Dail Ballard, director of NC United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries, took the stage to share the impact of these ministries with the annual conference and how the three United Methodist camps — Don Lee, Rockfish, and Chestnut Ridge — create opportunities for leadership development.
At a recent gathering of camp staff, Ballard asked her team what leader-forming they have witnessed at camp. While enjoying fun activities and God’s creation at camp, the staff have also seen young people learning invaluable, lifelong skills for living in Christian community that include: inclusivity, compromise, confidence, listening, flexibility, patience, and diversity.
Ballard shared that over 25,000 folks experience camp in our conference every year! Through survey feedback, they know that 81% of those who visit one of the three camps experience significant growth in faith relevance and self confidence. Also, 87% of campers say they made friends with campers who are different from them and their friends at home. Feedback from the camp staff themselves shows that 90% of them felt more confident in their faith and leadership after serving.
Citing scripture from Matthew, Ballard emphasized the importance of servant leadership development and challenged everyone gathered to consider ways that camps and churches can partner to capitalize on the “mountaintop” experiences at camp so that those pivotal faith moments can help transform everyday life in the church. In this way, camp experiences can translate into daily servant leadership and legacy-building.
Ballard invited the body to visit camp for a retreat or to experience sabbath. Each camp has facilities for respite and formal or informal gatherings for your church group. Put camp on your church calendar this year!
As always, Ballard brought a moment of joy and play in the midst of the worshipful work of the annual conference. Neon-colored frisbees flew across the conference hall, and smiles abounded in the middle of the colorful chaos.