A year in Community

Summer is well underway here at Qwanoes. There are currently over 400 junior high campers and almost 200 staff here at camp, needless to say it's a busy week. We are so excited for you arrival with us in a few short weeks. In the meantime here is a word from last year's community award winner, Marissa Burns.

Qwanoes students of 2013, I am so excited for the year ahead of you! God has called you to a time of intimate growth and infinite discoveries in your relationship with Him and with those around you. And my prayer for you is that you learn to become intentional. You are going to be a part of a community that’s going to challenge and strengthen you in ways that only God knows and it’s an incredible opportunity that I hope you take full advantage of. 

Go deep, ask questions and be honest with one another. But the one thing that I urge you to do in this community of leaders is to serve. As Christ led, you should lead likewise, for Jesus came to us, “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). He is our standard of servant leadership, loving all above himself and dying on the cross so that all may live. In the same way, let your love be genuine for those around you, for service should not come out of obligation but rather a desire in humility to follow Christ’s example in how he lived.  Prepare yourselves by praying for your fellow classmates - asking God to conform your heart to His will so that you may approach your relationships with a pure attitude that allows you to see them the way that God sees them. 

This is a community that you are going to be living life with, the relationships you form here will speak truth into you, encourage you and build you up. Though let it be known that it is a road that takes time and your willingness to invest in each other. Each of you are here for a great purpose, one that can be found through this body of disciples. You are all called together and together is how you’ll come to discover more of God’s unfathomable desire for each of you in His grand story.