John Vandervelde - Program Director

Today we're back looking more closely at HoneyRock's core values.  Authentic Community is the third core value of HoneyRock.  Creating an environment that builds and supports an authentic community is a difficult task, and HoneyRock is definitely not perfect.  We struggle to meet everyone's needs, we struggle to have true vulnerability and authenticity, we struggle to provide space where everyone feels involved, we don't encourage people enough, we sometime fail to address concerns adequately, and we struggle to balance time caring for each other enough and reaching out to those in need.  The struggle is tough sometimes and people can get frustrated and hurt, but the pursuit of authentic community is worth it and God calls us to it.  Throughout scripture we see community being an important part of the Christian experience.  Community is essential for proclaiming the Gospel, discipling believers, and caring for the less fortunate.  A community that is centered around scripture and focused on caring for itself but also reaching out is what we are called to be. 

There are several things we do to help create and support an authentic community both during the summer and school year.  Each morning we meet as an entire staff to read God's word, to pray and to encourage each other.  We set up small groups with the entire ministry staff so people have a core group to go through the summer with and study God's word with.  We design fun experiences and challenges and involve the whole staff in these experience - like broomball tournaments, family fun nights, the Hodag Challenge, and the great camp race.  Perhaps one of the most powerful ways we experience authentic community is through out Celebration Services at the end of each session.  These times are filled with worship and people giving testimony to what God did in and through them each session of the summer.

Each summer we send out a survey to staff and students asking them about their summer experience.  The theme of "community" always rises to the top, both in negative and positive ways.  This year was no exception. Below I've included a few quotes from the 2009 summer survey - these quotes come from all different areas of camp.  I hope it helps you get a glimpse of what authentic community can be like.  Of course we don't always get it right ,but here are a few examples of what is looks like when we do:

"I saw glimpses into parenthood. By far, I grew in my understanding of what it meant to serve within a body of believers."

"The best summer of my life, in which I truly understood what a Christ-centered community looked like."

"Over the past few summers—first in Passage, then SLS, and now AMP—HoneyRock has taught me to long for the kingdom of heaven. The community here—its depth, its loving acceptance, and its focus on Christ—has been my first taste of Christian community and, despite its faults, my point of reference when I look to the life of the world to come. Yet HoneyRock is not a closed, Utopian community: it exists to bring others into the loving embrace of Christ and his church. That mission does not come at the expense of HoneyRock’s internal community, but gives that community a vibrant, dynamic energy that I’ve never seen elsewhere."

"The core value of authentic community... I definitely found that this one in particular guides what HoneyRock is about. When I'm at HoneyRock, I find that it is the people that I'm with, and their genuineness, that make the experience meaningful."

"I've been able to experience God's love so much this summer through the community at HoneyRock, through the many challenges that brought me on my knees before God, and through God lifting me up in the many trials I faced."

"The most significant growth I experienced this summer was being transformed by Christ.  Coming into the summer, I had just finished a really tough year at Wheaton and I was dealing with depression.  I was also very insecure and afraid of failure.  Through dedicated quiet times with the Lord, living in community and being placed in challenging situations, I was able to find joy and confidence in Christ; this made me a more willing servant and leader."

"The group experience was great. It was such an awesome community of people who cared about each other."

"Keep working diligently at maintaining the community atmosphere, setting, and purpose. Community community community!"

"HoneyRock should continue its pursuit of the authentic, Christ-centered community that it has.  I think the way HoneyRock can serve its mission most effectively is not individually, but corporately.  Together, God can use us to spread the Gospel throughout HoneyRock and beyond."

"The community was awesome. The relationships built were awesome. The experience was SUPER challenging and long, but awesome."

"The program exceeded my expectations by far. The intentionality of the community, the depth of friendships, the support and encouragement, the focus on God, the fun, the challenge, the growth...it was all incredible. I wouldn't trade it for a second."

"The community blew my expectations out of the water.  I learned so much this summer - so formative."