Of course we know there is one best time to make a fresh start and it is not January, 1 – with Christ the best time is the present moment. With this in mind, here are a few things I resolve to encourage Camp Leaders to do in the coming year to strengthen their ministries:
- Rediscover the Holiness Message – each person and each year at camp is an opportunity to rediscover the depth and richness of the holiness message. This begins with a leadership committed to this goal. Maybe this year you find time to read Thomas à Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, Entire Devotion to God by Phoebe Palmer, Entire Sanctification by Wilbur Dayton, Dennis Kinlaw, John Oswalt or some other text which will help you become a better witness to the Biblical doctrine of Entire Sanctification.
- Review the Annual Corporate Records – Maybe your Board meets monthly or only once or twice a year, regardless every meeting needs to be recorded with accurate minutes. Special attention should be paid to the Annual Meeting of the corporation which elects officers and often Directors or Trustees. These minutes, along with an annual audit by a Certified Public Accountant are the two most important governance documents to maintain.
- Visit another Camp – Be encouraged by another ministry where you have no leadership responsibility. Sit by yourself or with you spouse and be ministered to. Watch how the camp operates from the platform, in the dining hall, on the grounds. What can you learn to advance the ministry of your organization? Is your next evangelist, youth evangelist, song evangelist or accompanist waiting to be “discovered” at another camp?
- Recruit one new Board Member – Many of our boards are made up of people we have known for a long time. While that has its strengths it also hampers an organization’s ability to engage fresh ideas and try new things. Who is a person you see as having a different perspective to your board?
- Find a team to plan one event at Camp outside of the primary encampment – maybe you invite Rotary to have lunch at your camp, or the local historical society or even better the ministers association. Find some people who would benefit from knowing about your ministry and ask, invite, open the doors!
January 1 is not necessarily the time to make a change but often these winter months are times of expectation and reflection for people. People are outside less, there is less daylight and often some vital planning can be accomplished in these winter months.
May God richly bless you as you serve the Kingdom!
