Guests are oſten doing very vulnerable things at our


properties. Tey are bathing, sleeping, eating and wash- ing in our facilities. Given this vulnerability, it’s critical to examine these areas of your property with a fine- toothed comb and identify areas or issues that may prevent a guest from sleeping well, eating well and, ultimately, being able to focus on the love of Christ.


Curating a Distraction-Free Ministry At Cascades Camp and Conference Center (Yelm, Washington), our key responsibility is to provide a space for people to encounter God and experience transformation. Cascades supports this mission with a few key Scriptures that provide missional context to facility stewardship and curating a guest’s experi- ence at our property. Te first one is, of course, the Great Commission.


“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptiz- ing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV). Te second is Mark 6:31(ESV), which encapsulates


a lot of our camp ministry philosophy at Cascades, “And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Everyone has hectic lives and our culture is hurried, but camp provides a respite from that hustle. Finally, Psalm 23 has become key for our staff as


we think about how and why we remove distractions when we care for people who come to our property.


Open Your Eyes Your grounds and facilities are often the first impres- sion a guest receives on your property, long before they speak to a staff member. That’s why we encour- age our staff and board to experience our facilities by spending a night or two in a lodge. Our board members are welcome to come stay with their loved ones at our facility anytime because we need them to be a part of major facility decisions. Even if you can’t spend a night in a cabin to truly


feel what a guest feels, take a few minutes each quar- ter to spend in your facilities. We all fall into habits when cleaning and checking items off our to-do lists. Sit down with a cup of coffee, look around the space and ask yourself these questions:


• Are there any obvious maintenance issues? Does the door squeak or does the faucet drip?


• Is it comfortable to move around the space, use the facilities, wash hands, etc.?


• Is the space well-lit? Are there flickering bulbs, dirty lampshades or unsightly extension cords?


• When was the space last painted? Are there marks, scuffs or chips in the paint? (Paint is one of the cheapest and fastest ways to refresh a space.)


• Is the decor, bedding and other features congruent with the theme and “feel” of your space? 


Your grounds and facilities are often the first impression a guest receives on your property, long before they speak to a staff member.


24 www.ccca.org May/June 2024


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