CrossRoads: Helping Young Adults Discern the Call to Ministry
The Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions makes possible the summer ministry of CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center, a camp managed by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia. Each summer hundreds of campers and guests encounter God in the mountains of Central Virginia beside the Little Piney River. CrossRoads offers leadership development to summer staffers in high school and college, and as a result, has helped many young adults discern a call to missions and ministry because of time spent at CrossRoads. We asked Kenny Daniel, Pastor at Colonial Beach Baptist, to share how CrossRoads has impacted him:
Camp Little Crossroads is great fun, sleeping in the cabins, playing in the sun, so go, go, go, go, go, go to Camp Little Crossroads 2023! Maybe, as you read these words the jingle played through your mind, or was even sung aloud. Camp Crossroads, what a special place, what a genuine, mountaintop, place of spiritual highs… a place where life and God truly intersect on a regular basis. Crossroads has such a special place in my heart as I have had the great privilege of serving on summer staff from 2010-2016. While I now serve as the pastor at Colonial Beach Baptist Church, I continue to benefit from Crossroads through silent retreats, council meetings, and bringing my church students to summer camp each year. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Crossroads, as God has both used and continues to use, this special mountain to center my heart. That said when I think about the transformational aspects of Crossroads and how God met me each step of the way, three core ideas come to mind– discipleship, development, and spiritual formation.
For starters, I cannot think of a better place to find an intentional community with both peers and mentors alike.
I often catch myself reminiscing back to late-night conversations in the staff house, sneaking onto the top of roofs (oops) to go stargazing with friends, and weekend trips where we would pile into a car for church, Mexican, and sand volleyball. The fellowship formed at Crossroads is second to none, and each summer I was amazed at the God-based relationships and FUN that was had. Inevitably at the end of the summer, when it was time for us all to go our separate ways, tears were shed because of the unique bond and unity formed while working alongside one another.
While of course, I appreciate my colleagues, perhaps even more important were the many mentors who took me under their wing throughout the years. When I first began working at Crossroads I was in 10th grade, and I just thought it was the coolest thing to have Godly college students hang out with me, and pour into my life. Then, throughout my many years, I gained fond memories and nuggets of wisdom from various camp directors and summer camp leaders such as Reuben, Chad, and Porkchop, to name a few. I often wish they could know the gradual impact that they had on me over the years, truly life-shaping stuff! Through many transitional moments in life, such as choosing to attend college, preaching my first funeral, and navigating grief and loss, a soft-spoken word from one of these trusted mentors would often help get me back on track. Truly, it’s at Crossroads that I learned, early on, that ministry is all about relationships.
When I wasn’t being poured into by others, I also received the gift of learning how to pour out to others.
I often laugh when people ask what type of work I did at camp because I think the better question is what type of work didn’t I do? Mirroring Karate Kid, waxing on and off, life lessons of patience and humility were carved in long days of pulling weeds, unclogging toilets, and manning the dish pit. I unlocked a hidden passion for pastoral care and counseling on celebration nights, where we got to have intentional conversations about the camper’s physical and spiritual life. Each week I received chances to demonstrate a spiritual gift, offer a testimony, or deliver a message during our times of worship. Public speaking became a thing of the past through talent shows and learning to laugh at myself through rapping and acting as many different characters. Without even knowing it, I practiced the art of being a solo pastor, developing a jack-of-all-trades ministry mindset and tool kit. Simply put, there wasn’t just one thing I got to do at camp, but rather there was an abundance of opportunities that all helped stretch, grow, and develop me from a technical aspect.
Finally, but of chief importance, Crossroads is my forever home when it comes to spiritual formation.
I have met, experienced, and felt God in so many different ways, at so many different times on that sacred mountain. From deep and meaningful times of worship and heartfelt skits modeling deliverance, to routine Bible studies and reading bedtime scripture with campers, Crossroads is a programmatic, intentional oasis for spiritual growth. Quite literally from sun up to sun down, the entire day is rooted in maturing one’s faith and meeting God on a deeper level. That said, my most precious “God encounters” came through quiet time or river time. Some folks hate that there is no cellphone service at Crossroads, and while it might be an inconvenience, it is also an opportunity or an invitation. Slow down, disconnect, spend time in silence, and spend time with God. The Holy Spirit is always with us, yes, but in the still splendor of God’s creation beside the Little Piney River in moments of silence, it felt as though the heavenly veil was pierced. While at Crossroads I have experienced God nudging me, and directing my path on many different occasions.
So all of that said, how did Crossroads help prepare me for ministry? I could talk your ear off for days, sharing stories of laughter and fun, seriousness and contemplation, growth, and development. But rather than going that route, boiling it all down to three ideas, my time at Crossroads was filled with discipleship, technical development, and spiritual formation. I will forever be grateful to God for this special mountain. Thank you God, and thank you Crossroads!
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Kenny Daniel
Colonial Beach Baptist Church