Jenna Hagler | SWO Summer Staff
As Christians, our biggest responsibility and greatest privilege is sharing the Gospel. Last year was my first year working at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters. I learned physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally what it meant to labor for the Gospel. SWO is a Gospel-centered camp with a Gospel-centered mission focused on discipleship and advancing the Kingdom!
As a camp counselor, I got to work with students, serve students, invest in the lives of students, but most importantly share the Word of God with them. What a privilege I don’t deserve. There’s a special bond between my campers and I that I can’t quite explain. When you laugh, cry, and play goofy games with your campers, stay up late and eat junk food you develop close friendships. Even today when my girls text me with struggles or troubles they’re having, I just wish I was there to protect them and help them. I cried over my campers and cried with my campers. Sometimes my campers made me so angry I just wanted to scream! I prayed for my campers, and prayed for my campers, and prayed for my campers. Not only is that my responsibility and privilege, but after being physically worn out and spiritually exhausted it was the only thing I could resort to. It was the first thing I relied on because I couldn’t change these girls, I couldn’t comfort them, and I couldn’t make them live their lives for Jesus. I shared the gospel with them and left the results in the hands of their Creator.
Another important part of summer staff: Yes, you are surrounded by sermons, worship music, and breakout sessions, but it is crucial to have your own personal study time and to focus on your personal holiness. I had some really intimate study time while at Snowbird. Yes, I was tired from the lack of sleep but getting up early and filling myself with the Truth of Scripture was absolutely worth it. I learned so much about myself that summer and was so thankful that in the end I wasn’t there to please man or to depend on results but to whole-heartedly serve the Lord, period. I’m being completely honest when I say it’s not all fun and games. I definitely enjoyed my time and made life-long friendships, but at the same time I was pushed out of my comfort zone, challenged, and sharpened for the Kingdom. But it’s all worth it in the end. For His name’s sake.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1Corinthians 15:58
Jenna Hagler – (SWO12 Summer Staff)
Summer Camp Staff
We hire over 100 team members for every summer of ministry at Snowbird.