camp, go together and deliver it to somebody in need.

Adventure ahead!

Enjoy every single minute of your time at camp! By effectively mentoring your group in their faith and ensuring that community is being built amongst them, you can make the most of your time together.

There’s a quote that says “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called”. If you are in a position to be a camp leader, it is no mistake. “Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” – Proverbs 16:3 AMP.

If you’ve come to the end of this post and you still feel ill-equipped or uncertain about how to disciple people in this way, check out our courses at Missional University that are focused on Missional Discipleship and Emerging Leadership.