CBC Winter Retreat 2011:Counselor Training #2

Welcome back Counselors. Hopefully by now you have read the first training session to prep your heart for the excitement that awaits you. I shall now attempt to answer all your questions.

Theme & Vision: What are we hoping to accomplish this year? Our focus for our youth ministry this year was "missions." We have been teaching that missions isn't something we do once a year and it's not just feeding poor people...missions, according to Acts 17 (and mandated in Matt. 28) is wherever we go. Our hearts are changed because of the Gospel and therefore we herald the Good News to all that might not know him.

We wanted our Winter Retreat this year to continue to push this idea. We wanted our students to leave with two very big things:

1. Understanding the Biblical intent of missions and how it applies to each believer. 
2. For our students to leave with a practical plan and implementation of missions when they go home. 

We want their understandings to shift from inward focused consumerism to outward focused love and service. Your job, leaders, is to teach them what that looks like...challenge them to live and own it. So maybe some of you need to start researching Houston a bit more and see what is available. Start coming up with practical plans of implementing missions in their community and sphere of influence. At ACCESS (our weekly fellowship) we practiced talking with people and one friday we went out and did it. 

How Do I Get Ready to Counsel? First thing is to read through our document called "Core Values (leaders)" that is attached in your email. Second thing is look over your small group (emailed) and perhaps do some research on them. Most of our students have mentors that you might want to ask to get some help. Third, be sure that you know the schedule and where things are - if you're prepared, it helps the student feel more confident in your leadership as well as keeping you organized. Lastly, prepare yourself physical, spiritually, and emotionally. 

What Do I Do As a Counselor? 

1. Counsel: Your big responsibilities are:
1. Small Groups: Leading discussions in your small groups about the relevant topic of the night given to you by the speaker. Your small group material will be based off of the nights session. Part of this is helping the students think through what really happened that day. Your job is to coach and to challenge all at once. Get them to engage in discussion and teach them how to ask questions. 
2. Participating: Your role as a leader is to be fully bought in to - the vision, the goals, and the mission of CBC's Winter Retreat. So we're asking you to sacrifice a bit more in addition to what you've given already to being fully engaged with each student. Play, talk, and minister to the students. 
2. Talk: Each of you have a unique perspective when it comes to your spiritual growth (esp. as it relates to missions). Be constantly teaching the students about how you grow in your walk. Be honest with them about your struggles as an older christian and how you are currently/or have fought it. Help them see how you are doing missions and what are your efforts like. Other times, talk with the students about "deeper" issues - family, relationships, self-esteem, etc. Always remember, though, if you feel like you cannot answer the question, please refer them to Justin or Adam. 

Difference of 2011: If you've  been to CBC's winter retreat before this one is a bit different. If you haven't...well, you won't know any better. Anyways...we just ask you to be extremely flexible. The worst thing you can do is have a negative attitude about how things are turning out or whatever. Trust me, this one will challenge you as counselors...but we believe the book of James when it says that those things are for your good. 

1. Organization: We wanted to let our youth leadership take the lead on planning and organizing this retreat. I wanted to let them learn how to work together, think through things, and vision cast. They are doing a great job with it but there are things they still need to work through. This year, Adam Lee will be the winter retreat director. Which means he'll be behind the scenes instructing and organizing everything. He'll be leading the counselor meetings and he'll be the main one you report to at this retreat. We want to give him the leadership development that God has called him to and we trust that this will be another great moment for him to lead us. 
2. Speaker & Band: Last year we went without a speaker because it fit our vision best. This year we're bringing it back. And we're bringing in one of my personal friends Mark Heavener who is an expert in local and global missions. He works with the BGCT in helping second generation asian churches get together and organized. I've asked him to speak on some of his experiences and especially what specific needs there are in Houston so that our youth can go home and start meeting those needs. We've also invited a band with us this year (from Baylor) and they'll be ministering to us via music. 
3. Visitors: This year we have an exceptionally large group of visitors with us. Some of them are from other various churches in the area that we've made connections with but the bulk are Bhutanese refugees. We're extremely excited to invite a group of them to come and play with us during this retreat. A lot of our church members made a huge effort in providing so that they're able to come. So they'll all be integrated into your small group. Do your research. 

Everything Else:

1. Serving: As an act of service, we provide the cafeteria additional hands to clean up. A list of names will be posted on the wall with a meal time in which you are responsible for cleaning. 
2. Pine Cove: We'll be going to Pine Cove again for the 4th year and we love it. We've already built a great relationship with the staff and admin. If you want to see it please visit:  http://www.pinecove.com/retreats/outback
3. What to bring: bring what you'll typically wear to a 4 day retreat in hill country Texas in late December. There are beds and mattresses...no linens, no towels, or blankets. Must bring bible. Additional points if you provide your group with resources. Oh yeah, bring western attire for Thursday night. Giddy up!

