Somewhere between leading a board meeting and carrying the quiet weight of decisions that impact a ministry’s future, many camp leaders find themselves asking the same questions: "Am I doing this right? And am I doing it alone?" These questions are rarely spoken out loud, but sit just beneath the surface within leaders who care deeply about the people and places entrusted to them. What happens next for those leaders often depends on whether someone shows up with guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that they don’t have to figure it out on their own.
Louisa Smith has spent most of her life at Spring Heights Camp in West Virginia; first as a camper, then on summer staff, and now as Director, carrying forward a place that helped shape who she is. Stepping into leadership meant increased demands and responsibilities, requiring new kinds of expertise. Sitting with her board, she knew the weight of guiding the camp’s future, but not yet how to lead those conversations.Through the UMCRM community, Louisa was connected to the ecumenical Compass Points Certificate Program. She recently reflected on how the courses in Development and Mission Planning gave her language she didn’t have before, as well as the courage to use it. She began leading her board through meaningful work, grounded in clarity instead of uncertainty. Along the way, other camp leaders she met at the UMCRM National Gathering and in her Intentional Leadership Group became lifelines of support. As Louisa puts it, “In UMCRM I’ve found professional development, but more importantly, I found a network of people who care enough to just call and check in on me.” Today, she leads with confidence and with the quiet assurance that she’s not doing it alone.
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