Where Full Life Is Found
Updated: Aug 15
Where the Name Comes From
Full Life began with something simple: Grace and I both love camps, Jesus, and kids.
After seeing another ministry use sports camp as a way to reach children, we began asking what something like that could look like in our own community. We loved the idea, but we also wanted to approach it a little differently and shape it around the children, families, and churches we hoped to serve.
We took elements of sports camp and Vacation Bible School and made the experience our own adding Bible teaching, discipleship, relationships, and opportunities for children and young leaders to grow.
Most importantly, we wanted every part of camp to help children discover where full life is truly found and that is in Jesus.
That desire became Full Life Camp Ministries.
Every Camper Should Be Seen
One of our greatest values is making sure every camper who comes to camp feels seen. We teach our volunteers that campers are not invisible at Full Life.
Every coach, team leader, teacher, and volunteer is encouraged to notice the camper who may be standing alone, having a difficult day, or wondering whether anyone is happy they came. We want every camper to have someone who knows their name, listens to them, encourages them, and cares about what is happening in their life.
Sometimes that happens during a Bible lesson or discipleship conversation. Other times, it happens while playing a sport, sitting together at lunch, making a craft, or simply stopping to listen.
The activities may bring campers through the doors, but relationships create opportunities to show them the love of Jesus. A camper may not remember every drill, game, or lesson, but we hope they remember that someone saw them, knew them, and reminded them that they matter. Not every Full Life camp will look exactly the same. Different communities have different facilities, resources, volunteers, and needs. We believe the Gospel can be shared faithfully in many different ways, so we are willing to listen, adapt, and try new things.
Over the past few years, that has included adding new afternoon stations, creating a Variety Sports option, and beginning a Counselor-in-Training program for sixth-grade campers. We want to continue learning and finding creative ways to reach campers, develop young leaders, and serve communities well.
Jesus at the Center
Full Life begins and ends with Jesus. Sports, games, crafts, and activities are all important parts of camp, but they are not the main purpose. They are tools that help us build relationships with campers and create opportunities to point them toward Jesus.
Even during sports, we pause for a time of devotion when campers and coaches open the Bible and talk about Jesus together. This helps campers see that faith is not separate from the rest of life. We can learn about Jesus on a field, in a gym, around a lunch table, or anywhere else we are willing to listen.
Throughout the week, campers hear the Gospel, that God created them and loves them, sin separates us from Him, and Jesus came to rescue us through His death and resurrection. We want campers to know that forgiveness, hope, and new life are available through Jesus.
In the afternoon, campers attend a Discipleship class created to help them learn what it looks like to follow Jesus in their everyday lives. Campers are encouraged to ask honest questions, talk about what they are learning, and consider how their faith affects the way they live after camp ends.
Our volunteers are also encouraged to model what following Jesus looks like. The Gospel is shared through Bible lessons and devotions, but it is also demonstrated through patience, kindness, forgiveness, encouragement, and the way volunteers care for every camper.
We do not want campers to leave believing that faith belongs only inside a church building or during a Bible lesson. We want them to understand that following Jesus affects their friendships, choices, families, schools, sports, and everything they do.
Our hope is not merely that campers enjoy one memorable week. We want them to know Jesus, continue asking questions, become connected to a local church, and discover the full life only He can give.
Looking Toward the Future
In the years ahead, we want Full Life Camp Ministries to continue helping campers, teenagers, and adults grow in their relationships with Jesus.
We hope to plant camps in new communities and partner with local churches that want to reach children and families with the Gospel. Our goal is not simply to bring an event into a community, but to serve alongside churches, strengthen the ministry they are already doing, and help them build relationships that continue after camp ends.
We also want to continue developing teenagers and young adults through volunteer opportunities, the Counselor-in-Training program, and the Full Life Camp Ministries Mission Team. We believe young people can lead and make a difference right now. We want to give them opportunities to discover their gifts, take on meaningful responsibilities, and grow in their relationships with Jesus while serving others.
One day, we would also love for Full Life to have its own camp facility a place with sports fields, activity spaces, and room to host camps, train leaders, disciple students, and serve families throughout the year.
We do not know exactly what every future camp or opportunity will look like, but we know this:
Jesus will be at the center of everything we do. We pray that every Full Life camp will be a place where campers, volunteers, and leaders can grow in their relationships with Jesus.
Every camper matters.
Every community deserves to hear the Gospel.
And Full Life is found in Jesus.
Help Us Build What Comes Next
The work of Full Life Camp Ministries is made possible through the generosity of churches, businesses, families, and individuals who believe in our mission.
Donations help provide sports equipment, Bible lessons, craft supplies, camper materials, Mission Team travel, leadership development, and the resources needed to bring camps into new communities. Every gift helps us create places where campers are seen, young leaders are developed, churches are supported, and the Gospel is shared.
If you would like to help Full Life Camp Ministries continue growing and reaching more communities, we invite you to partner with us through a one-time or recurring gift.
*After opening the giving page, enter your gift amount and select Full Life Ministry from the fund menu.
Have questions about giving or other ways to support the ministry? Email us at jamichael@fulllifecamps.org.
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