Running the Race Together

Rev Zsolt Ötvös
2 hours ago
4 min read

Updated: 37 minutes ago

Every summer, one of the highlights of our church's ministry is now participating in the Hungarian Reformed Youth Camp at Laurelville Retreat Center in Pennsylvania. This year was especially meaningful as 20 members of our New Brunswick church family—children, youth, parents, counselors, and leaders—made the journey together.

What makes Laurelville so special is that it is much more than a summer camp. It is a Christian retreat where faith is lived out from morning until night. Every activity, every conversation, every meal, and every friendship becomes an opportunity to grow closer to God and to one another.

A Week Centered on Christ

The camp theme this year was "The Amazing Race – Running the Gospel to the World," inspired by Hebrews 12:1-2:

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus."

Each morning began with breakfast, personal devotions, worship, and Bible teaching. Campers were encouraged to ask questions and discover how God's Word speaks to their everyday lives.

Throughout the week they explored the lives of biblical men and women who faithfully "ran the race" before us—learning that following Christ is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile.

Our prayer is that the lessons learned at camp will continue long after the suitcases have been unpacked.

Learning Through Fellowship and Fun

Of course, camp is also filled with laughter and unforgettable memories.

Every day offered opportunities to build friendships through team challenges, games, workshops, crafts, sports, swimming, music, and evening campfire gatherings. Campers learned archery, sewing, creative arts, and participated in a variety of hands-on workshops where they discovered new talents while encouraging one another.

The schedule provided a wonderful balance of structured Bible study, recreation, quiet reflection, and free time. Meals shared together became opportunities for conversation and friendship, while evenings ended with worship, vespers, family circles, and prayer before lights out.

These moments often become the memories that stay with our young people for years.

Serving Others

One of the most meaningful experiences of the week was our visit to the Bethlen Home nursing home.

Our campers sang hymns and Christian songs for the residents, visited with them, and shared smiles, conversations, and encouragement. For many of our young people, this was a beautiful reminder that living out our faith also means bringing Christ's love to others—especially those who may be lonely or unable to attend church themselves.

Service is an important part of discipleship, and our youth experienced firsthand how even simple acts of kindness can become a blessing.

Building Relationships That Last

One of the greatest blessings of Laurelville is the opportunity to strengthen relationships.

Children from different churches quickly become friends. Teenagers encourage one another in their faith. Adults and counselors spend meaningful time mentoring younger generations. Parents and pastors have opportunities for conversations that rarely happen during the busyness of everyday life.

For us as a congregation, youth camp is much more than one week away from home.

It is an extension of our church's ministry. It strengthens relationships between our church, our families, and our young people. It provides opportunities for pastoral care, discipleship, outreach, and fellowship that continue long after camp has ended. Experiences like these help young people feel connected not only to one another, but also to the life and ministry of the church.

As participation continues to grow, we are grateful to see more children discovering that church is not simply a place they attend on Sunday—it is a family where they belong.

Growing in Faith: Zita Szabo’s Youth Camp Experience

"I have been going to the Hungarian Reformed Church Youth Camp for four years now, and it has become one of the many things I look forward to over the summer break. Every summer for a week I grow closer to God and learn more about my faith while making lifelong memories that I will never forget. The camp has a wide variety of activities such as games, bible study, and team activities. HRCYC has had a positive impact on myself as a person and on my faith. I look forward to coming back every single summer to not only strengthen my bond with God but also with my peers!"

Thank You

A camp like this only happens because of many faithful servants.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the camp directors, speakers, worship leaders, kitchen staff, volunteers, and especially the counselors who devoted countless hours caring for our children throughout the week. Your patience, encouragement, energy, and Christian example made a lasting impact!

We are also deeply grateful to the members of the Hungarian Reformed Church of New Brunswick for their generous support of our youth camp ministry. Through the church's financial sponsorship, many of our children and youth were able to attend camp. This is an

investment in their faith, their spiritual growth, and the future of our congregation. Thank you for making it possible for so many of our campers to experience this life-changing week!

Thank you also to the parents who entrusted us with their children and supported this ministry.

Most of all, we thank God for His protection throughout the week, for the friendships that were formed, for lives that were encouraged, and for the many seeds of faith that were planted.

Looking Ahead

We returned home with renewed hearts.

Our prayer is that the faith nurtured around the campfire, during worship, in Bible studies, and through acts of service will continue to grow in the lives of our young people. May they continue running the race that “God has set before them, fixing their eyes on Jesus”!

We are already looking forward to next summer—and we invite every family to consider joining us for this life-changing ministry.