By Nate Marshall, Director of 4.12 Leadership Training Program
“You do not go for behavioral modification. You go to the foundation first,” Ron Pegram, a seasoned ministry leader who has served in North Carolina and Florida, said regarding the 4.12 Leadership Training Program and Barnabas Program.
When Ron Pegram came to Joy El Camps and Retreats, a Pennsylvania Christian camp, with his wife, Miss Jackie (a beloved camp speaker), for the first time, he was intrigued by the 4.12 students that served at Joy El, a Christian retreat centers in Pennsylvania. As he observed and further inquired about the program, he noticed that something was different about this program than many others that he had observed or participated in. Ron has been part of several well-known national mentoring programs, but saw a Christian emphasis in our program he did not see in those other programs.
Ron and Jackie attended our fall leadership training summit to observe our programming more closely. Ron saw that the 4.12 Program could be a key to not only developing leadership in young people but also an entry point to getting parents involved. He also noticed that 4.12 students “serve and become leaders.”
One of Ron’s biggest areas of intrigue is the Barnabas Program. He “saw that the mentors and students have a platform for things to talk about.” This platform comes in the form of the students’ 4.12 program requirements, which the mentors help the students understand and apply.
Ron and Jackie started their most recent ministry, Kidz Xtreme, six years ago for children in low-income housing areas in Florida and North Carolina.
Ron’s observation of Joy El’s 4.12 Leadership Training Program has motivated him to incorporate several key elements into Kidz Xtreme in order to be more effective in reaching those children and their families. Some of these aspects of desired duplication include the daily Bible reading, prayer focus, Scripture memorization, and service.
By God’s grace, the influence of the 4.12 Program is spreading. In the past few months, leaders from a large local church, another regional camp, ministries in other states, and international Christian camping leaders have sought insight into how we train our students and mentors.
“By God’s miraculous power, we are creating disciples of Jesus Christ around the world through spiritual multiplication,” just as Joy El’s, a Christian camps in Pennsylvania, vision says.
More information about the 4.12 Leadership Training Program
More information about the Barnabas Program
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Home School Retreat February 7-8 (1-8th Grade)
Bible Adventure Retreat March 1-3 (2-6th Grade)
Mother-Son Retreat March 15-17, (Sons 1-12th Grade)
Father-Daughter Retreat April 12-14, (Daughters 1-12th Grade)
Other Mentoring Programs Joy El Recommends:
Joy El Camps and Retreats is a Christian Camp in PA, we offer Christian camps and retreats year-round in PA and we are a retreat center in Pennsylvania since 1974. Our focus on making disciples is seen in Bible Adventure and the 4.12 Leadership Training Program
