For generations, summer camp has been part of growing up in the Lutheran church, offering children opportunities to make friends, explore the outdoors and grow in their faith.
But as congregations experience declining and aging membership, fewer children are attending Lutheran camps. At St. John Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, two longtime supporters of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Indiana-Kentucky (LOMIK) began exploring how their congregation could continue supporting outdoor ministry.
Bob and Paul, members of St. John and the former Risen Savior Lutheran Church, had seen firsthand how changing church demographics affected camp participation. They began considering whether children involved with other organizations supported by the congregation might benefit from a week at camp.
Their search led them to Wellspring, a Fort Wayne nonprofit that serves children, families and older adults.
St. John has a longstanding relationship with Wellspring, and when Bob and Paul approached the organization about sending children to Lutherwald for a week of Neighborhood Camp, staff expressed interest. However, Wellspring did not have the funding to cover the experience.
St. John began working to secure the necessary financial support through the Risen Savior Legacy Fund, individual donations and a Community Foundation grant.
Initially, Bob and Paul hoped to send four or five children to camp. Instead, the partnership provided camp experiences for 28 children in 2025 and another 36 in 2026.
For the campers, the week at Lutherwald included time away from the city, outdoor activities, opportunities to build friendships and exposure to Christian teachings. The partnership also provided LOMIK with another full week of campers and additional staff to support counselors and participants.
The effort has become one example of how St. John is adapting its ministry to changing congregational demographics.
By working with an organization it already supported and combining congregational funds with grants and individual contributions, St. John was able to continue its support of Lutheran outdoor ministry while reaching children beyond its membership.
Bob and Paul hope their congregation's experience will encourage other churches to consider similar opportunities within their communities.
While St. John's partnership has grown to serve dozens of children each summer, they emphasize that congregations do not need significant resources or large numbers of participants to begin.
Their original goal was to send just a handful of children to camp. Two summers later, 64 children have had that opportunity through the partnership.
