Conference Connects Camp Workers in Brazil & Uruguay

Conference Connects Camp Workers in Brazil & Uruguay

In mid-September, TeachBeyond Gramado's Global Transformational Education Center (GTEC) partnered with TeachBeyond's Informal Education department to deliver a conference for camp workers in Brazil and Uruguay. This conference had 2 main goals.

First, it aimed to give those who serve within camp ministry a place to connect and share with others in similar ministry vocations. It also connected them to Roger Lüdcke, who oversees Informal Education in the Latin America region, introducing him as a supportive partner walking alongside them. Secondly, it allowed participants to experience the home that GTEC provides within TeachBeyond, as it aims to create safe and collaborative spaces.

The conference embodied a spirit of unity despite the different flavours and backgrounds of both camps and individuals at the table. Raphael Haeuser (Director of Global Education Services) shared on Education as Mission, reminding the participants that camp ministry has a deep and meaningful purpose within the vision of TeachBeyond. This is a season where that is particularly evident: in 2002 there was one camp in TeachBeyond (Janz Team at the time) Brazil, and today there are 5 camps in Brazil and Uruguay (which is largely staffed by Brazilians).

The participants of the conference were both TeachBeyond members and non-members serving at TeachBeyond camps, and by the end of the conference, those who were not yet members had chosen to take the step in membership, affirming both the collaborative nature of the event as bridges were built, and the "home" that GTEC succeeded in providing.

This first step taken by GTEC to initiate care and support to those serving in camp ministry was highly motivational to the participants serving in these demanding roles. They dispersed feeling energized and encouraged by their time together; ready to continue on in service in their contexts and see the ripple effect spread beyond.