Gloria continued on excitedly giving me more details, "At church, that course marked our lives so deeply that we often say, ‘Before Building Relationships, and After Building Relationships.’ You should hear all the testimonies! My own walk with God changed from being just a church -going thing to a profoundly personal relationship. You know, camping impacts your spiritual life, it’s not just fun n’ games."
"Really? " I said smiling. "Tell me more."

"It’s kind of cool, Gloria explained, "CCI has even influenced our church social life and the way we celebrate birthdays is different. Now we place the birthday boy or girl in the middle of a circle and ‘shower them with affirmation’ (each person gives him/her a genuine compliment.) It’s something we learned at camp."

As Gloria stopped to help redirect some of Valerie’s rambunctious energy, another girl, Chefi, who had been sitting on the creek bank chipped in.

"The same thing has happened in our church. I teach in the nursery and almost all of the Sunday School teachers have taken CCI courses. It’s evident in how we teach Sunday School. We’re more creative, we use more camp like activities and not just lecture all the time like we used to."

The two young ladies started discussing with each other how much their relationships changed and they grew as a result of having taken Building Relationships. Gloria said that the session called "Wounded Warrior" (inner healing / training for counseling emotionally wounded campers) was the turning point for many people who took the course with her. Gloria continued sharing as I sat in awe of what God has done. "So many new people are now involved in church ministry after having been ‘discovered’ during the CCI training courses."Exposure to new experiences and the variety of opportunities to lead tends to "uncover" many hidden treasures.

Gloria didn’t’ know who I was, nor my involvement in CCI, nor did she have any idea that I wrote the training manuals she spoke so highly of. Forming and equipping local church leaders, who in turn, shape the lives of others through camping is a vital aspect of my call to Latin America.

The creation of this leadership development curriculum has been made possible because of donations from Pittsburgh churches: Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, North Way Christian Community, North Park Evangelical Church, and First Presbyterian Church and Lisa’s personal supporters.

To continue developing materials and delivering training, we continue to need your support.