In Scripture, there’s a pattern you’ll start to notice: God’s people didn’t just happen into worship. They scheduled it. They traveled for it. They built whole festivals and feasts around it. They pressed pause on their regular routines and, sometimes for days or even weeks, set everything else aside to seek God more fully and more freely.
That’s what camp is.
It’s not just a summer activity. It’s not just a break from school or an excuse to binge Dr. Pepper and Twizzlers. It’s a chance for kids and students to step out of their normal rhythm and into something deeper—something that’s been part of God’s people for generations.
I know this firsthand. I was a church camp kid. One of my earliest memories is, regrettably, projectile vomiting from the top bunk onto my unsuspecting friend below. Yes, I’ve made my mark—quite literally—on the world of church camp. (Sorry, Jared!) But even in moments like that, camp etched something into me. It wasn’t just the junk food. It was the Scripture that got read. The worship that got sung. The friendships that got built. The adults who invested in me. The quiet moments when God felt near.
Now, at Christ’s Church of Oronogo, our kids and students have the chance to experience the same kind of spiritually rich, joy-filled, life-shaping time away at Maranatha Bible Camp or Christ in Youth’s MIX and MOVE conferences.
Here’s what I love: the central focus of these camps and conferences is Jesus. Uninterrupted. Unfiltered. Unimpeded. Kids get a clearer view of who He is and what it means to follow Him than they often get in the daily noise of life. And they get to see that alongside others who are heading in the same direction—other kids, their small group leaders, friends’ parents, and maybe even their own family members.
Now, let’s be honest. There’s a cost to going. There’s the financial side. There’s the time away from regular activities. There’s even the disruption to your family schedule. But I can promise you this: in five years as a youth pastor and even more years watching students go and come back transformed, the return is more than worth it.
Camp is one of those rare, sacred spaces where eternal things seem to get just a little bit clearer. Where God speaks and kids listen. Where faith takes root—or grows deeper. Where a kid can laugh until they cry, cry until they pray, and pray until they know they’re not alone.
So here’s what I’d say:
- If you’ve got kids or students—sign them up if there’s still room.
- If you’re an adult—consider going as a leader.
- And no matter what—pray for the kids who will go. That this summer would be a season of celebration and transformation. A modern-day festival where they meet with God.
And if we happen to cross paths at one of these camps this summer, maybe just do yourself a favor and don’t sleep on the bunk below me.
You’ve been warned,
Drake
Written by Drake Holderman • Missional Impact Minister
Christ In Youth
By amplifying the call of Christ on student lives, three generations of servants, workers, missionaries and church leaders have responded to that call. Today, CIY works in partnership with the local church, providing more than 100 annual program events for students and leaders across the United States and in more than ten foreign countries.
Maranatha Bible Camp
Maranatha Bible Camp is a year-round ministry dedicated to bringing the best in Christian, Bible-based camp experiences. The mission of Maranatha is to challenge all people, especially children and youth, to know Jesus Christ and to mature in Him.
