Investing in People

Almost each and every summer, I find myself with a bunch youth for a week. We spend our time talking, doing interest groups, hiking, singing, playing sports, learning from amazing peace interns, eating, and not getting enough sleep.
For some, the idea of willingly subjecting oneself to this type of week seems daunting. For most people who are involved with camp, it involves taking a week off or using a vacation week instead of going to the beach or the mountains.
Why on earth would anyone do such a thing?
At the end of last week, I found myself more physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted than ever before. I needed a day of rest, but, honestly, I needed a few days of rest. I needed a day of rest because we created something new as we do with each week of camp. It is similar to how God rested on the final day of creation. God finished each day seeing that “it was good.” I, too, look back and know that it was good.
Church camp is always full of unexpected things because it involves a bunch of youth. God created something new this past week. Our camp had participants from the usual locations — Vegas, L.A., Bakersfield, San Diego, and Oahu. Plus, we had youth from Mexico and China! During this week of creation making, God created something new and it was good! Doc Rogers, our musician, made a way to include others. My favorite song from the week was “God’s Not Dead.” From what I saw last week, God is surely alive! As followers of Jesus, we are People of the Way participating in God’s new creation making processes!
About two decades ago, I imagine a group of adults wondering if it was really worth it after all. They, too, were likely exhausted and needed rest from a week of church camp. They, too, might have wondered if the Vespers, keynotes, prayers, flat on back time, or all of the small conversation made a difference in anyone’s life. In short, yes!
In all likelihood, I would not have gone to church camp this past week if it wasn’t for those people who wondered if it was worth it two decades ago. I might not have gone if it was not for the nudges of my Sunday school teachers. I might not of gone it wasn’t for my youth pastor encouraging me and others to go.
Wherever one may find oneself — pastor or part of a local congregation — it is easy to look back and think about the exhaustion. If you are asked to serve next year, it might be tempting to think about the beach or the mountains, but you would be missing out on all of the goodness.
I write these words to ask you to invest.
I write these words to ask you to invest in people. I write these words to ask you to invest in church camp. I write these words to ask you to invest even as you wonder whether it is worth it after all. I ask you to invest because someone (or, more accurately, some ones) invested in me and it made all the difference in the world.
I believe in this type of investing because I have seen and experienced its return.
This blog was written when Jonathan served as pastor of a church in California. Jonathan Hall is currently the senior pastor at First Christian Church, Colorado Springs. You can contact him at seniorpastor@firstchristiancos.org.