CAMP JOY builds faith
By Becki Wessinger
For more than 30 years, youth groups from the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences have been serving in the Appalachian region of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia by providing home repair to those who do not have the means to take on the repairs themselves.
This year, during two weeks in July, 13 work teams from Hancock UMC in Hancock, Hiss UMC in Parkville, Hollywood UMC in Hollywood, and St. Matthew Presbyterian in Silver Spring served on 19 different work sites, repairing and building steps, ramps, decks, and railings, painting, replacing windows and doors, and repairing leaking roofs.
More than just repairing homes, this mission ministry provided transformative service experiences for youth and their leaders.
Relationships were formed between campers and with the homeowners. As the teams served, stories were shared and the love of God was experienced. Camp leaders saw the smiles on the tired faces of the work teams and on the faces of the homeowners when a project is complete knowing that they would be a little safer, a little warmer, and/or even a little dryer.
The youth groups camped in tents at BWC's beautiful Camp Harmison in Berkeley Springs, WV. The days began with the sun rising over the mountains and breakfast cooked/served by the ministry team. The work teams gathered and prayed before heading out to their worksites. Each evening the work teams are fed by different churches in the region.
Vespers services were held each evening at God’s Open Window, a peaceful outdoor chapel, that include the youth leading spirit-filled singing, a time of prayer and devotion as well as reflection on the day and sharing of where they saw God present and working. Vespers on Friday was held around a bonfire and all who participate in Camp Joy are invited to share how this experience has impacted them. This year the altarscape was built using items from the job sites that spoke to the theme of “Made New.” Friday evening is a time of powerful testimony to God’s transformative power and love.
When asked what they liked most about Camp Joy, the campers answered, “Using my hands and learning how to do different stuff,” “the friendships that were made,” and “seeing the look on people’s faces when they see their ‘Made New’ thing.”
CAMP JOY 2024 is scheduled for July 7-13 and July 14-20.
CAMP JOY is a ministry of the Hancock United Methodist Church. For more information on how you, your youth, and/or your church can participate, contact Pastor Becki Wessinger at .
See photos at https://www.facebook.com/CJ.CHANGINGLIVES; Follow on Instagram @CAMPJOY1990