Cross Devo

Thursday nights at Camp are often the most emotional nights of each session. It is the final night of Camp, and while there are many fun activities, but the night finishes with the most powerful activity of each session, Cross Devo. This is THE most important part of the day and is basically the last part of Camp for the campers to see.

Like most other parts of Camp, Cross Devo has been a very long standing tradition, and a very important part of Camp. But just like other parts of Camp, the way Cross Devo goes down has been changed over the years as Camp changes. There are some parts of Cross Devo that worked well 20 years ago that don't work today, so some things have been changed. But the message of Camp, and of Cross Devo has always remained the same.

For an entire week, or maybe two weeks, campers are taught about what love God has for us, and that His love was shown to us when he sent His son to this earth and He was sacrificed for us. The campers are also told about what this amazing sacrifice means for each of us. Cross Devo is a chance to give the campers a visual of what happened during the days leading up to His death, and then also the hope that He gives with His resurrection.

The skit starts by lining the campers up by cabin in the Rec Hall. They are instructed that the staff members are the actors of the skit, and that they are not professional actors, and that the props used are minimal. Even though it is not perfect, the intent is to give the campers an idea of what that time was like for Jesus Christ. The campers Jesus praying in the garden with his disciples, and they see Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss. They see Pilate asking the crowd if they would rather he release to them Jesus or Barabbas. The last thing they see is Jesus being mocked and beaten by the guards. The time in the Rec Hall is a very quiet time that allows the campers to understand how those days went for Jesus.

After this part, the campers are instructed to walk up the hill with the staff members to see the second part of the skit. Once everyone makes up the hill, Jesus is forced to carry the cross through the crowd while the guards are mocking him and whipping him. When Jesus gets to the crowd he falls down and Simon carries the cross the rest of the way.

Jesus then is hung on the cross while the 4 group leaders stand by with torches so that the crowd can see Jesus on the cross. It is such an amazing sight to actually see someone on a cross. The campers can also hear Jesus and is pain, they can hear him crying out to God. Then they hear Jesus say it is finished, and then hang his head in death. At this point the staff sings a few songs with an emphasis on the cross. It is a very moving moment, and tends to bring out tears from more than just a few campers.

While the singing is going on, Jesus is taken down from the cross, and a large bonfire behind the cross is lit. Then the campers see what makes Jesus death so special...that he rose from it. Jesus then appears to his disciples and shows Thomas the scars on his hands and his side. Then the staff sing more songs, this time focused on the joy and happiness that Jesus' resurrection offers to all of us.

After the singing the Program Director will get up and share a final message for the campers. He will usually tell the campers about how they can use the things they have learned during their session in the lives away from Camp. It is a time of encouragement, and a time of finality, because it signals that another session of Camp is over. Finally the staff gathers together to sing a song that shares the message that they all hope the campers are able to hear.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful,

May the fire of our devotion light their way,

May the footprints that we leave,

Lead them to believe,

And the lives we live inspire them to obey,

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

It is such an emotional night for the campers, but it is the best way to end what is hopefully a great session for each. To be able to send the campers home with the images of the things Jesus went through is a great way to leave a lasting impact. If you have ever seen Cross Devo, then you can probably visualize a little more easily the sacrifice that was made for us. Which after all, that is the message that is most important for the campers to receive during their stay at Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky