Passport is committed to a student leadership model and believes in the power of students seeing and interacting with Christian role models who are close to their own age. For 25 years, we’ve seen how encounters with a relatable Christian role model can change lives, provide encouragement, and model an active faith life. Each fall we set out to find a diverse range of college and seminary students from across the country, whose commitment to Jesus Christ authentically leads them to invest in a summer of ministry with young people.
And who are these wonderful staffers and why do they think that you should join them in ministry this summer? We’ll let a few of them tell you themselves.
Meet Kevin Reynolds, a North Wilkesboro native now studying Biology at UNC Chapel Hill in order to pursue a career as a Pediatrician. This past summer, Kevin served as a Bible Study Leader on the PASSPORTkids team.
What is PASSPORT to you?
As a former camper, I grew up going to PASSPORT every summer. So, to me, PASSPORT is a tradition in which spiritual connections are formed between lifelong friends. To this day, I still talk with friends that I made five summers ago, and I could not be more thankful that PASSPORT is still a part of my life.
What was your favorite memory from the summer?
It happened at Rec Party: I lost my voice trying to encourage my green circles (the name of our Bible Study Group). Several of my campers close by noticed that I could not longer talk so they all joined together and cheered on the camper that was racing in the relay. As a result, I was not only proud but also humbled in the fact that God made us to love everyone just like my campers were showing love to one another.
Favorite silly song or energizer:
Brown Squirrel is by far my favorite energizer. I find the abrupt ending hilarious, and I can never stop laughing!
My time as a PASSPORT staffer taught me…
That sometimes, life is hectic, but God will always be by my side. When I am in school, I worry about upcoming assignments, quizzes, and tests, and I tend to forget how to appreciate the little things in life. As a PASSPORT staffer, I learned how to truly trust in God even when things do not go my way.
What makes PASSPORT different?
PASSPORT staffers genuinely care for the campers as well as for one another. Throughout this summer, I saw so many staffers go above and beyond expectations just to make one camper feel included or special, making PASSPORT camps different in a very unique way.
What didn’t you know before the summer that would have been helpful to know?
Honestly, I did not realize how much fun I was going to have working for PASSPORT. From hanging out with campers to joking around with the staff, PASSPORT is an incredible experience, and I wish that I would have known how much I was going to enjoy working and ministering to children.
What would you tell someone considering working for PASSPORT?
Do it! Without a doubt, working at PASSPORT has been one of the greatest summers of my life, and I would recommend it for anyone. Even though the summer is over, the friendships and experiences that I made will last forever.
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