Preparing the Way Together

It often begins quietly. A knot tied a little tighter. A story shared across a table. Laughter breaks through hesitation. Over this Advent season, these moments have helped us prepare the way together, one link, one thread, one spark, one circle at a time. At Camp Onomia, this journey has unfolded through stories of hope, peace, joy, and love, each grounded in simple, sacred moments that open hearts and change lives.

In Week 1: Chains of Hope, we were reminded that hope grows when young people are given permission to try, to fail, and to try again. Surrounded by peers and supported by caring adults, youth discover that hope is not distant or abstract. It is something they can build together. Each experience at camp becomes another link, strengthening what God is already doing in their hearts.

In Week 2: Threads of Peace, we saw how peace emerges in the quiet, ordinary spaces of camp life. Around Craft Barn tables, amid thread and conversation, campers find room to breathe. They find a place where they can be fully themselves, where listening matters, and where friendships form naturally. These threads of peace are woven into their stories, offering calm in the midst of a noisy and demanding world.

In Week 3: Sparks of Joy, we reflected on joy as something deeper than happiness, a rooted assurance of who we are and whose we are. At Camp Onomia, joy often begins in small moments: laughter on a forest trail, meaningful conversations over coffee, or worship shared in community. One retreat guest shared that these moments helped them recognize God’s presence even through difficult seasons, leaving camp with renewed practices to notice joy not only within themselves, but in others as well.

In Week 4: Circle of Love, we explored how love grows wider through belonging and trust. Some young people arrive at camp guarded, carrying heavy personal burdens. At Onomia, they are invited to be vulnerable, to be themselves, and to be met with care. Through healthy peer relationships and consistent, positive role models, campers discover they are not alone. Each new relationship added at camp builds upon what God has already begun, expanding a circle of love that continues long after their time here ends.

Together, these weeks tell one story: God is at work at Camp Onomia, through relationships, resilience, and grace-filled connection. This is what it means to prepare the way together. Through your support, Camp Onomia remains a place where young people and adults encounter hope that endures, peace that settles the soul, joy that strengthens faith, and love that carries them forward into the world.

Thank you for being part of this ministry. Your generosity ensures these sacred moments continue, preparing hearts, nurturing faith, and making room for God’s work in the lives of all who come through our gates.

To continue supporting this work, learn more or make a gift atwww.CampOnomia.org