Getting the most out of camp

Getting the Most Out of Camp | Wisdom from the Experience

Intro | I figured if you’re reading this already, you’re a bit curious to find out what we have to say. Good! I like that. All I want to do is to share some wisdom with you from my past experience as a camper and all that I can offer as a counselor, organizer, and pastor. Ultimately, it’d be foolish to attend an event and “see what will happen.” So…here’s some advice for you so that you might be able to get the most out of camp.

The Prep Work | I know this is going to sound cliché for a lot of ya’ll but it’s true…if you really want to get the most out of camp, be prepared for it. Why is this so important? Well because you only get to go to camp once a year and so if you go without being prepared…you’ll just kinda wing it and go with the flow. Now that isn’t bad…but it isn’t the smartest either. So how do you prepare yourself?

• Prepare physically. The last thing you want to do is be sick or injured before going to camp. Try not to exhaust your body too much before camp starts. Try to sleep early, eat fairly well (there are these green things in the world called veggies…try some), and don’t do anything that might get you injured (like ultimate danger danger, run with giant forks, or be a contestant on Fear Factor) 

• Prepare Spiritually. The difference between church camp and any other camp is that there should be a different motive going. For these church camps, your ultimate (notice the word ultimate) goal is that YOU grow deeper. So the prep work might involve spending some time praying about different parts of camp. It could involve you settling some problems beforehand so that you’re not distracted at camp. It could mean setting goals for yourself to accomplish at camp. 

Chit-Chat | You might think I’m crazy on this one…but a huge part of camp is talking. Whaaat? It’s true though. I know some of ya’ll are shy or you think that you’re better than other people so you don’t need to talk, but talking is a huge deal at camp. Now let me explain what I’m talking (haha) about.

• Openness & honest during small groups: A lot of times we like to sit back and allow everyone else in the group to talk. And maybe that’s because of a variety of things (pride, selfishness, shyness, etc) but have the mentality that community occurs in the context of relationships. There’s a time for you to listen to others, BUT there must be a time where YOU have to share your life, your story, and what God is doing/not doing to you. Share your personal struggles, your victories, what you doubt…and who cares if you think people look at you. It’s ok. 

• Time to meet new people: Again, you don’t get these chances a lot in life and although we do camp every year…it’s only 1 week out of the year. And honesty, you don’t often see all these people…so take advantage of that. For you older kids, see camp as a time for yourself to grow BUT also see it as Eph. 4:12 and it is your mission field to train and equip the younger generation. All those kids younger than you…that should be your target to go, “Hey…I’m _______, I wanna tell you about what God has done in my life, what I’ve learned, and I’d like to teach you whatever I can.” And for you younger kids, it is a time to go find older mentors to ask questions to – ask them how they learned personally, ask them what some things to watch out for are. 

• One-on-ones: Take advantage of your 1-on-1 time. I know you think that playing is more important…but man, c’mon…you get to play all the other time. Again, it’s having the mindset that “I’m going to take advantage of this special opportunity at camp to GROW as much as I can” And one good way is during your one-on-one. Ok…now here’s something that nobody tells you. I’m going to give you all my advice coming from the counselor/pastors mind. Usually, the counselor is the one doing all the questioning and for the most part, you get into the same stuff. But if you really wanna take advantage of your time, ask him questions that you want to know. Challenge your counselor and pick their brains about everything. Again, find out what they did well and take notes and find out what they had trouble on and take notes. Listen to me…every single person has their own stories, so go find them out. 

Sermon Time | As a speaker for many camps, I spent a lot…I mean, a lot of time prepping for my talks for camp. And come camp time, I’m friggin’ nervous! Not because youth scare me (although sometimes ya’ll do) but because I’m responsible for bringing the truth of God and all that it implies to your life. It’s like I have these awesome information that might (with the work of the Holy Spirit) change your life so of course I want you to hear it.

• Leave your pride at the door! Who cares what the guy/girl looks like?! Who cares if they speak in a funny accent?! The real reason why you focus on all these external things is because you truly don’t want to listen to him. Maybe because they’re “boring” or maybe because “it doesn’t speak to me”. C’mon…that’s all about you! Don’t focus on those things because it does you no good and it’ll ultimately rob you of growth.
• Look & listen for truth: Please please please bring your bibles and something to write with. There’s always truth to be found when anyone is talking. Take notes…see if you can find the main idea of the sermon. And then, when they’re done, figure out how that lesson applies to you. And here’s the big thing…always ask, “Ok self…how do I take this lesson/passage and teach it to someone else?” Because it’s not ok to just know it…but you must know how to teach it. 

Final Thoughts | That’s why camp is a blessing man! Because you get the chance to hear all these different stories from all different people. That’s why you sell yourself short when you just hang around the same people all the time wanting to just play all the time. I’m not saying don’t play or don’t hang out with your friends…all I’m saying is go to camp with the right mentality – to grow.

If your goal is to just “get away” or to just “have fun” then I’m sorry, I think you could have saved your money and done that somewhere else. And in the end, you’ve wasted some valuable time and neglected some excellent resources. Please please please know that my heart is for your growth. So please think about these things. Know that I’m praying for you as you go to camp…hey! It’s really fun and it’s changed my life…but go in with the right heart, right attitude, and expect God to change you!