More than 1500 students in Willow Creek’s junior high and high school ministries stepped out to summer camp where they received in-depth biblical teaching, worship, and a whole lot of fun.

High School Students Head to Sandblast

Student Impact, the church’s high school ministry, took 1,078 students and leaders to Indiana Wesleyan University for Sandblast summer camp. Josh Riebock, author of My Generation: A Real Journey of Change and Hope, was the guest speaker throughout the weekend. 

A new aspect of camp that ministry leaders most anticipate is the impact camp will make on  the lives of 73 students who have never been to church before. These students were individually invited by their friends. “There is something breathtaking about watching students use their influence to bring those who are far from God to camp,” said Student Impact Teaching Pastor and Regional Area Leader Bryan Jones. “There already seems to be a holy anticipation that God is going to move at camp.”

Junior High Students Collide

Elevate, Willow Creek's junior high ministry, maxed out their capacity at Judson College in Elgin with more than 500 students and leaders registered for Collide, their summer retreat. Scott Rubin, director of Elevate, and Wes Wilson, programming director for Elevate, taught.

Besides the goal of making Collide the best weekend of the students' summer, leaders helped students grow closer to God and build deeper relationships within their small groups. “When a middle schooler sets aside a weekend to spend time with God, cool things happen,” said Scott Rubin.