To my friends and ministry colleagues,

I am writing to let you know that after 13 wonderful years as the PASSPORTkids! Coordinator, I am resigning to pursue new ministry opportunities. Please know that camp this summer is in the very capable hands of our amazing national office team and will be coordinated by president David Burroughs. The program promises to be fabulous, and I am very excited about the ways campers will explore the world of Bali. If you are already registered for camp this year, you are in for a treat. If not, there is still time! This is a summer you won’t want to miss.

Serving with Passport has been an amazing adventure. Like many of you, I longed for a camp with excellent programming, theological integrity, and the ability to inspire the children of my church to grow spiritually and act upon their faith. In 2002, along with Passport’s Tenth Anniversary celebration, came the announcement of a partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to establish a children’s camp. I was elated! Longtime friends David and Colleen Burroughs allowed me to meet with other ministry and missions leaders to develop the foundation for PASSPORTkids! and then invited me to join the national office staff as the founding children’s camp coordinator. It has been a joy to provide this important partner ministry for the hundreds of churches who have entrusted their children to Passport.

I am thankful for so much that has happened along the way. Our first summer of PASSPORTkids! in 2004 saw 815 registrants in five states. Word spread quickly, and within three years, the number of participants had more than doubled. We now host over 2,000 campers annually with a thirteen-year total of nearly 21,000. When we ask children what they love about PASSPORTkids! they name the fun activities, of course, but they also talk about Bible study that engages all their senses and helps them think about scripture stories (both familiar and lesser known) in new and meaningful ways. They talk about worship that feels like it belongs to them, where they help lead and incorporate the things they have been learning and doing all day. I love the “Aha” moments I see each summer when campers put together all the carefully integrated parts of our program and come to powerful new understandings.

From the outset, Passport’s commitment to missions was an integral part of children’s camp. I have grown tremendously in my own appreciation of the work that mission field personnel do as well as how much we can learn from other cultures. It has been deeply fulfilling to see and hear children respond to the camp missions activities and our unique Night Market with empathy, eagerness, and commitment to bring Jesus’ Good News to life through their hopes, prayers, and actions large and small. We have introduced campers to 11 people groups, hosted more than 60 representatives of worldwide missions work, and are now offering our cutting edge curriculum as a resource for churches. The children have given over $140,000 to support the work of field personnel and Christian organizations around the world. Anyone who needs a booster shot of passion for missions should visit PASSPORTkids! camp and soak up the children’s enthusiasm.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity David and Colleen have given me to build PASSPORTkids! programming, and for the talented and dedicated people with whom I’ve been privileged to work. The future is bright, and I am excited to see how camp will continue to blossom for the next 13 years and beyond. Please know how much I value each of you who have had a part in the PASSPORTkids! journey. I hope we can stay in touch—you can reach me at mail@markmcclintock.com.

Joyfully in Christ,
Mark McClintock