t was Kyle’s turn tostand up and speakat the bonfire onthe last night of

camp. “Well,” saidthe lanky 13-year-old,

“I liked the competitionstuff, and the food wasn’t half bad,either.” That got a few laughs.

Then, more seriously, Kylecontinued: “I want to thank thespeakers, and especially my coun-selor, who took a lot of time to talkwith me about the Bible…Y’know,back home, I was kinda involvedin a lot of ‘stuff.’ But that’s gonnachange, now that I’ve given my lifeto Jesus this week.”

Sparks drifted heavenward asthe assembled campers and coun-selors and other camp staff burstinto applause. Choking back tears,Kyle caught the eye of his counselor,who gave him the thumbs-up sign.

What will happen to Kyle backhome—and to the tens of thou-sands of young men and womenwho give or rededicate their lives toJesus Christ at camp this year? Willthey walk with Christ, or will theyfall back on poor peer influencesand worldly ways? That may verywell depend on you.

You see, the counselor’sopportunity to affect young livesgoes far beyond the week or two ofcamp. Newborn babes in Christneed nurturing; their spiritualvitality depends on it. Kids likeKyle need follow-up.

The Scriptures illustrate whatfollow-up is and show how Godcan use you to make it happen incampers’ lives.

What Is Follow-Up?As a counselor, you’ll be watchingfor an opportunity to share “thehope that you have” (1 Pet. 3:15).When you do, some, like Kyle, willrespond favorably. Don’t make themistake of thinking a camper’spublic profession is the end of thestory. We’re called to stand along-side fellow Christians (see “HelpingOne Another Grow”).

And when God uses us to leadpeople to faith in Christ, He oftencalls us to help set them on aChristian growth track towardbecoming fully devoted followersof Christ. There are many terms forthis process—discipleship, mentor-ing, apprenticeship—but here wesimply call it follow-up, or thatwhich follows the Christian com-mitment and moves camperstoward greater godliness. Ourmodel, of course, is Jesus Himself.

Jesus called men andwomen to follow Him. Theywere with Him as He pro-claimed the Good News.They watched as Hetaught about what itmeant to be a part ofGod’s kingdom. Theylooked on as Hebrought healing andwholeness to brokenlives. All the while, theMaster was preparingthem to become thebody of Christ and tocontinue His ministry,and to live lives thatpleased God (see “FourStages of Discipleship”).

He uses Christians today—

people like you—to minister inHis name, telling people aboutJesus Christ and helping them togrow in Him.

Camp leaders normally havefollow-up procedures in place. Ifyou’ve played a significant role in acamper’s decision for Christ, yourcontinued involvement in theyoung person’s life is usually partof the plan (see “The Camp-Counselor Connection”).

Initial Steps of Follow-UpLet’s say God used you to lead acamper to trust Jesus Christ. Youwant to ensure that the camper isestablished in the faith, movingtoward becoming a fully devotedfollower of Christ. While you’re

by Greg Lund and Dean Ridings

I

Focusing on the

Foundations of Christian

Camping

The Counselor’s Rolein Camper Follow-Up

still at camp, take these initial fol-low-up steps and see how GodC.A.N. use you:

C: Confirm the DecisionIt’s thrilling when campers makepublic professions of faith. Somemay do so, however, without fullyunderstanding the gospel. (Somemay even have ulterior motives,such as pleasing other people orgetting public recognition.)

That’s why it’s always appro-priate to confirm the decision forChrist. (How to Share the GoodNews with Campers, Focus Series24, features many relevantScripture references.) In short, taketime out to ensure there is belief inJesus (John 3:16) and repentanceof sin (Acts 3:19), and that salva-tion is viewed not as somethingdeserved or earned but as a gift ofGod (Eph. 2:8–9).

A: Assure the CamperEach time there’s a spiritual break-through, you can be sure there’sspiritual warfare. While the Lorddesires that none should perish (2Pet. 3:9), Satan desires that noneshould be rescued from sin and itsconsequences.

