By Alex Cole

Camp Siloam Program Manager

Summer of 2026 has come and gone. For folks who are unfamiliar with the cycles and seasons of work at Camp Siloam, this means the property is much quieter and many fewer people are around. However, it is no less exciting. Guest groups and Retreats mark the Fall calendar, and for the first time ever, we have a new batch of people spending the year with us at Camp Siloam. Launching this fall, is the Camp Siloam Leadership Residency.

Over the course of our time in camp ministry, we have seen a repeating pattern of need emerge for the young people who choose to spend their summers with us. They work long hours, for not enough money, in demanding conditions. And at the end of tiring and hopefully fulfilling summer, they go home. The question arose, how do we at Camp Siloam continue to pour into young people who have a heart for ministry, when the summer ends? The Camp Siloam Leadership Residency (CSLR) is our answer. Our hope for this program is to use the unique context of camp to train the next generation in ministry. As anyone who serves in ministry knows, you must wear many hats. The CSLR capitalizes on this by exposing the residents to meaningful work across the spectrum of responsibilities needed to manage and operate camp. We want to send residents out into the ministry world having a variety of work experiences and a little better understanding of all the facets of vocational ministry. Our vision statement at Camp Siloam is to make an Eternal, Global Impact for the kingdom of Christ, and the CSLR is the next step in living out that vision.

So, what all is in store for the six brave inaugural residents who have chosen to spend the year at Camp Siloam? The program essentially breaks down into three components. Hosting guest groups and retreats, being involved in the planning and implementation of programming at camp, and time and space for vocational discernment and personal development. Every weekend that Camp has guests on property, one of our residents will be the face of Camp Siloam. Answering questions, responding to needs and showing the love and character of Jesus to all who come through the arch. As well as assisting in the kitchen to make sure our guests are well fed and well taken care of. During the week, our residents are rotating through a variety of work areas supervised by our Home Team staff. Gaining experience and giving new voice to the behind-the-scenes aspects of camp that most people do not get to witness. We believe meaningful work is the foundation of an enriching residency year.  And lastly, every Friday morning the cohort will be meeting to work through different books as a group, support and encourage each other, and hear from guest speakers brought in to talk about specific subjects. All focused on developing our residents to make an eternal, global impact for the kingdom of Christ.

So, if you would join us in welcoming our six inaugural residents and commit to praying for their year as part of the residency to be fruitful, worthwhile and fun, we couldn’t be more excited to see how this first cohort shapes the future of Camp Siloam.

Names to pray for: Kenzie, Reece, Emma, Savannah, Trey and Rob.