Something unusual but repeatable happened recently. As I was making preparations on Saturday afternoon at a church where I was to hold revival meetings, a lady walking by the church stopped and asked me if I was the “new preacher”. I assured her that I was not, explained why I was there, and invited her to the revival meetings. Her brief testimony was that a friend had told her that she was “beyond hope”. As it turns out, she wasn’t!
She came to our services and continued coming throughout the week. She received assurance of her salvation. She returned to church the week after we were gone. That is the way it is supposed to work!
While her connection was through me, it was not to me. Her connection was to the local church that will stay to disciple her. A nightly week of revival meetings is a great way to reach people, create a habit of helping, and draw new people into that local fellowship.
Camp can do the same things! Time and again we have seen young people come to camp as “guests” with a church and leave camp a week later as part of that church! How can you see that happen?
1. Plan for it. Growing youth groups think differently. Bringing “new kids” to camp is part of their strategy.
2. Look for it. If your teens never look beyond your four walls, they will never bring new teens within those four walls. Start small, start weekly, then use camp as a target. The results could be exponential!
3. Work for it. If you encourage a lost teen to come to a special activity, the benefit is one activity. If you make a way for the same teen to come to camp, the benefit is one week! Much can happen. Make it good! Why not reserve one or two spots on the bus and raise money for one or two new campers?
When you leave camp, new teens should like camp and love the Lord, but leave with you! Camp should strengthen their connection to your church. When they get back home, these new teens can help you reach more new teens for the Lord Jesus.