Helping Kitsap and North Mason Youth Discover Their True Identity
I like to ask students questions when I speak at camps for a couple of reasons. First, and most practically, it helps them to be able to start to focus on what we want them to know. Second, it is fun and helpful to get to know them. I have had to change my talk on the fly before because I realized that the students I was talking to were much different than the students that I had prepared for. The third and maybe most important reason is that students want to be known.
As soon as I asked a question like: “What are you most proud of?” or “Who is the greatest superhero?” I have students that not only want to tell me the answer; they want to tell me why. As a person that has been speaking to audiences and classrooms for years, I have learned some tricks to redirecting and not letting students take over the moment, but sometimes I hear something that they tell me, and I kind of want them to take over.
“We want to them to tell us who they are, but we also want them to know who God says they are”
I asked the students who the greatest superhero was and received many good answers. Spoiler alert, Spiderman won. But one of the great answers we received was “my parents”. What a beautiful answer that I would have loved to have time to unpack more. We talked to the students about the difference between who the world says that are and who God says they are. Many of these students do not perceive that they were fearfully and wonderfully made.
I know I have said this before, but camp is the place where relationships can go deeper and hear the gospel most clearly. When we asked the students what is means that God created our inmost being, I asked them what that meant. More than one student responded immediately.
“It’s who you are truly are.”
Please keep these students in prayer, many of them started a new journey in their faith at camp, many are not sure that they want to walk down that road, and many are still struggling who they think God is. But one thing is for sure, each one of them was faced with a new reality by the waterfront that day.
God made every part of them wonderfully, then he saved them so that they could have life, and life to the full. Thank you for how you have given this most worthy cause.
Empowering Middle & High School Youth Across Kitsap & North Mason Counties
At Campus Life, we walk alongside middle school and high school students right where they are. Through our free drop-in centers, we create safe, welcoming spaces for youth to connect with background-checked, trained mentors over games, snacks, tutoring, and life-changing conversations about faith and purpose. Whether through our regular school-year programs, summer camp, or seasonal events, we are dedicated to building authentic relationships across Kitsap and North Mason counties.
Partner with Us to Impact Local Students
Transformation happens when community members step up together. You can partner with us to support local youth outreach, volunteer as a mentor, or help fuel our programs in Poulsbo and Bremerton.
Visit or Connect with Our Drop-In Centers:
The Next Door Center (Poulsbo): 1779 NE Hostmark St, Poulsbo, WA 98370
The Underground Center (Bremerton): 7555 Old Military Road NE, Bremerton, WA 98337
The Westside Center (Bremerton): 1211 Veneta Ave, Bremerton, WA 98337
