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-by Cadance Tyler
As the Impact Mission Camp 2025 season comes to a close, we celebrate the many ways in which God was at work in the communities, volunteers, and staff this summer. Participants from twenty-four churches served in four locations-Mecklenburg, Danville, Roanoke, and Southwest Virginia. Over four weeks, crews served on twenty-four job sites to help homeowners be safe, warm, and dry. Participants also raised two thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars and thirty-four cents for the mission offering for Disaster Response.
The theme of camp was One God|One Mission. Through a pre-camp Bible Study, devotionals, nightly worship, and service, students were challenged to understand more about God’s mission in the world. In John 17-18, Jesus prays, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (NIV). Just as students are sent into communities to serve while at camp, they are also encouraged to consider where else God might be sending them when they return home.
Impact provides space to recognize God’s calling in one’s life, and the staff and adult volunteers who help organize camp, serve meals, and lead students on the job site are privileged to see how God works through students each week. Miranda Pollard, a rising Junior at Christopher Newport University, reflects on her time serving as a part of the Impact Staff. She states: “It is truly a touching thing to witness as a staff member how important the youth are in a community. I was blessed with the opportunity to connect with youth and adults from all over the state and see them come together to worship God.”
At Impact Mission camps, youth are encouraged to lead and use their gifts. Students pray, share during devotional times on the job site, and participate in worship. While working together as a team to accomplish a goal, students are empowered to take ownership of their project and develop relationships with the homeowners. It is a team effort between students and adults to finish the job and learn along the way. It’s not uncommon to see a student operating a saw or taking the lead on part of a project. Youth are trusted to do the work, and that’s just what they do! Whether it’s roofing, ramps, or drywall, a lot gets done in a summer with Impact!
One goal of Impact Mission Camps is for participants to realize that God’s mission isn’t just one week of their summer. God is calling all of us to use our gifts to serve and bring glory to God. We pray that they will return home with a fresh perspective, new skills, and a heart for seeing the needs in their community.
We all need that reminder as we head into the fall. Impact Missions has opportunities for connection and mission all year. We invite you to sign up for the youth fall retreat at Eagle Eyrie in October, volunteer to help with Disaster Response efforts in Southwest Virginia, or contact us to see what training and service opportunities are available for your church. We have been sent by God. Let’s do something!
Want to make sure the excitement from the summer mission trip lasts all year? Check out this article and resource from Impact Missions!