The Big Idea: Proven ways of bonding with individuals and groups.
Camp may be one of your first experiences in building an intentional relationship with someone who is not family or one of your chosen friends. It is easy to love your friends, said Jesus, but try loving your enemies (Matt 5:43-48). Hopefully, campers won't become your enemies! The point is, Jesus' followers are called to love when it is not easy to love.
The book offers several strategies for building relationships in the camp setting. Here is another one that I don't think will work but it might get your thoughts moving:
Jesus' example of relationship-building is described in Phil 2:3-5: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus..."
It can be stimulating to set aside your own interests and pursue those of another person. You might learn a few things from your campers this summer! Most of all, it tells them that they are important to you. When you take time to listen, to be interested and interact with a camper, they see that you love them.
The dynamics of your cabin group are powerful tools in God's hands. Good things can happen in a small group that can't happen any other way. In whatever position you have at camp this summer, you are part of a community through which God will do great things! "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Eph 4:15-16).
Please post your thoughts on these questions in the "Comments" box below. You will need to sign in with a Google or other account in order to do so.
Camp may be one of your first experiences in building an intentional relationship with someone who is not family or one of your chosen friends. It is easy to love your friends, said Jesus, but try loving your enemies (Matt 5:43-48). Hopefully, campers won't become your enemies! The point is, Jesus' followers are called to love when it is not easy to love.
The book offers several strategies for building relationships in the camp setting. Here is another one that I don't think will work but it might get your thoughts moving:
Jesus' example of relationship-building is described in Phil 2:3-5: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus..."It can be stimulating to set aside your own interests and pursue those of another person. You might learn a few things from your campers this summer! Most of all, it tells them that they are important to you. When you take time to listen, to be interested and interact with a camper, they see that you love them.
The dynamics of your cabin group are powerful tools in God's hands. Good things can happen in a small group that can't happen any other way. In whatever position you have at camp this summer, you are part of a community through which God will do great things! "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Eph 4:15-16).
Please post your thoughts on these questions in the "Comments" box below. You will need to sign in with a Google or other account in order to do so.
- If your role is not cabin-leading this summer, what intentional steps will you take to connect with campers during the week?
- As a cabin leader, what items will you bring with you to help create cabin identity and unity?
- Do you feel ready to give your heart away to a group of campers this summer?
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