Get Involved - Camp Staff

Many college students would like to serve as a camp counselor during the summer break, but they also have the desire to take part in an overseas mission trip.  The Brackenhurst Ministries camp program gives college students and young adults the opportunity to do both. This team has the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with kids from over 30 different countries and religious backgrounds through being camp counselors.   They are also exposed to a variety of mission projects in East Africa.  We are looking for people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him by loving kids in a cross-cultural setting.

What will be my role as a counselor?

1. You will serve at camp for five one-week sessions.  Our kids range from ages 7-18 and each week they are broken up into groups based on their age.  During your time at camp you will most likely get to work with several of these groups.
2. You will have the opportunity to lead devotion times in both the large group setting and with your individual cabin.
3. Each day you will lead campers in activities including sports, drama, archery, or crafts.  We try to place you in the activities in which you are most experienced.
4. You will participate with your campers in large group games, campouts, and talent nights.  Your enthusiasm will be a large part of what makes camp a great experience for your campers.

What happens when I’m not serving as a counselor?

1. Camp serves kids on 2 different school systems, as a result there is a break between our June camp sessions and the ones in July.  During this time you will take part in a 3 week mission trip to serve the people of East Africa.
2. You will visit Western Kenya to equip and encourage believers at our partner project, Mission Link Ministries.  You will stay in the home of a local pastor, giving you the opportunity to closely experience the culture.  During your time there you will spend your days visiting the orphanage and serving the local church.
3. You will also visit a second mission project, but this one changes from year to year.   Examples of things we have done during this time include: building mud huts as homes for elderly ladies, making bricks used to construct a church, leading youth rallies, participating in community evangelism, and visiting the slums of Nairobi.
4. As a member of our summer mission staff, Brackenhurst Ministries hopes to give you a well rounded view of the people and cultures of East Africa, as well as give you the opportunity to experience different ways of ministering to its people.
5. And of course we will offer you plenty of chances to experience the fun, beauty, and adventure of East Africa.  But we don’t want to spoil the surprise, you’ll have to join our team to find out what this includes.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the 2012 camp team? Fill out this online application. The dates for the 2012 team are May 26 – August 2 and the total trip cost is $4500.

Once you have been accepted to the 2012 team, we will send you a link to the rest of your trip information.

“When I came to Kenya, I had a confined view of the world, my world was really small.  My time in Kenya shifted my way of thinking, helping me to see myself as part of the global community and helped me realize that if I don’t go people won’t hear.”  Charlie is one of many camp staff who can attest to this reality.  He began to understand how big the world was when he was a counselor for one cabin that consisted of kids from almost all of the major world religions.  His 6 campers had 5 different religious backgrounds: Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic, and Atheist.  As the kids walked away at the end of the week, they all commented about how much love they felt and how the Gospel sounded good.  As Charlie began to see how big the world is, he also began to understand that when we love people with the love of Christ, they will be drawn to Him.

Charlie’s view of the world also expanded when he visited Western Kenya and stayed with Pastor Timothy and his family.  As they walked home at night, sat around the dinner table, or sang together Charlie realized that by worldly standards they had nothing in common.  He came from an upper middle class urban background and was staying in the mud home of a poor Kenyan pastor, but they had Jesus in common and that was enough.  Charlie says not a week goes by when he doesn’t tell someone about his time in Pastor Timothy’s home and the genuine love and joy that he experienced there.