Funny side note as I begin writing the article: I started working for EFC-MAYM in 2012 and this is the first ever “lead article” I have ever written for eInsights. That is your fair warning! The pressure is on and I can feel it as I begin to write!
While not much has changed during my time in working with students starting back in 2000 as a volunteer youth worker at Northridge Friend Church, in terms of the opportunity and need for adults to interact with and care for youth, everything has changed! There is much to lament in the change, but also much to celebrate and look forward to. I am not able to capture all that there is to look forward to, or for that matter lament, but do want to offer a few things in this article by way of an update on where we are in Student Ministries in EFC-MAYM, and to cast vision for you to join me in praying that God would send out workers into His harvest field of students.
To begin, I want to rejoice in God’s provision of a faithful worker, one who has actually been working with our student ministries for the past 12 years. I am happy to announce that Kristina Davenport has accepted a call to serve as our new Student Ministries Coordinator for EFC-MAYM! Kristina lives in Lake Jackson, Texas, with her husband, Chase, and their daughter, Rowan. She recently completed her B.S. in psychology and has served as high school youth pastor alongside Chase at Friends Community Church in Angleton, Texas, since 2009.
While Kristina’s job description will be a bit flexible and experimental, especially through the end of the year as she works 5-10 hours a week, her main job can be described as follows: to assist and support the Director of Student Ministries with the coordination, organization, administration and promotion of EFC-MAYM student ministries (e.g., Summer Camp, Roundtable, Wilderness Retreat, Bible Quiz, Spring Invasion, Saltshaker, Regeneration, Summit, etc.)
I have several reasons I am excited about this opportunity but wanted to say I am thrilled to have someone who lives and works in the south Texas area join our EFC-MAYM leadership team in a formal way in partnership with our student ministries and beyond. Join me in “officially and formally” welcoming Kristina to the EFC-MAYM team.
As I consider God’s provision and timing in providing workers for the harvest field, Camp Quaker Haven has been a pivotal place for student ministries for a long time that God has used to call many, many workers into the harvest field, far too many to count when considering all of the students and adults who have attended a camp and CQH since 1949. When we did the extreme camp makeover in 2009, there was a moment near the end of that 6-month makeover, where there were several older folks who were still at camp working day and night to finish up the projects before the first summer camp group arrived. I recall talking to a group of students who were summer camp staff that year, begging and pleading them to jump in and help us finish the work. I recall being moved to tears as I asked and wondered, who will take over for these elderly persons who are volunteering their full-time help when they are no longer able to serve in this way? That question is more prevalent today than ever. Will you join me in praying that God would raise up workers for his harvest field known as Camp Quaker Haven? Who will God send to take the place of those workers who have gone before us?
The need for our mini camp makeover is due in part to losing some of our workers who have so faithfully served in the past. For those still looking for a chance to serve God and others at Camp Quaker Haven, please see general details and registration at: https://efcmaym.org/events-1/camp-quaker-haven-work-projects/
Lastly, EFC-MAYM Summer camp is just around the corner. Will you join me in praying and sending your campers and counselors to camp? Will you join me in celebrating God’s movement in the past as we anticipate this summer’s gathering at Camp Quaker Haven? Whom does God want to call this summer to participate in the Kingdom here and now? Please join me in praying and celebrating and sending! To assure that we are most current with COVID-19 precautions and protocols, we will open online registration on May 1. Until then, please save the dates and start mobilizing your counselors and campers and plan to register for the following camps starting May 1.
2021 CAMP DATES:
- KIDS CAMP | GRADES 3-6| JUNE 5 – JUNE 9
- HIGH SCHOOL CAMP | GRADES 9-12 | JUNE 10 – 14
- JR. HIGH CAMP | GRADES 6-8 | JUNE 15 – 19
$265 PER CAMPER/$165 PER COUNSELOR
REGISTER ONLINE AND PAY $75 DEPOSIT BY MAY 15 TO AVOID A LATE FEE OF $35 PER CAMPER!
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Jesus said these words after seeing crowds of people in need of healing and salvation. In Matthew 9:38, Jesus goes on to encourage the disciples to “ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesse Penna
Director of Student Ministries
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