by Scott Randolph

In order to keep my staff sharp and informed, I created a daily communiqué. At first I balked at taking a valuable hour of my camp day to prepare it, but the benefits are worth every minute!

Most of each staff member’s daily duties are covered in training or by the schedule. However, there are always unassigned duties that can wreak havoc when not done. These may result from my lack of planning or from changes demanded by weather, sickness, or trying some great idea. Unassigned duties can affect the camp games (who will fill the water balloons and by what time), the services (songbooks on chairs, video projector and sound set up), or camper groups (Counselor Mary is sick today so Julie takes her campers and Miss Emily plays the piano for the services). The who, when, and what of each action needs to be determined and communicated. That is my job!

You and your staff are tools of the Master. Each must stay spiritually sharp to be most effective. Our young camp staffers typically need a little help growing in their personal relationship with the Lord when under the daily pressure of camp. I put together short (two to three paragraphs) challenges from Scripture on themes of sacrifice, service, Christian example, thanksgiving, prayer, heavenly rewards, and the battle for truth. These are fresh byproducts of my own devotional life and reading. I write them and save them to a file for the next summer’s use.

During our eight weeks of all-out assault for the souls of children, each evening I produce a half-page paper for our staff. The front side loosely follows the chronology of the next day’s schedule assigning the unassigned duties or reminding staffers of particularly important details. Creating this paper focuses me on the next day’s demands, informs everybody at one time without a meeting, and creates an inter-staff accountability (everyone knows whose job it is). I often list one or two attaboys and notes of thanks or praise. A little praise goes a long way in encouraging these sacrificing servants!

On occasion, questions are asked that lead to interesting discussion in a staff meeting. I want God’s tools to stay sharp and focused as they are doing their work in camp. On rare occasions, the devotional is set aside for humor (on a particularly hot or tiring day) or reflection on the work we have done or that God has used us to accomplish. The dishwasher may hold his chin a little higher when the number of dishes washed is listed (the number can be staggering). I know I look at him with more appreciation and care! Camp-wide prayer requests are listed with room left for staffers to write in requests during our staff meeting.

The value to you of this type of daily communication:

1. You focus on tomorrow’s work and make necessary plans.
2. You communicate to each one what unassigned duties you expect him to do.
3. The staff meets the new day prepared for their work.
4. Those who may have time free know who needs help.
5. People can read it on their own time rather than having another meeting.
6. Workers are released to get their job done without waiting for your meeting.
7. God can work through His Word and your devotional thoughts to encourage and focus each staffer on His work today.
8. At season’s end, you can put the “best of” devotionals in a little booklet as a farewell gift that can remind staffers of their camp service and God’s work.
9. Staff spouses can know schedule changes and who/what the camp-wide prayer requests are.
10. You do not have to remember if you told someone to do something— it is in print!