Summer camp is an institution. A rite of passage. For the young people of the IPHC, it’s a sacred time of growth, renewal, and an opportunity to have a fresh encounter with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Teens and children from across the U.S. look forward to this special week and anticipate a good time. Fun is absolutely of high priority, but for the summer camps within the IPHC, fun isn’t the ultimate goal. Cultivating a space for students to deepen their relationship with the Lord is.
Pastor Woody Burpo, lead pastor at Family Church in Yukon, Oklahoma and Camp Director for the Heartland Conference’s Camps, believes in the life-change that can take place at an IPHC summer camp. He reiterated this by sharing that one of his favorite parts about camp as an adult is “seeing teens encounter the Lord in a personal way and also seeing their hearts soft and open.” Camp is so important and influential for any number of reasons, but especially because “camp takes a young person out of their normal environment, away from their addictions, allows him or her the opportunity to see and experience God, and meet Him in a fresh new way. Camp also gives an opportunity for a mountain top experience, something tangible to remember and hold on to in the valleys.”
Dru Hamm Preaching at a 2023 Service at Heartland Conference Camp
There’s something special about the atmosphere at a summer camp: “We don’t know why; we can’t explain it. There’s just something different about an overnight event.” And Pastor Woody would know! He started working at the camps for the Heartland Conference, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2009, and that location is also where he attended camp as a teen back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. He shared that the Heartland Camp was where He heard the Lord call him into full-time ministry, specifically as a youth pastor. In this space was where he knew that he wanted to “do for other teens what my youth pastor had done for me.” He took the time to point out that his own experience of hearing the call of the Lord, of meeting Jesus in this special place, isn’t all that unique. He has story after story of seeing students’ lives changed and futures set in a new direction. God can meet anyone in this special place called “summer camp.”
Looking Back: A young Kelly Kopp, Randy Henderson, and Woody Burpo enjoying some free time at camp
Pastor Woody and his team’s preparations for the summer camps begin in the fall; essentially, as soon as one camp year is over, he is looking forward to the next year. He said that the Discipleship Ministries’ (DM) team likes to have the logo, theme, designs, date, speaker, and worship team all in place before Christmas. Just after the first of the year, the team is meeting again, on a regular basis, to cover the camp in prayer. Pastor Woody also stated that he likes to add one new fun thing every year, whether it be a game or an adventure of some sort. Sometimes they are a great success! Sometimes they don’t work out so well. Either way, there is lots of fun to be had; they have inflatables, laser tag, climbing walls, a makeshift “Slip ‘N Slide,” and lots of other fun games.
A makeshift “Slip ‘N Slide”
Heartland Conference’s Camps are “unplugged camps.” This means that when a student checks in at registration for the week, he or she turns in his or her phone or any other electronic device they might have with them. The ultimate reason for having an “unplugged camp” is that unplugging forces interaction. “We are the most digitally connected generation in history, but also the most depressed and isolated. Digital connection is not real connection,” Pastor Woody explained. “If we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we need to help these students feel love through real connection.”
Kaylyn Gilliland, a 16-year-old student from Oklahoma, shared: “Last year was my first time ever going to church camp, and it was so much fun! I felt so welcomed and loved within the first day. I met lots of new friends and had life changing experiences all throughout the week. Camp is a great place to have fun, hangout, and learn about God all at the same time. I will definitely be going again this year and inviting all of my friends to come with me!”
Dayne Lowe, another 16-year-old from Oklahoma, spoke of his own experience: “My experience over the past two years at Heartland Conference Camps has been incredible. From the friends I’ve made and the things I’ve learned, it has been a truly irreplaceable part of my life. I will certainly continue to go to camp, and I am constantly inviting my friends to come with me. The best part of summer is when I go to camp, and the best part of camp is the time I get to spend with God.”
Breanna Gilliland, mother of Kaylyn, who is quoted above, expressed her gratitude for the Heartland Conference Camps: “After camp, she started faithfully going to youth, and it’s been a huge blessing in her life. I think she was really surprised that she knew kids there from school. I really believe it was a turning point in her own faith, (knowing) that there are kids just like her that love the Lord.”
Evening Service at Heartland Conference Camp
This level of commitment to excellence is not singular to the Heartland Conference. IPHC Conferences all over the United States work tirelessly to prepare for the few weeks in the summer when they will have students come, seeking the face of Jesus. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about IPHC camps that are available, please reach out to the conference headquarters in your area.
At the time of this publication, these are the conferences that have camp registration links ready:
Alpha Conference: (8-12 years old) https://alphaiphc.org/kqcelebrate/
(13-18 years old) https://alphaiphc.org/emerge2024/
Appalachian Conference: https://www.appconf.org/camp-maranatha
Cornerstone Conference: https://www.ccrdc.org/campdayspring
Heartland Conference: https://www.hciphc.org/ministries/discipleship-ministries/camp-info-2024
Mid-Atlantic Conference: https://forms.gle/GzVdb5dK8riJc1p4A
Mississippi Conference:
Teen Camp: https://brushfire.com/msconferencecamp/msteencamp2024/574874
Kids Camp: https://brushfire.com/msconferencecamp/mskids2024/575029/details
North Carolina Conference: https://www.nciphc.com/falconyouthcamp
Redemption Ministries: https://www.redemptionministries.com/events
SonShine Network Conference: https://subspla.sh/knmd9ph
South Carolina Conference: https://www.sciphc.org/camp-robinson