Satan is deceptive; he’s thefather of lies. One of his favoritetricks is to get new believers todoubt their salvation. Therefore, it’simportant to help campers knowthey can take God at His Word (2Tim. 3:15–16). In addition to suchverses as John 10:27–29 and 1John 5:13, perhaps the most com-pelling passage to share with newbelievers is Romans 8:38–39: “ForI am convinced that neither deathnor life, neither angels nor

demons, neither the present northe future, nor any powers, neitherheight nor depth, nor anything elsein all creation, will be able to sepa-rate us from the love of God that isin Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Assurance includes helpingnew Christians understand theinner conviction of the Holy Spirit(Rom. 8:12–16), and that God is atwork in the life of each Christian(Phil. 1:6) promising, “Never will Ileave you; never will I forsake you”(Heb. 13:5).

N: Nurture Initial GrowthTo spur new Christians on towarda healthy, growing Christian walk,you’ll want to introduce them tofour key aspects of the obedientChristian life, of which Christ iscentral. They are illustrated as thespokes of a wheel (see diagram),developed by and used with per-mission from The Navigators:

F Prayer (Phil. 4:6–7):Communicating with God

F Fellowship (Heb. 10:24–25):Worshiping with Christians,encouraging one another

F The Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17):Reading the Bible, throughwhich God communicates

F Witnessing (Matt. 28:18–20):Helping others learn how theycan have a personal relation-ship with Jesus Christ

Making Follow-Up a RealityIn addition to these initial steps,you can help campers grow inChrist once they have returnedhome. The Bible shows us why

follow-up is important and hownatural it can be.

Choosing to ObeyAt the stoning of the martyrStephen, Saul gave his approval asthe killers laid their coats at Saul’sfeet. Out of religious zeal, heattempted to stop the growingChristian faith by hunting downfollowers of Jesus. But as he nearedDamascus looking to imprisonbelievers, Saul encountered Christ.His life was never the same.

After professing faith in Jesus,Saul, who later became the apostlePaul, met Ananias. The Lord ledAnanias to provide initial follow-up training to the new believer(Acts 9:10–22). At first Ananiaswas hesitant. Wasn’t this the manwho was persecuting the church?But the Lord said: “Go! This man ismy chosen instrument to carry myname before the Gentiles and theirkings and before the people ofIsrael” (Acts 9:15).

Later, other disciples inDamascus joined Ananias in

helping Paul take his firststeps in Christ. Soon after,Paul embarked upon aremarkable ministry, as he“began to preach in thesynagogues that Jesus is theSon of God” (Acts 9:20).

Although the Lord ledAnanias, he was hesitant. If

God called you to do follow-upwith, for example, a camper whorecently gave his or her life toChrist, what would be your hesita-tion? “I never received follow-up”?“I feel inadequate”? “I don’t havetime”? If one of these sounds famil-iar, what should you be doing toovercome your hesitation? Whatlocal Christians can assist you? Younever know what plans God has instore for those to whom He’s calledyou to minister!

The Church ConnectionThe Apostle Paul took everyopportunity to talk with othersabout Jesus Christ, even while hewas imprisoned for his faith. That’swhere he met Onesimus, a run-away slave “who became my sonwhile I was in chains” (see Phm.10–21). No doubt Paul engaged

The

Wo r

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Witnessing Fellowship

Pray

er

C H RI S T

The O

bedient Christian

in Action

C H RI S T

To spur newChristians on toward a

healthy, growing Christian walk,you’ll want to introduce them tofour key aspects of the obedi-

ent Christian life, of whichChrist is central.

The Camp-Counselor Connection

Here’s a sampling of how campsassist counselors. Some of thesemay be available at your camp.

. Provide counselors a list oftheir campers, complete withaddresses, phone numbers, andbirth dates.

. Offer counselors a supply ofcards or postcards, printedand/or purchased by the camp,for the purpose of writing tocampers.

. Take pictures of counselorsand campers and give copiesto each.

. Share with counselors the let-ters that have come from par-ents of campers who havebeen elated about counselors’commitments to follow-up careof their children.

. Prepare counselors to connectcampers with local churchleaders back home by keepingon file key church contacts forreferrals.

. Allow past campers who haveexperienced the benefits of fol-low-up an opportunity to shareabout its importance duringcounselor training.

. Hold reunions or retreats.

. Provide counselors Bibles orfollow-up resources/connec-tions to help campers grow inChrist (see “Helpful Follow-UpResources”).

the slave in crucial one-to-oneministry. Paul sent Onesimus backhome to his master, Philemon, tofind forgiveness and to be incorpo-rated into the local church—not asa slave, but as a brother in Christ.There his faith would be nurturedand he would be given an oppor-tunity to serve.

