0

Chatting with EJ Swanson about Camps

Earlier tonight I was playing some ping pong with my good friend Jonathon Hampton in my basement and EJ Swanson dropped by and we got to talking about camps for a bit soni thought I would post some of the throughts. (EJ works for a camp up in Michigan and speaks at camps, retreats, you groups, etc., EJ made clear he does NOT play ping pong so I didn't get to play him, but we DID have a good time hanging out). Camp is one of my passion areas largely in part because I've learned about "Camp" from one of the best camp directors of all-time, Mark Beeson. Ask ANY one of our students or adults who went to camp with Mark Beeson and I garauntee they will tell you the same. He's been at Camp every summer for the last 35 years leading middle schoolers to Christ!!! EVEN AS the senior pastor our Granger for the last 20+ years. So I learned from him the value of camp and the excellence of doing camp "well". So anyway, I LOVE CAMP! Here's a few things EJ and I talked about regarding Camps: 1. Camps have to remember, when we are done, we are sending students home to a church/youth group. Camp can't be the end. 2. Leading students to Christ at camps is amazing but ineffective long-term if there is no follow-up. 3. One of the coolest things about speaking to students is the conversation after the message. We were curious why so maybe speakers 'fade-to-black' after the message and don't come off the platform and hang out with the students. (I get some REAL energy about this one!) 4. Different camps have different strengths and groups have to pick the camp that works/fits them. 5. We were curious how certain camps cut costs for groups to make it more affordable. (We talked about a few specific cases we knew of but other than that we speculated. If you know feel free to comment.) 6. Camps are AMAZING! 7. Lastly, I wanted to talk about how awesome EJ was but he was too humble to engage the conversation. (posted from my iPhone)