One of the encouraging fruits of the Issyk-Kul workshop came just two weeks later.
Three participants returned to their local church and decided to organize a special meeting for those serving children, teenagers, and young people, as well as for parents and anyone interested in the future ministry. They wanted to share what they had received at the workshop: why Christian camp ministry can be such a meaningful bridge to the hearts of children and teenagers, what the key ideas of camp ministry are, and what practical tools can help coordinators, counselors, and church volunteers serve more intentionally.
Before the meeting, they contacted me, and we talked through what they could include and what would be helpful to emphasize. It was such a joy to help them think through the program and then to hear how encouraged and inspired they were afterwards. One of the organizers wrote on the evening of the meeting that they were walking on air.
The meeting in their church was warm, creative, and meaningful. They began with prayer and worship, used games to help people get to know one another, invited everyone to share honestly about their ministry joys and challenges, and talked about the importance of mentoring relationships. They also prepared printed materials about the roles of a camp coordinator and counselor, the needs of children at different ages, and what it means to model redemptive relationships.
At the end, each participant received a small “stone of remembrance” with a Bible verse, as a physical reminder of the importance of serving children.
For me, this is one of the most beautiful outcomes of regional training. The workshop continued in a local church through young people who were willing to take what they had received and share it with others.
