I grew up going to summer camp.  I cherish some incredibly vivid memories of times around the campfire, in a canoe and under the stars.  I never thought one day I’d be running a summer camp that serves more than 1,000 at-risk kids each year and creates opportunities for them to make equally-special memories.  Yet here I am, the summer programs director at Riverwoods Christian Center, whose mission is to partner with the local church in discipling people in under-resourced communities of the Fox River Valley (40 miles west of Chicago) into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.  We see incredible things happen when we bring a child from a broken home, under-performing school and gang-infested community to the safe environment of summer camp and surround them with people that love them and share with them the love of Christ. 

In addition to casting vision for, planning and managing programs, I am responsible for recruiting, hiring and supervising the more than 45 college-age missionaries that join us each summer.  These young men and women come from all over the world to offer the love and hope of Christ to children who desperately need it.  Supporting these young men and women as they are stretched and challenged in ways they never imagined has become one of the joys of my role.   

When I think back on my time as a college student, I am thankful that I had a safe place to grow and be challenged.  I am thankful for those who were there to encourage me and invest in my life by helping me process the joys and trials of following Jesus and sharing his love with others.  I am blessed to have the opportunity to “pass it on” to those I have the privilege of serving with at Riverwoods. 

If you or someone you know is interested in joining our summer ministry team, or if you’d like to find out more about Riverwoods, please email me at Brad@RiverwoodsChristianCenter.org.