Moravian Camps then & now

The Moravian Church in North America relies heavily on its summer camps and conferences, which are a part of its outdoor ministries. The camps and conferences provide an escape from the fast-paced world and an amazing and unique opportunity for spiritual growth in both children and adults. The Moravian church has various camp and retreat centers available to them, all of which provide beautiful settings for vastly important outdoor ministries.

Church camps have always been important to Moravians, but it was not Moravians who started them. In the June 9, 1951 edition of The Moravian Allen Lenius wrote:

“Camping is not a Moravian invention. Long before we entered the field, other denominations, as well as non-religious groups, were experimenting with camping as an educational technique. The entrance of the churches into this field dates back to 1914 when an interdenominational Christian camp at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was organized by the International Sunday School Union.”

Moravians first sampled outdoor ministries in 1923 when, at the end of August, two Moravian pastors from Wisconsin set up a youth convention. While different from modern day conferences, this convention was the seed of the Moravian outdoor ministries that continue to grow today.

Moravian outdoor ministries are an extremely important way to reach children and adults. Week long conferences establish a Christian community that has an enormous impact on children and adults alike. Nowadays this impact is especially important because of the struggle to retain Christian values in a fast-paced lifestyle. People have many influences in their lives today and, unfortunately, the church is not always one of them. In the June, 1962 edition of The Moravian, George G. Higgins wrote:

“Most of our learning today comes from books or such media as television. Most of us live in crowded cities. We ride on concrete streets and highways. We even worship at a fixed time on a fixed day. Because of this we have a special need to discover anew the wonder of God’s creation. We need time for reflection, for prayer, for worship. We need to open our lives to God’s call for commitment, for service. This we find in the environment of a church camp.”

Church camps act as a retreat from the turbulence of day-to-day life. Even though people attend church on Sundays, the camps are still often faced with the challenge of using one week to instill large amounts of prayer and worship. The camps do have success with this difficult task, which is why church camps portray such positive emotions and good, long-lasting memories. Moravian camps definitely help to revive the Christian spirit.

Many of the clergy and lay leaders know that Moravian church camps revive the Christian spirit because they have experienced them first hand. In the June 9, 1951 edition of The Moravian, Allen Lenius wrote:

“Anyone who doubts this need only look over our church today and discover how many of our ministerial and lay leaders can point back to an experience at ‘camp’ as a turning point in their lives. They want their own children and other children, young people, and adults to have this same experience.”

This was written almost 55 years ago in 1951. Since that time, many other accounts of camp experiences have occurred adding even more strength to Allen Lenius’s words. Throughout the years Moravian campers have made life-long friends, developed important values, and learned about Jesus Christ while enjoying themselves around their peers in a safe and comfortable retreat setting.

In order to stay both safe and comfortable, camps have had to change throughout the years. Technology and the evolving world have altered church camp facilities to much more modern sites, but they still act as a short-term escape from the quick tempo of the changing world. According to the Rev. Barry A. Lehman in the April, 1983 edition of The Moravian, “Camp Hope, and all church camping, offers a unique opportunity for spiritual, mental, physical, and social growth.” While this article was written in 1983, it still applies today. Another timeless article about Moravian camping in Wisconsin was written by Robert H. Smith. Also in the April, 1983 edition of The Moravian, Smith wrote:

“[Moravian Camp Chetek] has been a powerful influence in the lives of many people over the years. Many in the pastorate felt the call of God into full-time service for Christ on the banks of Lake Chetek. Others had their hearts ‘strangely warmed’ to use John Wesley’s term and their faith was kindled through their camping experience. Many lasting relationships, some leading to marriage, were formed there. Campers and staff members can attest to the influence camp Chetek has had on their lives.”

Robert H. Smith’s article does not solely apply to Wisconsin church camps, but rather to church camps in general. Many positive changes are experienced while attending church camps and conferences. The Rev. Barry A. Lehman and Robert H. Smith’s words about the importance of church camps are still very true.

Moravian outdoor ministries are just as important today as they have been in the past. The church camps are still responsible for reaffirming the relationships of many with God and providing a retreat from the hectic world. The years have passed and the camps have evolved, but the experiences are much the same as they were when church camps originated.

Andrew David is a professional writing student from Kutztown University completing an internship with the Interprovincial Board of Communication of the Moravian Church in North America.