Paul wrote to Philemon, also a“son” to Paul: “He is very dear tome but even dearer to you, both asa man and as a brother in theLord. So if you consider me a part-ner, welcome him as you wouldwelcome me” (Phm 16–17).

The initial follow-up steps totake when a camper acceptsChrist—confirm the decision,assure the camper, and introducehim or her to prayer, fellowship,the Word, and witnessing—are

critical. Be sure you inform campleaders about the decision, tellthem you’d like to participate inthe follow-up process, and ask fortheir recommendations (see “TheCamp-Counselor Connection”).Ensure that the camper is con-nected with a local church—and even with a key contactfrom the church, when pos-sible—where further follow-up and opportunity forministry can take place.

Writing LettersPaul is the word that beginsmore New Testament booksthan any other. Thirteen ofthem begin with that familiarname and a personal greeting,which indicates that Paul viewedletter writing as an essential ele-ment of his follow-up strategy.

A quick review of Paul’s let-ters yields a pattern for doingeffective follow-up through letters:a greeting, a word of prayer andthanksgiving, principles ofChristian living, a personal chal-lenge, and a closing.

Send letters and/or postcardsto your campers throughout theyear. Use e-mail to keep in toucheven more frequently. Let themknow how excited you are to havebeen able to share in their lives.Remind them of commitments thatwere made, and encourage them tokeep the faith. Cast a vision forthem as you let them know youare praying for them.

Personal Visits For Paul, travels were not alwayseasy or friendly. He was threetimes shipwrecked and in dangerfrom bandits, and faced manymore adverse situations. In addi-tion, he faced “daily the pressureof [his] concern for all thechurches” (2 Cor. 11:28). Manywould have decided to adopt aless perilous lifestyle.

But despite his difficulties, Paulrealized that personal visits play animportant role in follow-up. To theRoman Christians, Paul said, “I longto see you so that I may impart toyou some spiritual gift to make youstrong” (Rom. 1:11). Paul alsoanticipated personal growth

through his visits, expecting that “youand I may be mutually encouragedby each other’s faith” (Rom 1:12).

Helping One Another Grow

The many “one another” verses inthe Bible speak of our responsibil-ity to walk alongside and helpeach other grow in Christ.Christians are to:

. Be devoted to and honor oneanother (Rom. 12:10).

. Be of the same mind with oneanother (Rom. 15:5).

. Accept one another as Christaccepted us (Rom. 15:7).

. Instruct one another (Rom.15:14).

. Serve one another in love (Gal.5:13).

. Carry one another’s burdens(Gal. 6:2).

. Bear with one another in love(Eph. 4:2, Col. 3:13).

. Submit to one another (Eph.5:21).

. Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).

. Encourage and build up oneanother (1 Thess. 5:11).

. Confess sins to and pray forone another (James 5:16).

The word allelon, most often trans-lated one another, is used 58 timesin the New Testament, excludingthe gospels. For more informationon our commitment to the body of

Christ, see Building up OneAnother by Gene A. Getz

(Chariot Victor Publishing, 2002).

Four Stages of Discipleship

In Jesus Christ Disciple Maker(Crossway Books, 1992), Bill Hullexplains Jesus’ four stages of dis-ciple making, a model for us today.Jesus called people to:

1. “Come and see.”—An invita-tion to become a Christian,from Jesus’ initial call to Hisdisciples (John 1:35–39, espe-cially verse 39)

2. “Come and follow me.”—Aninvitation to become estab-lished in the essentials of theChristian faith, from Jesus’appeal to follow and learn fromHim (John 1:43)

3. “Come and be with me.”—Aninvitation to reach out and min-ister as a Christian, from Jesus’equipping and sending out ofHis disciples (Matt. 10;28:19–20).

4. “Remain in me.”—An invitationto a lifetime of devotion andservice to Jesus Christ, fromJesus’ command to remain inHim (John 15:1-17).

Keep a list of all of yourcampers, along with theiraddresses. If some campers live adistance away and you find yourtravels will take you near acamper’s home, you might arrangea visit with at least one other per-son present. Be sure to touch baseon spiritual matters. Don’t be sur-prised if you leave feeling the visitwas one of mutual encouragement!

