Summer church camp has always been a part of my life since I was in elementary school. Now around eight years later, two years into college, I cannot stay away from camp.
I love seeing how my church camp journey has come full circle. I started as a student, being poured into by men and women who chose to give up time to help me in my faith journey. Now, I am honored to be the one who gets to pour back in those coming after me.
This summer I am participating in a Mennonite Brethren Church’s summer intern program as a youth intern. Being the summer intern has provided the opportunity to council as a leader at both a middle school camp and ASCENT, the high school camp, both were learning experiences for me.
At the beginning of June, we went to middle school camp. At middle school camp, I was able to get to work closely with fellow councilors and students.
Being able to come back to camp has been one of the best experiences I have had the pleasure to take part in. The chance to pour out the things God has poured into me is a special part of being a counselor.
To see God at work in students’ lives is one of my favorite parts of being a counselor. It is amazing to see how God is working in the students at ASCENT.
Seeing students at camp meet Jesus in ways they never have before excites me and makes me appreciate the blessing that church summer camps are.
I also got to council at ASCENT. ASCENT was a much different experience as a counselor. At high school camp, I was able to experience a more behind-the-scenes role.
Being behind the scenes gave me a perspective on how much people work to make the experience as great as possible for the students attending. Those who are behind the scenes work so hard to give the students a transformational experience.
Both experiences helped me learn so many new things about myself, about the students I got to know, I most importantly, how God is still moving through summer camp.
Caleb Kliewer,
Tabor College Student and Summer intern for Ridgepoint Church
