Midwest Christan Retreats - Helping Your Student to Carry Summer Camp in to the Fall - Part Two

Aug

2009

Helping Your Student to Carry Summer Camp in to the Fall - Part Two

Written by Zach Norman

Camp Pastors, worship leaders, counselors, and staff work hard to create a distraction free environment for students to connect with Christian friends and deepen their relationship with Christ. As your students world begins to change with a new busier school schedule what can we do as parents or leaders to encourage our students to continue building their relationship with Christ like they did during camp?

I was thinking about that question quite a bit over the last few days preparing to write this entry. The Bible has a lot to say about spending time with God and investing in a relationship with Christ. As I was putting ideas together for this entry I was really struggling to find the passage that really captured what was in my heart. Sunday morning at church the sermon may as well been titled: "Hey Zach, this one is for you!" The pastor taught on Hebrews 12:1-3. From the NIV it reads:

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.⁽¹⁾

A couple things really stand out here. Distractions, road blocks, baggage... whatever you want to call the things that help us make excuses for developing our relationship with Christ are all around us and easily detour us. To me, Its less about avoidance of distractions and more on how we allow them to influence us. The things we continue to carry or the things we refuse to forgive though God has long forgiven and offered us freedom. Paul is clearly instructing Christians to drop the excuses that keep us from fulling engaging in the race.

The Message phrases the verses this way:

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!⁽²⁾

Some great points from Paul in contemporary language from Peterson's translation of the original Greek scriptures. Here are a few things that have really resonated in my heart that I think will help you assist your student fan the flame that started this summer:

VETERANS - be encouraging constantly. Know that your example is being monitored by others. Let Christ's presence in your life shine through in all areas. Shed anything in your life that prevents you from living out the Gospel at all times.
DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL - "Keep your eyes on Jesus... ...Study how he did it." He has blazed a trail ahead of each of us and laid out the perfect example.
REMEMBER WHERE YOU'RE HEADED - Christ endured the worst of the road blocks in our stead, and he never lost sight of the finish line and his victory that has freed us from sin!

The camp world is very friendly and encourages students, counselors, staff, and leaders to live a lifestyle that is baggage free, focused on the race, and in the victory we have through Christ. As school starts continue to encourage your students both in words and even more by example to continue to develop their relationship with Christ.

Parents and youth leaders, continue to have a regular dialogue with your students about their relationship with Christ, the things God is doing in your life and their life, how the Holy Spirit moving in both of your lives. In Part-one of this series, Donna brought up watching the camp video, that can be a great way to get the conversation started.

This article is part two in a four part series for meeting planners & parents with insights on how to help your student carry their camp experience into the fall. Lots of the ideas presented here can be incorporated into effective retreat follow-up for other events. Part Three will debut on Tuesday August 25, 2009. Look for Jenny's August E-mail update the week of August 24th for a preview of summer 2010!

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