Before Jim and Maxine Rayburn ever dreamed of an organization like Young Life, they were committed to camping. In January 1935, they took an assignment in Arizona as part of a mission with the Presbyterian Church. Immediately in their desire to reach kids, they began a primitive camping ministry. With open fires, sleeping bags, and tents, Jim and Maxine realized the benefits of camping.
Later, when Young Life began, camping became a special part of the ministry. George Sheffer, who joined the staff in 1942, wrote about those first camps. “Since Young Life was new, small, lacked finances, owned no camp of its own … most of the staff would travel by car to some rented facility … Immediately upon arrival all would participate in preparing the camp to be the best possible. We wanted the facility to be attractive as possible for the kids when they arrived. Sometimes the camp facilities were painfully inadequate — both the leaders and the kids knew it. Nevertheless, in the midst of some of those situations, the Lord performed amazing acts of love and redemption. At the end of each camp, all the leaders tried to make sure the entire camp was left ‘spic and span’ to fulfill Young Life’s policy: Always leave a camp cleaner than it was when you arrived.”
Jim dreamed of a first-class camp in Colorado owned by Young Life. He asked two primary questions: “Why should we not present the beautiful gospel of the magnificent Jesus Christ in an equally beautiful and first-class surrounding? Also, why not locate a camp where the program could offer new and exciting adventures for the campers?”
God answered both of his questions. In 1946, the first Young Life camp was opened — Star Ranch. In 1949, Silver Cliff Ranch became a Young Life property. In 1951, Round Up Lodge was transformed as Frontier Ranch. In 1954, Malibu was added. And now, as I write this, we have 35 camps around the world, and we are in the planning stages for more!
Camping has exploded for one reason: When given the opportunity to get away for a week in the beauty of God’s grandeur and hear a clear presentation of the gospel in an atmosphere of love and fun without the distractions they normally encounter, kids meet Christ. It’s as simple as that. And year after year, about 30-40 percent of the kids who go to camp make a commitment to the Lord. And in some places, like Africa (where our camps are more like the ones George Sheffer described) the numbers of kids responding is even more significant!
With deep gratitude, I honor Jim and Maxine and George and the others who began our camping ministry. And with profound thankfulness, I applaud the efforts of our staff and volunteers in training leaders, building and operating quality camps, inviting kids to come, helping them raise the funds to go, and sharing the gospel every minute of the camping day. Through serving kids extravagantly (kudos to our work crew, summer staff, and camp personnel), participating with them in adventure and activities, talking with them one on one, and proclaiming clearly the love of Christ and introducing kids to a relationship with Jesus, our camps are a platform for changing lives!
