The Then...
Big Country Lutheran Camp was started in 1968 as a cooperative way for the Lutheran Churches in the area to do camp. Originally the LCA, ALC and LCMS churches of the area worked together to put together a camp since there were no Lutheran camps nearby. In time the ALC and LCA merged to form the ELCA. These are the churches that still work together.
The NOW!
We still continue the tradition of working together to pull off this camp for the youth in our churches and many others that they bring with them to camp! Lutherans may not feel very comfortable about asking friends to come to church with them but kids at camp learn how easy it is to ask a friend to camp because camp is good... fun... and a neat spiritual experience! The campers come home with stories about having pastors teaching them how to do the 2 step...about dressing up to put on a skit based on the bible talks held earlier in the day... and then about how a certain part of camp has left a deep impression... a calling in their lives.
Each church that participates sends their pastor and other lay people to help as counselors, arts and crafts coordinators and musicians. Many of the former campers come back for several years as junior counselors because camp was so special that they want to share that experience and their faith with the current campers. The Texas 4H Center is a tremendous place with the staffers beyond compare who plan and lead activities ranging from swimming, canoeing, games, archery, riflery and ropes course climbing to name a few.
The Future (faith leads us!)
God is in charge of that... So we are busy planning the 2012 year while discerning where the Spirit is leading.
In a recent meeting of the Rolling Plains Conference and some of the West Texas Conference churches, we have laid out the desire to grow into becoming an area wide youth organization for the area ELCA youth and their friends. The future holds promise as we step out and see where we are heading with this!
You can be a part of that future too! Contact information is on the home page here. Come on and experience camp, grace... and Jesus with us!