A Case for Camp Pastors
Pr. Jack shares a message to a group of campers during chapel, Summer 2023.
Like many clergy, Pr. Jack Busche identifies his experiences in outdoor ministry as pivotal in his faith journey and call into ordained ministry. Pr. Jack grew up attending Camp Luther and various camps in the Crossways network as a child before serving on summer staff at Waypost in Hatley, WI. He knew that God had worked through camp in his own life and in the life of his wife Sydney, but what he didn’t realize was how that would continue when he moved to the U. P. to accept his first call.
Pr. Jack was called to Grace Lutheran Church in Gwinn in 2021. He found that the congregation’s identity was rooted in their connection to Fortune Lake through their financial support, their personal connections, and their intentionality in sending campers. Jack was drawn by the expectation that as their pastor, he would be engaging with camp.
This past summer, Jack served as Camp Pastor for a full week. He brought two campers from Grace with him and settled in for the fullest week of the summer. Between running in field games, preaching in chapel, and unsticking the bell from the tower structure (a story in and of itself), he found time to connect with each cabin group and staff member.
Jack was particularly drawn to a group of Venturer boys, middle schoolers with a reputation for being rowdy and pushing buttons. Their Cabin Leaders, seemingly nervous about being in charge of the group in the woods on their own, invited Pr. Jack on their tenting overnight. Through the challenges of preparing dinner over a fire and integrating many strong personalities into a cohesive group, Jack saw new leaders emerge. He watched as the Cabin Leaders found their groove, and campers extended kindness to their peers. After campfire worship, Jack felt it was time to take his leave, to allow the cabin groups to solidify their bonds, trusting that the group could manage on their own. They did just fine.
Pr. Jack believes that most of the young adults who are in our churches have stuck around due to their experiences in the non-judgemental, supportive communities of outdoor ministry. He felt the call of God through his time at camp as a young person, and he is working to help others do the same through his presence at Fortune Lake. Despite the active, full days, Jack feels personally recharged at camp, and he is grateful to serve a call where his congregation understands that this, too, is a vital part of his ministry.
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