ADIOM

One of the big themes in Outdoor Ministry is its tendency to recharge and at the same time remove all energy. Camp is full of times which are emotionally and physically draining but are still spiritually renewing. I spent these past three days at the Christian Conference Center in Newton, IA. This is one of those places that I recognize as a personal sacred space: it’s Holy Ground.

While I return to Holy Ground often, this conference was the annual retreat of the Association of Disciples in Outdoor Ministries. This movement inside of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — (they recognize they’re not a “General”-sponsored unit; and they’re probably grateful!) — is a collection of camp managers, programming directors and regional ministers from across the denomination gathering to share ideas with each other and gradually improve both the quality and strength of our camping programs.

My involvement with the retreat was in a role not listed in any of those three categories listed above. Officially: I gave a workshop on Using Technology and helped provide support for those leading the gathering. Unofficially: I listened to Michael Kinnamon give an advanced keynote on three paradoxically unique pillars of “Disciples Identity” and how Outdoor Ministries provides a key for strengthening the identity; unofficially I also networked and spent some personal time just enjoying the moment.

Even though I should have felt like an outsider in the event (I’m barely a college graduate and not ordained or hired by a Region), I felt like an insider since I knew so many of the people there. Because of my involvement in previous youth events around the country, I knew or had talked to (on IMs) half of the attendants before the conference even began! Part of me hates that I was an insider (read: “good-old-___’s network), but looking at it I’m not worried. I try to make sure that I simply serve; at times I get nervous that I receive more than I should — but that only makes me try to give more.

Besides seeing many friends who I’ve known for over half of a decade, and listening to a great keynote, I was lucky enough to spend an hour laughing with a key group from the Upper Midwest. In our Region, we have a team of ministers and laity working to develop a curriculum for Youth Groups. I’d heard about the group before the event, but meeting with them made me more excited than I ever could have been just hearing about it. At the end of the spring, when I return to Iowa from Texas, I’m working with them on taking video footage and creating an DVD (imagine Scene-It mixed with a Macromedia Flash-based application) to supplement the curriculum. Once this happens, it’s going to be huge: just wait. I know I’ve had a lot of “duds” in previous projects — I’m suspecting this one’s good enough that calling it a “dud” will be laughable!