If you were about to spend several nights in a cabin containing kids with suspicious sock-changing standards and little desire to make the walk to the showers, what would be on your mind?  How much extra deodorant should you pack for them? Are you praying for heaps of extra patience and maybe acute onset nose blindness?

Tacoma Youth For Christ leaders definitely prayed for patience heading into Camp this year, but they prayed for so much more. They prayed over group dynamics, that kids would have a blast, and that, more than anything, they’d encounter the deep love of Jesus. 

This was Joey Joseph’s first experience at Camp with Youth For Christ. She’d taken over Campus Life Club at Claudia Thomas Middle School the previous school year, had been to other camps before, and was very excited about having fun and connecting with kids and other YFC leaders.

Not only did she bring several kids from her Campus Life site, but she was also in charge of bringing the fun as she planned special events and games. Think camp-wide scavenger hunts, karaoke, and capture the flag at night with glow sticks and water guns. Heading into Camp, she prayed for solid relationships to be built, for camp to be not just physically safe but also a  place for kids to be themselves and be vulnerable, and for young people to meet Jesus. 

Was it overwhelming? Was she tired? For sure. But was it worth it? Absolutely. 

Joey shared, “At the end of Camp, two students from my cabin asked me for prayer, in tears. One of the girls said she is very excited to really be serious about her relationship with God and, ‘See how close He will let me get.’ This blessed my soul so much! It reminded me of when I was a new believer and how even though I barely understood what I was getting myself into, I knew that I was chasing after someone who loved me, and it would be worth it.” 

Out of the five students who came with Joey to Camp this summer, four gave their lives to Jesus. Over a dozen students recommitted to their relationship with Jesus, and more than ten said yes to Him for the first time, camp-wide. 

Joey is excited for the Fall. Accepting Jesus isn’t the end of the story. It’s a new beginning. What makes YFC Camp special is that every student who goes to Camp has a caring adult leader to walk alongside them when they return home. Kids get to start school knowing Joey is in their corner, along with volunteer leaders like Ruth, who also came to Camp. 

Thank you to everyone who supported Camp this summer, whether through volunteering, giving, or prayer. You are a part of the work God is doing in the lives of young people across Pierce County and we are beyond grateful to have you on the team.

Header photo: Joey and campers in line for the zipline at Black Diamond Camp.

Scroll through the photos below for a peek at just some of the fun at Camp!