Facilitating Leadership Development on a Global Platform
By Muhia Karianjahi, Assistant Professor of Outdoor and Adventure Leadership Graduate Program and Global Initiatives Manager
Since May 2020, I have been part of a global cohort of camp leaders from around the world. The group, facilitated by our Executive Director, Rob Ribbe, has formed the Executive Track of Christian Camping International’s Global Leadership Program (GLP). It has been a major silver lining in the dark cloud of COVID-19 that has enveloped much of the world for the past 10 months. The mission of Christian Camping International (CCI) is to promote and support Christian camping throughout the world, as a means of serving the Church to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Though this training was envisioned way before the pandemic, the composition of the cohort of global leaders, the depth of engagement by its members, and testimonies of its impact has so far turned out to be even better as a result of the pandemic.
A global CCI gathering planned for April 2020 in Sydney, Australia, pivoted to online events as a result of the pandemic. The Executive track of the GLP is one such offering. One of the stated purposes of the training is to “build a global cohort of camp leaders who support and challenge one-another towards continual growth and God-honoring effectiveness.” Since May, the cohort has met online for six sessions and explored topics such as understanding what leadership means around the world, the character of a leader, and the shepherding role of leadership. In between the main sessions, small groups organized around common time-zones to discuss readings and resources. We also encourage and pray over one another. I have the privilege of being in a group of four leaders, two from Canada and one from Mexico.
These are just a few examples of how I have experienced God “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5) amidst the pandemic.
Our first online gathering consisted of 54 leaders representing 20 nations and numerous languages, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Many of my fellow participants would not have made it to the gathering in Sydney due to limited availability away from their vocations, the expense of travel and accommodation, and the complexities of acquiring visas. As a direct result of the pandemic, the cohort of leaders is a much more accurate representation of Christian camping around the world! The wisdom of God far surpasses our wisdom, and his plans are perfect (1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
We have been able to encourage one another to prepare well for our sessions by sending each other reminders and notes via email. For many in the camp world, setting aside time to read widely does not come easily, and testimonies include “feeling like fellow students” again after many years. Our different cultural starting points as we read assigned books and Scriptures have served us with rich, well rounded, and sometimes surprising perspectives and insights. Our meetings as a small group and global cohort continue through March 2021 when this program comes to a close.
We are all eager to see how God will lead us to continue growing together as we serve the Church to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, we can testify as Joseph did in Genesis 50:20 that what Satan meant for harm to Christian camping, God has used to “germinate” his Kingdom in ways we would never have expected. God is making delicious lemonade out of a very bitter global lemon!
