Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, McCall RA Camp has been serving men and boys for over 50 years. The summer camp season is filled with the sound of boys enjoying the great outdoors through many activities and programs. However, during the winter season, camp is closed and desolate, waiting for the summer to come and bring with it the sound of boys splashing in Lake Chillywater. During this time of the year, it is good to reflect upon the lessons learned at McCall and the value in its existence.
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about the failure of male leadership within the local church. Women are predominantly leading our South Carolina churches. Women are teaching our Sunday school classes, youth small groups and children’s ministries. This presents a problem for the next generation, and specifically for our men. We are raising our boys to be feminine in their lifestyles and their leadership. But who can blame them? They are being taught by women and are in front of women for most of their childhood. What we need is male leadership to shape and refine the next generation.
As I began to think about this issue, I could not help but think about all the lessons God has taught me through McCall. Many see camp as a ministry to the young boys who come to camp ready to experience the Skyglide or to hike to the Little Waterfall; however, the ministry of McCall reaches beyond the boys to the fathers and leaders of these lads. Some of these men are the leaders of their churches. They are the deacons, program leaders and Sunday school teachers. They are the influencers of the church today.
However, the reality is that many of these men are not the leaders within their churches as they should be. A lot of these men are searching for how to invest in their boys, how to lead their families spiritually, and how to embrace the task God has given them as men. I would argue that McCall has been, and continues to be, a tool used by God to empower and equip these men to be the leaders God has called them to be within the local church. While camp doesn’t offer a class or a workshop on how to be a better spiritual leader and father, it does offer an unmatched environment to experience the power of Christ through his gospel.
Many ask how we will make our churches Great-Commission-minded. I firmly believe that it starts with the men of the church taking on the role God has commanded: to lead our children to be gospel-centered and to exemplify a life that is passionate about Jesus and his gospel.
We can look to new programs and fancy curriculum, or we can blame a failure in CP giving and complain about a lack of funds, but maybe, first, our men need to be still and experience the presence of God, leading their families and the church to reach the world with the gospel. What better environment to do this than a small camp in the mountains of South Carolina?
When our men begin to have their hearts changed and impacted by the gospel, this is when we can effectively reach the nations. For years, Camp McCall has been an instrument used by God to impact not only boys, but also men with the power of Jesus Christ through the gospel, and this investment is worth it, for the sake of the nations.
What do you think? Click here to send a letter to the editor addressing this or another subject.