Youth Camps | Kirby St. John, District Youth Director
MN Youth Camps once again broke attendance records, with a grand total of 3,501 campers, counselors, and staff over the four weeks (2,936 were students). The theme this year was “Legend”, because camp is where legends are made!
Throughout the four weeks, students heard from amazing speakers – Allen Griffin, Daniel Gray, Scotty Gibbons, and Paul Hurckman. Thank you to these men of God for the eternal investment they made in the students of MN. Multiple local churches and ministries were represented in the worship teams as well, including River of Life (Cold Spring), Living Waters (Alexandria), The Waters (Sartell), River Valley Worship, and Worship Live (NCU).
One big change this year was the introduction of two weeks of “combined camps” with 6th- 12th graders together. This made it possible for volunteer and bi-vocational youth pastors and leaders with limited vacation time to spend time with all their students during one week of camp. They no longer had to choose between attending with the Jr. High or Sr. High students – they could all be together!
The last week of Youth Camp, speaker Paul Hurckman, who is the Executive Director of Venture, challenged students to run with him for Speed the Light (STL). Two donors came forward and pledged to give a total of $3 per mile run. Thursday morning of camp, 695 students and leaders gathered at 8am and ran a collective total of 1,080 miles before breakfast, raising $3,240 to fight human trafficking!
Students raised a combined total of over $100,000 for Speed the Light, (all going to fund projects with Free International, fighting human trafficking).
Many students responded to God’s voice and call upon their lives. Counselors reported* 71 first-time salvations, 442 recommitments to Christ, 208 first-time baptisms in the Holy Spirit, 239 refillings of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, 182 healings, and 158 students who reported a call to ministry.
God moved in powerful ways and students were challenged to live out their lives boldly for Christ. Save the date for Youth Camp 2020, taking place over July 6-31!
*Only 40% of counselors responded to the survey, so actual numbers are likely higher.
