When typical college students hear the word summer, the first things that come to mind are tan lines, vacations, warm weather, sunshine and all things relaxing. However, some Union students interpret summer in a different way and have a burning passion to share the gospel by giving up their summer to work in church camp ministry.
Most summer camp counselors are college students. That perfect age where they can still recall details from their middle and high school years and relate to the students, which allows the campers to look up to them and feel comfortable sharing while also gaining respect for the staffers.
These staffers are tasked with a multitude of positions, however, the most important job is working with students who are in a crucial time of their life and building their life on a firm foundation with Christ.
“Church camp ministry is the most efficient way to use my age this summer to glorify the Lord and I would like to make a difference in the campers’ lives. I also know the college years require no real-world responsibility and I am capitalizing on this opportunity while I can,” Preston Buck, senior zoology major, said.
There is something special that should not go unnoticed about a week of high intensity worship services, little sleep, cafeteria food and gathering with likeminded people to praise Christ.
When I sat down with junior ministry and missions major TriciaClare Griffin to talk about her previous and upcoming summers of being a camp counselor, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. I could tell she was filled with so much joy and excitement that she was getting to talk about Fuge, a camp that she was incredibly passionate about working for.
“I love the Gospel, I love the next generation, I love God and I love that God wants to use me,” Griffin said.
It takes a huge heart, a desire to minister to kids and a calling to be such a vessel for the Lord in this unique way.
The staffers work long, grueling hours that drain them mentally and physically. Once your body has had enough, the only thing you can really do is turn to the Lord.
“Camp is the hardest job you will ever love,” Lauren Cummings, senior sociology major, said.
There are so many positives that come from spending an entire season sharing the gospel and really making a difference in the lives of kids and teens.
“I recall a specific memory, one week there was an atheist in my group and by day two he was open to the idea of Christianity and religion, by day three the student was beginning to pray, and on night five, he accepted Jesus into his heart. It was such a beautiful picture to watch this story unfold and to see how the church loved him, before, during and after,” Buck said.
“My favorite memory was at mega relay one week, I was announcing who raised the most money for missions, the students began chanting my name, I remember telling the campers, I didn’t do that, God did that. Selfishly, I could have taken the glory, but I wanted the students to see God’s glory,” Griffin said. “This was the least TriciaClare summer and the most God summer, I have ever had.”
