Brian and Melissa came bouncing into Sunday school last week chattering, Melissa blurted out, "Wasn't camp fantastic?" "Yeah", Brian chimed in, "My counselor was awesome. I don't think I'll ever forget …"

Camp has a way of grabbing young people. But what is it that grabs them? The singing? The camp speaker? The 50-foot banana split? Read on …

Christian camping provides an adventure in fun and fellowship designed to promote a better understanding of the Christian walk and challenge our kids to grow in grace, while many ingredients are certainly considered essential in this endeavor, I believe that youth camping would benefit greatly by emphasizing the importance of its staff.

Specifically, let me challenge you to develop a distinct counselor-centered approach in using staff to minister youth. This means that the various aspects of camping are planned with the intent to facilitate and strengthen a counselor's ministry with his or her campers rather than relying solely on the camp speaker. The counselor becomes the vital link in communicating to junior or senior highs the reality of a relationship with the God who redeems them. How is this done?

The underlying idea to counselor-centered camping is that the truths of Christianity are most effectively communicated in the context of relationship. For the Apostle Paul, relationship was central with those to whom he ministered. Such was the case with the church at Thessalonica:

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.1 Thessalonians 2:8

Paul did not speak, teach or write into a void. His words were often addressed to those he had lived with and always to those he loved. The Thessalonians experienced the truth and reality of Paul's faith as they witnessed his life among them. Paul was relational.

The incarnation of Christ, which is at the heart of the gospel message, also provides a gospel method. Christ, who in the beginning was with the Father, is the One who was willing to enter the world (John 1:2, 14). In short, Jesus Christ fulfilled God's redemptive plan by coming into the world he created. The Creator came to be with those he created in order "that they might have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

Counselor-centered camping takes on an incarnational model. It is the counselor who fleshes out the gospel to kids throughout the course of camp. The relationship that is built up and shared between counselor and camper is the avenue for driving home Christ's teaching to kids who are constantly watching the lives of others.

Counselor-centered camping avoids the danger of assuming that because our children have been baptized, catechized and raised in the church, they fully understand what the camp speaker may be saying. The speaker has to make some of these assumptions in preparing his messages. The counselor, however, does not. The counselor can be seen as an interpreter who clarifies, shores up and fills in according to a camper's needs. This will often be the time a counselor is used by God to bring sheep back to the fold.

How can you get started in using this staffing approach? Remember, it won't just happen. It will take an honest effort to initiate such a strategy. Here are some suggestions:

Before Camp⤒🔗

Begin now! Because of its relational approach, you need to recruit and train counselors. This will mean time on your part. God certainly uses counselors who have had little or no experience around students. But think how much more effective camp would be if our recruiting targeted adults who have active relationships with kids!

There is an added bonus here, too. These recruited counselors already have an established pool of students (and their friends) they could not only invite to camp, but actually bring along. This would cut down on "sending kids to camp" which requires a counselor to spend more time building a friendship at camp and less time on teaching and counseling to meet needs.

Specific training for counselors before camp is equally important. Counselors need to make the shift in their own minds regarding their key position, Then they need time to pray and study about – and even practice – how to develop relationships with young people. This involves more than simply carrying on a conversation with students. It means being prepared to apply the gospel to a young person's specific struggles in life. To aid in this effort perhaps resource information to read and study is necessary.

At Camp←⤒🔗

Though the program, activities, facilities and speaker are more visible, they should all be designed to promote the counselor's relationship and input with kids. Speakers can do this by communicating to counselors before camp the content and focus of their messages. Speakers can provide questions to be used in cabin times. In turn, counselors can give feedback to the speaker so that he might address specific issues or needs that kids are dealing with.

The program and activities should be designed to enhance counselor-camper interaction. Specific activities that allow counselors to be with their kids should be well planned. Activities and free time are viewed as opportunities for counselors to be with kids. It is during these times of informality and fun that relationships deepen and mature. Kids begin seeking out their counselor for advice and interaction. Counselors ought to set a goal of talking one-on-one with each of his or her campers throughout the camp. This is essential to establishing a counselor-centered approach.

A final word about vision. Counselor-centered camping need not be simply a once-a-year experience. Day, overnight and weekend trips throughout the year provide excellent opportunities to implement the above principles and suggestions with smaller groups of kids.

Utilizing staff in this way is what will grab kids. The counselor becomes the tool God uses so that relationships are built, truth is witnessed and faith grows.