Vision & Mission

Mennonite Camping Association
9301-1575 East Street
Tiskilwa, Illinois
U.S.A. 61368
Phone: 717-896-3441, ext. 102
office@mennonitecamping.org

A Vision for Mennonite Camping:

In a busy, fragmented world, the camp/retreat environment offers all participants, staff and volunteers an opportunity to experience the meaning of living the church of Christ in a holistic way. Our camp/retreat programs and settings provide, within a limited space of time, a fully integrated experience of being the church. We attempt to model Jesus' teachings and way of life in every dimension of daily life at camp. We also help campers/retreaters to see how these teachings connect with their life in the church, in society and in their relationship with nature. For us, care of the earth has become an extension of Jesus' ministry. Our camps and retreat centers directly reflect an Anabaptist/Mennonite theology of Christ's peace and love as central to the gospel.

Mennonite Camping Association (MCA) claims the overall statement of Vision: Healing and Hope adopted by the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. This vision states:

"God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace, so that God's healing and hope flow through us to the world."

Member camps give expression to this vision by leading their camp and church communities on a journey of transformation through:

• Seeking God's face in creation
• Receiving God's love in Christ
• Radiating God's Spirit in the world

Seeking God's Face in Creation

In a world often detached from nature and from spiritual reality, our camping and retreat ministries offer a way to reconnect with the created order and invite us to experience God through:

• Prayer, solitude and worship
• Scripture study and reflection
• Outdoor discovery and play

Receiving God's Love in Christ

Our camping and retreat ministries offer well-rounded experiences of Christian community through:

• A loving circle of acceptance and healing that supports growth in faith
• A place where gospel is both heard and seen
• A sense of belonging that invites personal commitment to Jesus Christ and discipleship
• An opportunity to recognize and express gifts

Radiating God's Spirit in the World

As a place where the power of the Holy Spirit is seen and known, camps and retreat centers offer inspiration for faithful, creative ministry in God's world, enabling participants, staff and volunteers to:

• Be peacemakers, servants and witnesses of God's love
• Be caretakers of the earth, God's garden
• Be prophets who, from a creative distance, call the church to faithful living in a materialistic, violent world
• Live in harmony with God, nature, each other and the world beyond our camp or retreat center

Therefore, we are committed to provide programs and places for people to meet God face to face, to put the complexities of life into perspective, to make choices and commitments and to leave with renewed energy and vision.

"... the important role that wilderness experiences can play in the development of spiritual life and the understanding of God's creation."
-- Oswald H. Goering, Outdoor Recreation Teacher