Praying for GrowthPaul longed to personally visitThessalonian believers. He was“torn away” from doing so in per-son, but not in thought (1 Thess.2:17). And when people were inPaul’s thoughts, they were also inhis prayers.

Paul’s prayerswere in directresponse to theneeds of newand growingChristians.He prayedthat theymay “know[Jesus] bet-ter” (Eph.1:17), “be ableto discern what isbest and may bepure and blameless”(Phil. 1:10), be filled with a“knowledge of [God’s] will” (Col.1:9), and be counted “worthy of

[God’s] calling” (2 Thess.1:11). In Paul’s mind,

through prayer he couldhave a powerful influencein the lives of those hetouched.

Make a commit-ment to pray for yourcampers not onlywhile they’re at camp,but also after they (andyou) have returnedhome. Jot a few notes

to yourself during thesummer so you can be

more specific in yourprayers. Communicate to

your campers that you arepraying for them, and invite

them to share their needs withyou.

Eternal ImpactIn Luis Palau: Calling America andthe Nations to Christ (ThomasNelson Publishers, 1995), theinternational evangelist recalls sit-ting on a fallen tree at camp with acounselor named Frank.

“I opened my heart to Christright there, out in the rain sittingon a log,” he writes. “I gave Franka big hug and we ran back into thetent. I crawled under my blanketwith my flashlight and wrote in myBible, ‘February 12, 1947’ and ‘Ireceived Jesus Christ.’”

Imagine the impact youngmen and women—kids like Kyle,whose story we shared at thebeginning—will have tomorrowand through the years.

“There’s not a more openand teachable mind than

that of a [young per-son] still excited

over his conver-sion,” saysPalau, whoseministry hashelped hun-dreds ofthousandsnot only to

trust Jesus butalso—through

intentional follow-up—take an active

part in their localchurches.

There’s no greater joy for aspiritual “parent” than to see his or

her spiritual “offspring” grow inChrist, toward the goal of becom-ing fully devoted followers ofChrist, and be used by Him totouch others (2 Tim. 2:2). May thisjoy be yours. -

All Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984International Bible Society. Used by per-mission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

P.O. Box 62189Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2189

Phone: (719) 260-9400

Fax: (719) 260-6398

E-mail: info@ccca.org

Web: www.ccca.org

The Coun-selor’sRole in

CamperFollow-Up

(CCCA FocusSeries 25); copy-

right © 1995, 2000,2002, 2007 by CCCA. Focus Seriesmonographs may not be repro-duced without permission.

Other helpful Focus Series monographs include How to LeadSmall Group Bible Studies withCampers and How to Share theGood News with Campers.

The more than 20 titles in theFocus Series may be combined togive you the best possible price. A quantity discount is available fororders of more than 50 copies.

Prices subject to change withoutnotice. For more information, acurrent list of CCCA resources,and prices, please contact us.Photos: Index Open

25

Make a commitment to pray for your campers notonly while they’re at camp,

but also after they (and you)have returned home.

Helpful Follow-UpResources

The Bible is key to a newChristian’s spiritual growth.Special versions are availablefrom International Bible Society(www.ibsdirect.com) or your localChristian bookstore. In addition,the following proven resourceswill help campers of various agesgrow in Christ:

. Snapshots (for 8- to 10-year-olds) and SUbmerge (for 11- to14-year-olds) from ScriptureUnion, (800) 621-5267,www.scriptureunion.org

. Follow-up courses with dozensof lessons are designed forages 4 years old through adultby The Mailbox ClubInternational, (229) 244-6812,www.mailboxclub.org.

. Design for Discipleship (seven-booklet series), Growing inChrist, and Studies in ChristianLiving (six-booklet series) fromNavPress, (719) 548-9222,www.navpress.com

. Ten Basic Steps towardChristian Maturity (11 booklets)and Transferable Concepts (11booklets) from New LifeResources, (800) 827-2788,www.campuscrusade.com

. Thirty Discipleship Exercisesfrom Grason, (800) 487-0433,www.billygraham.org/SH_ThirtyDiscipleshipExercises.asp

. Christian Basics Bible Studies(13-booklet series), Grow YourChristian Life, and Decide forYourself from InterVarsityPress, (800) 843-9487,www.ivpress.com

Also, you may wish to contact yourcamp’s denomination or parentorganization. Many ministries havedesigned their own follow-up

materials.