It’s planting season here in Northeast Louisiana. With the arrival of spring and the lengthening of days and rising soil temperatures, all the farmers in the area are working hard to get seed into the ground. The fields surrounding King’s Camp are being planted with precious seeds that contain all the hope and promise of a future harvest within them. As I read the story from our contributor this month, Vick Green, I am keenly reminded that what happens at King’s Camp and in ministry in general is much like a farmer’s work. We are planting seeds of God’s unfailing love and endless mercy found in Jesus Christ into the hearts of young people and all who grace our campgrounds. And just like the farmers, we have the opportunity to nurture and water that precious seed for a season with the hope and assurance that a future harvest will come. We are grateful that a seed was planted in Vick’s heart at King’s Camp, and you will see as you read his story that that seed grew and is continuing to grow and reap a bountiful harvest. God’s claim on his life is evident. We have a sense of what Paul was saying in his first letter to the Corinthians as he reminded them, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
"I can still remember driving to King’s Camp for my first summer." I remember the wooden fish signs at each corner, The Barn at the entrance, and even the 14 mile per hour speed limit sign. As an eight-year old, I arrived at the gym to a flurry of purple and orange shirts. I checked in, went to my dorm room, claimed my bed, and waited expectantly for whatever was next. As my parents drove away, the feeling of homesick quickly was replaced by the excitement of the week’s activities. But more than the horses, canoes, and archery, I remember the contagious joy of the staff. Before the week was over, it had already been the best week of my life, the counselors had become my new heroes, and wearing that purple shirt with the fish logo had become my life’s goal.
As the closing ceremony finished and we got in our car, I told my mom, “I can’t wait until next year!” That statement was repeated after camp every year for the next decade! From elementary through high school, my summers centered around The Tin Top and The Barn. Living so close, I was able to come to worship services and attend multiple weeks as a camper. King’s Camp was a better vacation than anything my family could have planned. And finally, in 2008, I served as a counselor and I still remember pulling my purple shirt out of the box and posing proudly for our counselor picture.
Currently, I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with my beautiful wife, Sophie, and our nine-month-old son, Barrett. We have been blessed to be a part of an amazing church called The Chapel. For the last decade, I have served in our state’s capitol city and on LSU’s campus with our church to help people meet, know, and follow Jesus. For six years, I helped lead our college ministry, The Refuge, where 400-500 LSU students worshipped weekly and we equipped hundreds of students to share their faith and disciple fellow classmates. I also led summer teams to East Asia, Turkey, and Prague where many of the students moved back to plant churches. And in the last three years, I have led our Next Steps Department which helps our 1,200 church members take their “next step” in their faith journey through volunteering and groups. Along with King’s Camp, God has used The Chapel to make me who I am today and set me on the path for the man I hope to be in the future.
As I do ministry, I can’t help but see King’s Camp in it. While writing this, I just received a text message from a Group Leader who had a member accept Christ and plans to get baptized this Easter! As he and I celebrate, my mind goes back to the summer of 2000, where I can hear Jonathan Wiggins leading worship as I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. When I get the joy of baptizing someone, I remember Ashton McIntyre baptizing me in a horse trough in The Barn. When I step up to preach, I remember the first time I ever spoke from stage as I shared a passage from Romans 8 alongside Don Boyett. And as I sing worship music, I remember the half-mile walks back to the dorm where we would continue to sing our favorite praise songs under the starry sky.
God has used King’s Camp as one of the most influential places in my life. From a ministry perspective, seminary taught me what to think, The Chapel taught me what to do, but King’s Camp taught me what to believe. From a personal perspective, it was on those campgrounds that God lit a fire in my heart and over the following summers stoked those embers of passion into a wildfire that still burns today. Even now, I still feel the excitement building in my chest when I drive to King’s Camp. With every wooden fish sign, memories flood back and anticipation builds. As this summer approaches, I can’t wait to take Barrett to see a day at King’s Camp. As I think about it now, I can envision the signs, I can feel the excitement in my chest, and I feel an impulse to go to my closet and grab my favorite purple shirt one more time.
Vick lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife, Sophie (a Spanish professor at LSU), his son, Barrett (9 months old), and their duck dog, Roux. Vick serves as the Next Steps Director at The Chapel where they help people meet, know, and follow Jesus. He enjoys helping leaders with leadership, discipleship, and evangelism. From February to October, you can find him reading non-fiction books, cooking on his Green Egg and playing sports. And from November to January, you can find him in a duck blind with a cup of coffee, some good friends, and his dog, Roux.
Whether it is connecting over old King's Camp memories or discussing leadership in the church, Vick loves connecting with people! Drop him an email at
vick.green@thechapelbr.com
He will get in touch with you soon!