I'm not really sure what to do. You see this summer marks my sixteenth year of ministry. The strange thing is that for the first time ever, I'm not spending part of my summer on a student ministry trip.
There have been many circumstances that have lead to this situation. I believe we're making the most wise decision we can by not taking a trip this summer but I can't help feel like something major is missing. Fifteen years in a row I was either on a camp staff or part of a church staff taking students somewhere. It was a good run while it lasted.
1997 : Super Summer (Charleston, SC)
1998 – 2001 : SummerSalt (White Oak, SC)
2002 : Centrifuge (Jefferson City, TN)
2003 : MFuge (Mobile, AL)
2004 – 2007 : North Point Ministries (Atlanta, GA)
2008 – 2010 : Northwood Church/Velocity (Charleston, SC)
2011 : North Rock Hill Church/Collide (Rock Hill, SC)
I do believe that the most overt change in student ministry will be events. Families simply cannot afford to drop several hundred dollars for a five day camp; especially families with multiple children.
Thankfully, this change will force us to put more emphasis on weekly disciple making and connecting students to missions.