Can you guess what the hardest part of our camp director job is?  It’s not coming up with the challenges or finding a staff.  Actually the hardest part of our job is when camp ends and everyone goes home.  We struggle trying to keep everyone connected and encouraged.

On Sunday, our Pastor Phil spoke about Paul’s missionary journey and he got me thinking.  Paul spent a few days in a city with friends, left them, and only reconnected with them maybe once in a two year span and through letters.  Letters that took months and months to arrive.  These letters survived history and we read them in the Bible today.

Below is an opening statement in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi.

³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Philippians 1:3-10

When reading this letter, I was really encouraged. Paul was writing while in prison to friends that he had not seen in a long time and he was excited.  Like nothing was separating them.

If Paul could stay connected with his friends via letters, surely we have a better chance to stay connected through today’s technology.

Here are a few ways that you can stay connected with your camp friends.  Just because you are home, doesn’t mean you need to be alone.

*Email, Facebook, and other social media sites give you quick access to your counselors if you need to talk, be encouraged, or just to say hi.

*Your counselors are more than willing to exchange phone numbers for a quick call or text.

*This Senior Teen Blog is full of information to keep you connected.

*In the mood to hear Craig preach or listen to awesome worship music?  Check out the Valley Church website on a Sunday morning to watch the service live.  Or visit during the week to watch the recorded service.

*Make plans now for the Fall Retreat.  Save your money and secure a ride now!  Don’t wait until the last minute.

Our counselors and staff make an all year commitment to camp.  Our jobs do not end just because camp does.  We are here for you and will help in any way you need us to.

Just because you are home does not mean you are alone.   Be encouraged, we could be relying on snail mail, being delivered by foot, from a guys sitting in prison.