“When we’re in a smaller ministry, we tend to see our weaknesses and not our strengths.” —Karl Vaters
For smaller camps, Vaters says, “Use your ‘low-tech’
to your relational advantage. Don’t just be a small version of what a big camp would be.” He explained, “A small camping experience is unique; don’t fight against it, lean into it and get better.” He noted that smaller ministry leaders don’t talk to
each other and share their strengths as much as they should, “because when we’re in a smaller ministry, we tend to see our weaknesses and not our strengths.” Vaters said, “It’s hard to convince small church pastors that their best help isn’t coming from the big church, it’s coming from fellow small churches.” Personally, I’ve oſten felt guilty as the leader of a large
camp. I’ve heard from others that it’s easy to convince themselves that big is bad. Vaters shared that large- church pastors have confided in him, “almost in secret embarrassment” that they miss early years when they were smaller and trying to figure things out. “I think their longing is for that entrepreneurial spirit of explo- ration and pioneering innovation, because the bigger you get the more it becomes regimented,” he said.
Connecting with other CCCA members, especially
through opportunities like sectionals and RoundTable events can open opportunities for you to connect with similarly sized camps and conference centers and share your strengths with one another. Even though it might not feel that way for every
camp, Vaters teaches that big, medium or small, we have our place in the overall body of Christ. Ultimately, it’s not about the size of our ministry. It’s about finding our calling within the overall body of Jesus and not defining our self through numbers. I often refer to 1 Corinthians 10:12 and 12:12–31, as both reveal how it’s OK to minister according to our strengths. I believe in what Karl Vaters has to say about the
Church and find so much relevance to camping ministry. If you want to learn more about him and his ministry, visit
www.karlvaters.com.
James Rock is the executive director of Trout Lake Camps (Pine River, Minnesota). He has spent more than 30 years in Christian camping ministry and holds a master’s degree in Christian education. A father of two and husband of one, Rock’s side hustles focus on podcasting, speaking at CCCA events and writing. Email him at
jrock@troutcamps.org.
November/December 2025
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