Introduction:
Christian camping is usually associated with church groups. Historically evangelism is not a major focus of Christian camping. This is even more so in Asia where most Christian camping is for church members to enjoy some “rest, recreation and revival.”
In Asia, the major reason why Christian camps do not focus on unsaved people is economic – namely, who will pay for their camp fees? While Christians will pay for the opportunity to go to camp, unsaved people will not. And most churches in Asia do not have the means to pay for large numbers of unsaved people to attend camp.
The need for evangelistic camps:
Camping attracts youth. Many youth are saved in a camp environment – where they are removed from worldly influences and exposed to much preaching of the Word.
Asia has many youth. In many Asian countries, those under 25 years of age make up the majority. This is especially true of poorer Asian countries (eg. Philippines, Indonesia). And the Bible tells us that the “poor are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom” (James 2:5).
Our experience has shown that it is easy to attract even youth of different religions to a youth camp run by Christians. These youth are unlikely to come to a church but have little resistance about coming to a youth camp. Because most parents of teens are concerned that their children will be influenced by bad company, even parents of other religions do not usually object because they hope that their children will benefit from the good influence of the camp. Furthermore, if they are poor the fact that their children will be off their hands for the duration of the camp saves them from having to feed them for that period.
Of course, if some useful skills (eg. spoken English, basket-ball coaching) are taught at the camp, then even more youth would enrol.
Evangelism in today’s typical Christian camps:
While Christian camping has been in Asia for many years, camps designed specifically for evangelism in a new concept. Previously, even when evangelism took place in camping it was more “incidental” rather than focussed. In other words, in a typical Christian camp several unsaved people (eg. relatives and friends) may have joined the camp. And even though the camp program was designed for Christians, God in His mercy saved some unsaved campers.
Sometimes, more evangelistic churches have had a quota for unsaved campers, say 20% unsaved campers. However, even in such camps, the bulk of the program and preaching was designed more for saved people.
continued with Part 2 – Evangelistic Camping
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You are right. As far as I know, all church camps are catered for Christians. But you are talking of a different kind of camp, one for the non-Christians. The program will have to be attractive to bring them in.
you are right, the program has to be attractive otherwise there is no reason for them to come. However, if the campers are poor Asian kids, the fact that they are just going to camp is an attraction in itself. Most of these kids have not left their village often. Another attraction for them is just to meet teens from other places bec they don’t hv much opportunities to meet people other than those in their neighborhood. Also, the offer of 3 “nice” meals a day is v attractive. However, the thing that they remember most is the new games that they played at camp. Of course, if they received the Lord as Savior that is their lasting memory!
Most camps That I know are mostly meant for christians although some camps do have an evangelistic approach. One observation I have is that alot of times there are no follow up after an evangelistic campaign and the enthusiasm kind of fizzle out and eventually die a natural death. A STRONG follow thru is vital if one schould consider a camp for the unsaved.