Camp Oasis

This year’s Camp Oasis theme was about Keepin’ It Real. It was based on the scripture passage from Colossians 2:17 “what is real is found in Christ.”



Amanda May, myself, Hillary, and Andre spelling out REAL in the sunrise at the camp's lake



       Camp Oasis is a spring break camp for all the different Branches sites as well as some other after-school programs. All of the programs get together for one week of learning about Christ and what it means to be a follower of Christ. This year, South Miami Branches (my site) took five of our middle schoolers. They were able to spend time in small groups, topics classes and skills classes. At night we were able to convene as a group and discuss what they had learned that day or where they saw God throughout the day.

I was able to teach the topics class called “Real Friends.” In this class we watched a video clip from Mean Girls as well as role-playing scenes where the class had to decide which friends were real, and which ones were not. I enjoyed teaching this class because it felt so natural. I felt like I was doing what God has been calling me to do; to teach kids about Jesus in a way that relates to them.

Although I felt comfortable teaching the class, I have to admit that as a whole, I did not feel comfortable at the camp. I was certainly a minority (which has been a reality of mine since I’ve been in Miami). But I felt that the way I ministered to these youth was not very effective. I didn’t go into camp thinking that I would bring anyone to Christ. I just thought that maybe I would be more comfortable than I actually was. Who I am to tell some of these young people that God really does exist? Most of the kids at camp come from broken homes, where their parents tell them everyday that they wish they did not exist. They come from homes where they are abused. They come from homes where their parents cannot even pay for food, much less clothing. So what can I, as a middle class white female from a great family, tell them that will be encouraging? How can I be effective?

After being a leader at Camp Oasis, there were many things that I learned. I learned that I am not meant to work with middle or high schoolers. I knew that before, but it was certainly confirmed while I was there. I also learned that maybe my ministry is not meant for urban settings. If it is meant for an urban setting, maybe it should be in another setting other than the one where I’m currently working. I learned a lot of things about myself and about my ministry while I was there. And although it was hard to learn these things, it was REAL. And that is what Christ calls us to be, no matter how hard that is.