What do we mean by: “Serving at camp develops community?”
A throwback post from 2020: When I was a boy transitioning into middle school, I remember being afraid of a few things. I wondered how I would find all my…
Bridging the Gap: A Student’s Journey to Christian Community
One of my greatest passions is witnessing the incredible power of connection—the way God works through simple acts of love to transform lives. Through the Christians in Action (CIA) program,…
When Campers Become Teachers
One of the most rewarding parts of ministry is seeing the seeds we’ve planted begin to grow—and that’s exactly what happened during our recent Mother-Son Retreat here at Joy El.…
A Sweet Surprise in the Square
Two weekends ago, the programming team decided to take our summer leadership team during their training time to go get some pretzels at a local bakery called Mama K’s, located…
A Growing Partnership: Angel Tree Expands Opportunities for Kids at Joy El
For 13 years, Joy El has partnered with Prison Fellowship to provide a week of free camp to children with an incarcerated parent through Angel Tree. The first few years…
Listeners Make a Lasting Impact
Serving as a Bible Adventure and CIA listener isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. God provides a way for seasoned, more mature, believers to come alongside public…
Putting Faith to Work: CIA Students Stepping Up at Joy El Work Days
At Christians in Action (CIA), we believe faith isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we live out. Jesus calls us to step out in boldness, to serve, to love,…
Working Together to Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders
Right after the Allegheny Sectional for the Christian Camping Conference Association (CCCA), some of our staff had an opportunity to head to Lancaster Bible College (LBC) for their Camp Fair.…
Celebrating Unity and Purpose in Christian Camping: Reflections from the CCCA Alleghany Sectional Gathering
In the world of Christian camping, it’s easy to get caught up in the race for the most campers. But at the recent Allegheny Sectional gathering of the Christian Camp…
“What About The Cross?”
Bible Adventure landed on Valentine’s Day. I wanted to share John 3:16 and remind the students of God’s love. I saw a church sign that read, “The shape of love…