Impact Mission Camps Looked a Little Different This Year

by Mikayla Barnes

Impact! Mission Camps had to cancel in-person camps for the first time in 26 years due to COVID-19, but that did not stop us. While so many had to cancel plans for the summer, we had other ideas. Impact turned virtual with our Impact Virtual Camp through social media, live–streamed worship, individual mission projects and lots of fun. We were able to keep our summer college staff who helped lead worship, organize fun daily challenges, and grow in their faith.

People participated in so many ways and all for free, from individuals and families watching worship together to church groups came together to complete mission projects in their local communities and watch worship. The theme for camp this summer, which was picked over a year ago, was “Better Together.” This was so important in a time when we truly needed to learn how to be better together even when we are apart. Returning staff member, Alexis Epperly says it best,

“You know those times in your life that can only be explained by saying it was a “God thing.” It baffles me that the theme “Better Together” was chosen last summer but it is so fitting for what is going on today in the world. This had to be a “God thing.”

Read the following blurbs from some of our Impact staff as they reflect on their experiences this summer.

Samantha Richard

Samantha Richard

When I first heard of Impact, I knew that this experience was going to help me grow in my faith which was my ultimate goal for this year. I had never been to an Impact camp before, much less even heard of it until last October when I was on a retreat for my campus ministry. When I was first accepted for the job, I became overjoyed at the fact that I was going to meet so many great people throughout this experience since we were going to be traveling all over Virginia to the different camps. I got hit hard with the news that camp was going to be virtual this year due to the ongoing concern of COVID-19; I was really looking forward to hearing other students’ experiences through Christ and how Impact has helped them grow in their faith. Even though this virus changed my summer plans completely, I am incredibly grateful for this virtual experience I had with Impact.

All of the staff members bonded quickly, which made for an awesome summer. From recording worship to competing against each other in challenges, I enjoyed every minute of it.

This summer was a great time for me to reflect on what my goals in faith were and how I wanted to grow more in Christ, and I think I did just that. With the support of my fellow staff members, I was able to share an important piece of my walk with Christ, something I had never felt comfortable sharing before. Having the experience of living with my coworkers made for an eventful, yet amazing summer because so many memories were made with this wonderful group of people.

Although I did not get the chance to experience all that Impact has to offer, I do feel that I was blessed to receive so much faith and life experience throughout this summer. Impact was my silver lining in a time when the world erupted in chaos and I will forever be grateful to have experienced something as amazing as this. I learned how to be a better person but most importantly, a better follower of Christ. I hope to take what I have learned this summer and apply it to my Christian leadership role I have on campus as well as, throughout the rest of my life. Impact definitely holds a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to see where the rest of my journey with Impact goes.

Elizabeth Rapp

Elizabeth Rapp

Beginning the summer after my freshman year of high school, I began going to Impact with my youth group. This was one of my first camp experiences with my new church, as I had recently left the church I grew up at. To say the least, I was very nervous even though I knew everybody I was going with. I specifically remember my parents and even some of my other family members being unsure about me going to a camp focused on construction because I had never done anything like that in the past. They expected me to come home after the week was over saying that I didn’t want to go back next summer, however that is far from what happened. I came back and talked non stop about camp that week, the house my team worked on, and how much fun I had meeting so many new friends. I truly believe they thought someone had replaced their daughter because I was telling them how much fun I had cutting roof shingles in 100 degree weather. That summer, on my first Impact trip is what made me comfortable at my new church and excited to be part of such a great youth group.

I continued going to Impact every summer until I started college and now I am on staff with the most amazing group of people I could have ever imagined. Even though camp was much different this year due to COVID-19, I know I can speak for staff and past campers that it is truly better than no camp at all. In my staff interview I remember asking what camp would be like if COVID-19 was still around during the summer and Glenn and Mikayla mentioned virtual camp. It was such a relief for me to know that I would have something to do this summer, have a job, and know that Impact was still happening even if it looked different.

Even though I had been a camper and knew what Impact was like I still didn’t know what it was like from a staff perspective. This summer was able to show somewhat of what it is like, besides waking up super early every morning, being in the heat, and doing physical labor. It was nice to dip my foot in the pool before fully jumping in which is one reason I’m grateful for this summer. I also enjoyed the outreach opportunities that we were still able to do and the amazing friendships I have made with the other staff. We mowed lawns through Chesterfield Lawn Care, helped Freemason Baptist Church go through clothes donations, visited Gwathmey Baptist Church to see what ways their children were helping their community, and helped out at Old Dominion University’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry building. My favorite part of the whole summer was living and working with the other staff who I can say have definitely become my best friends. We all met over zoom during the spring and it was very awkward to say the least, but what zoom call isn’t? Being in person and building connections with each other has been such a blessing to me especially in a time where I thought I was going to be stuck at home all summer. Even though this summer was different in many ways God is always working in our lives, so I know many people were blessed through virtual camp.

Beth Dale

Beth Dale

When I first heard about Impact! Mission Camps, I was pretty hesitant to participate. Spending a week of my summer waking up at six in the morning to go to worship, then go to work on a house for eight hours in the sun did not seem very appealing to me; until my first day at camp when I was just twelve years old. As soon as I got there I knew Impact was something I wanted to do for as long as I could. Being surrounded by people of faith and being able to make a real, hands on difference in your community is an amazing experience that everyone should be able to participate in. After that first week I had set a personal goal for myself that as soon as I was old enough I would apply to be on staff. Spending a whole summer doing mission work that I had such a strong passion for sounded like the perfect opportunity for me.

After being a camper for seven years, I finally reached the age to apply for Impact staff. I was not sure if it was actually what God had in my plans, but after applying I had a feeling that this is exactly what I was meant to be doing. It was then, after waiting for seven long years to be old enough, I was officially welcomed onto the Impact 2020 team of staff and I could not have been more grateful to God for granting me this chance. Although we were all saddened to hear that COVID-19 had ruined our chances of having an in person camp this year, we were still blessed to have been able to put together a completely virtual version of what Impact is. This summer has taught me a lot about what it is to work as a team and it has taught me that just because things don’t go exactly as planned, does not mean that your plans are ruined.

Before coming to meet the rest of the staff and spend the summer with them I was a nervous wreck; I was scared that I wouldn’t fit and that I would miss home. It was almost just like my emotions from my first year of camp, I was horrified right up until I walked in the door and met the rest of the wonderful staff. Everyone was so welcoming and I truly believe that God put us all together for a reason. These people have taught me so much, from cooking some sweet desserts, to showing me how to be a better person and Christian. I cannot thank God enough for this summer and being able to spread His word with this amazing organization called Impact! Mission Camps.