Mentoring Relationships

As mentioned last week, an opportunity to serve as a chaplain came during my years in graduate school. What began as a volunteer position soon grew into a staff position, as the church which I attended offered to give financial support. With a great deal of enthusiasm, I entered into my work, realizing that there would be many opportunities to apply what was presented in the classroom and in textbooks to actual life situations. As an education major and later sociology major, I had learned to assess needs and then design programs to meet those needs. 

Serving a rather transient population, it became apparent that structured lessons or visiting formats needed to take into account that most of the young people with whom we worked would only be with us for around four to eight weeks. Among other things I began to offer a four lesson study from the Gospel of John which was designed to introduce young people to the living Christ. Each lesson was to be completed prior to an individual visit from the chaplain. Upon completion, I, or another chaplain, would schedule an hour to go over the lesson and then in what time remained, there could be the chance to visit about personal issues, family or plans for the future. With some, I found that response would be best if I brought along a game or puzzle which we could work at together.

Just as in my previous experiences on the east side of Des Moines, I began to notice that personal investment in the lives of young people whom I served, was of great value and often opened doors to the issues of their hearts. Programs, instruction, incentives and special activities have great value. They may provide direction, purpose, healthy boundaries, and opportunity, but the quality relationships which are established produce the greatest benefit.

Why is the subject of relationships so important today? Several reasons could be given. Perhaps most significant is the continuing disintegration of the family and the de-valuing of parenting. Of the three institutions divinely established, the family is first and bears primary responsibility for the nurture and provision of its members. Marriage, a covenant relationship between a man and a woman, is designed to be monogamous for the duration of life, providing a measure of stability for the dynamics of parenting, as well as other responsibilities which arise. Government, on the other hand, was established for the protection of its citizens from those who would do harm, and for the maintenance of societal order. It was never intended, by design, to be the primary nurturer of children and youth. The church was established by Christ in the New Testament era as a spiritual community, penetrating all ethnic and social boundaries, bringing unity to believers for the purpose of common nurture, welfare, and mission. Both the family and the church are most effective when they facilitate healthy relationships and communicate truth through those same relationships.

This summer ten to twelve young adults will be entering into a week or more of mentoring relationships with the young people who attend programs at Camp Appanoose. We realize that the relationships which are formed, the examples which are set, the truth which is disseminated, and anticipate yes, the slice of camp life which is shared, may have life changing results for young people attending camp. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses made it abundantly clear that the continuation of truth was not simply a matter of didactic instruction, but was best accomplished within a life context. Camp Appanoose structures each program around small groups led by a trained and vetted counselor.

In 2020, the counseling staff comes from four states, several Christian colleges, and at least eight individual local churches. They will be given training for a few days before camp begins. Three will be quarantining with us for two weeks prior to camp in order to follow guidance offered by the state of Iowa for those coming from out of state. One staff person will have full time responsibility in continual sanitizing and disinfecting. Everyone will have their temperature checked each morning.

Pray for us and for our campers as we operate in a rather precarious time. Our lives as well as this ministry are in His hands. Perhaps in these times we are able to recognize this truth more than at other times. We look forward to what God would choose to do in this unique season of our lives.