We serve so that others can rest and renew. This doesn’t mean that we neglect health — mental or physical — to do this.


Weddings Are Optional and Funerals Are Mandatory The nature of camp ministry affords the blessing of working with so many young leaders who are living in a season when weddings are taking place. Those times are wonderful celebrations. It wasn’t long after my own wedding, though, that I realized that not only did I not see many of the people who attended, but also I had even forgotten they’d been there, and hadn’t seen them since! Funerals are different. Tere are no invitations sent,


but that is when people need you. At a time when I’d lost one of my family members, I remember realizing what a blessing it was to be surrounded by people who cared. Tese are people who took time out of their week to spend a few hours with our family, just to be present. I’m not saying that weddings are unimportant, not


at all! I am saying that as I look back, I would have put much more effort into attending funerals that impacted people I’ve known.


Hurt is Different From Harm Distinguishing between hurt and harm is critical because we are all hurt at times. Hurt can foster growth or be helpful in other ways, even if pain is involved. For example, a visit to the dentist can hurt, but I would never say that in filling a cavity that the dentist harmed me. Harm is when you’ve been damaged by someone, and I needed to learn to live a less-affected life by recognizing that not all hurts are negative.


Learn to Love People and Use Things Earlier in my camping career as I was learning to lead our small ministry, it was tempting to get these switched around. It was oſten inadvertent, but in my drive to make progress and accomplish much for the sake of ministry, it can be too easy to sacrifice relationships or see people as tools. I’ve told people that I am ashamed of how oſten I mixed these up. God’s grace and forgiveness are such giſts!   


God’s work in and through Christian camping is, in my opinion, some of His finest. What a privilege it is to join Him in His mission. In doing so, we find that there is always more to learn. I just wish I had learned some of these earlier, and hope that my lessons might save you from some of the same stumbles and challenges I faced. 


Greg Anderson has dedicated his life to seeking to impact especially those in the first third of their lives. He currently serves as president of Inspiration Point Christian Camp and Retreat Center (Vining, Minnesota), leading that organization since 1990. Anderson also served as VP of operations and member services for CCCA from 2015–2017 and on the CCCA board from 2004–2013, including two years as board chair. He enjoys speaking around the country at churches, schools, camps and conferences. He and his wife, Janet, love spending time with their two daughters, sons-in-law and four grandkids.


44 www.ccca.org May/June 2024


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