Every generation is shaped by those who influence it.
Whether we recognize it or not, someone is always discipling our children. The question is not whether they are being influenced, but by whom. Today’s young people are growing up surrounded by competing voices. Social media, entertainment, peer culture, and shifting values all speak with constant intensity. These voices help shape identity, define success, and influence decisions often long before a young person is prepared to evaluate them.
As a church, we must ask a clear and urgent question: Who is shaping the next generation?
This is where summer camp becomes one of the most vital ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Summer camp is not simply a place where young people spend a week away from home. It is an intentional environment where influence is guided, relationships are cultivated, and young people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Every counselor, every staff member, and every leader plays a role in shaping the lives of those entrusted to their care.
At camp, influence is not accidental. It is purposeful.
Young people are surrounded by mentors who model Christ-centered living in practical, visible ways. Faith is not presented merely as a concept to be understood, but as a life to be lived. Campers observe how others speak, how they respond under pressure, and how they treat those around them.
And they are paying attention.
They notice authenticity.
They recognize integrity.
They respond to genuine faith.
Long before a message is fully understood, a life is carefully observed.
Scripture affirms this model of influence. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). Faith is transmitted not only through instruction, but through consistent, lived experience.
Summer camp reflects this biblical pattern.
In a single week, a young person may spend more intentional time with spiritually grounded mentors than they do in months of their regular routine. Conversations unfold naturally. Questions are asked freely. Trust is established. And in that environment, the Holy Spirit works through relationships to impress hearts in lasting ways.
Ellen G. White captures this principle with clarity in The Ministry of Healing: “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” At camp, young people are not only hearing about the gospel. They are seeing it lived before them.
This is one of the unique strengths of camp ministry.
It provides consistent, Christ-centered influence at a time when many young people are navigating confusion and uncertainty. Removed from the constant noise of daily life, they can reflect more deeply, listen more attentively, and respond more personally to the voice of God.
And in that space, decisions are made.
Many who serve the church today can trace their spiritual journey back to individuals who influenced them during their youth. A counselor who took time to listen. A staff member who offered encouragement. A leader who challenged them to take their faith seriously.
These moments are not incidental. They are formative.
Influence leaves a lasting imprint.
As a church, we are called not only to proclaim truth, but to surround the next generation with individuals who embody that truth. Summer camp allows us to do both. It brings together message and model, teaching and example, truth and life.
It is not simply about programming. It is about people.
As we approach another summer season, we are reminded of the sacred trust placed in this ministry. Every camper who arrives is not just attending an event. They are entering an environment that will shape how they think, what they value, and who they are becoming.
And they are watching.
May we continue to pray for our camps, support those who serve, and invest intentionally in this vital ministry. Because the question before us is not simply whether our young people are being influenced. They are!
The question is whether they are being shaped by voices that lead them closer to Christ.
Elden Ramirez is president of the Lake Union Conference.