Camp for our youth this year is different than it has ever been, and not just because it's happening during a pandemic. This coming Sunday, we'll be taking 34 BMPC youth and adults to a camp that is new to us — Johnsonburg Camp in Johnsonburg, New Jersey. We'll sincerely miss our summer youth experiences at Camp Kirkwood which was an incredible ministry of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. I'm grateful our youth were able to have so many memorable moments there during the last decade. The closing of that chapter means the beginning of another. When we learned about Kirkwood's closure, we asked their staff for recommendations of other camps. Johnsonburg was their first choice.
Located in the northwest region of New Jersey's beautiful highlands, Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center welcomes people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to experience God. Since 1959, this ministry of the Synod of New Jersey has served thousands of people each year, providing space and time for recreation, faith formation, and relationship building. Johnsonburg also possesses camp amenities that are sure to delight our teenagers. With a high ropes course, a lake with boats and paddle boards, outdoor labyrinth, pool, rock wall, aerial silks and archery, our youth are sure to find a life-giving way to experience God's love in movement and nature.
Johnsonburg's mission is to provide a beautiful place where all are welcome to gather. At this camp, all can share in gracious hospitality, a joyful Christian community, and the wonder of God's creation. Johnsonburg, unique among most Christian camps, has a statement of inclusivity specifically pertaining to LGBTQ+ folks. The statement possesses deep intentionality when it comes to affirming trans or gender non-conforming youth. Similarly, inclusion and affirmation of identity are two critical aspects of our core values as the youth ministry of BMPC. Our ministry seeks to be an inclusive faith community that connects, engages and equips youth to discover and live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am delighted that we can join in ministry with an organization with similar Christ-like values.
We will deeply miss Kirkwood. And through Kirkwood we have found a fantastic new place where our youth can experience and live out the Gospel of Jesus. While it's a new camp for our teenagers, God is the same everywhere, and the Gospel is also the same. We'd be grateful for your prayers as we embark on this new adventure. I can't wait to share with you how God moves in our coming time at Johnsonburg Camp.
