Dear editor:

Last year the Episcopal Church in Michigan decided to take advantage of the ELCA Lutheran Summer Camping Ministry. My daughter participated and reported that camp was both fun, and spiritually “deep.”

I want to encourage every parish to invite Dan Smith, the executive director, to come visit, preach, and present about the impact of camping ministry on faith formation in young people.

Basically, Dan is the real deal. Dan is a kind, funny leader whose faith and energy are attractive. And—this doesn’t happen easily in Ann Arbor—he is the kind of preacher who makes you want to go out and serve the Kingdom of God with a warm heart and tears in your eyes. His background as a Habitat for Humanity house-building administrator may have something to do with this, but more importantly, he has a vocation from God.

The Living Water Ministry Camps have programs designed particularly for Episcopal youth, and for a variety of special need, low income, and special interest young people. Our call to common mission with Lutherans is in this instance like wandering in off the street to a great party in the kingdom of God that has already been going for years, where the hosts say, “Where have you been? We’ve been looking and hoping for you to join us.”

This year St. Clare’s Episcopal Church will send a group of young people with an adult from St. Clare’s.

I encourage you to invite Dan, SOON, to come visit your parish of a Sunday, so that your young people can also experience the power of an excellent Christian camping ministry.