1. Concentration

Camping is effective, first, because it is a concentrated ministry of God's Word. Truth is taught, explained, demonstrated, and reinforced over and over – and in many different ways. Chapel messages, morning devotions, discussions, counseling sessions, Bible studies, drama, testimonies, music, and campfires are some of the more obvious. Add to that the less structured witness of Christian staff and campers, and this sheer concentration, all taken together, has tremendous power.

2. Time

Camp life is a 24-hour-a-day experience of living together over a period of several days. Unlike an evangelistic meeting, banquet, or concert, camping gives people time to relax and unwind. People often need an extended period of time to absorb truth and think through its implications. They need time to build meaningful relationships and open up. And most need time to make major, life-changing decisions.

3. Group Living

At camp the message is not only presented, but modeled. Though there is a body of truth we Christians believe, Christianity is not only facts to be learned, but truth to be lived (love, submission, trust, forgiveness). It is primarily a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but it is lived out in the context of human relationships (friends, enemies, family, authorities). The skilled counselor sees quarrels, winning and losing, loneliness, or just having fun as opportunities for imparting biblical principles every bit as valid as the formal teaching times. Sharing, for example, is better taught with eight hungry kids around a platter of spaghetti than in a dozen sermons. This may be the closest we come to emulating Christ's ministry of discipling.
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