For as far back as Julie Lautt can remember in her childhood, her parents left the kids with grandma for a week in January every other year while they went to some sort of event– Conference? Reunion? Though she grew up in the old farmhouse at Camp Wanake (OH), it wasn’t until she had graduated from college and was working as a Christian Education Director that she got to experience that special January adventure for herself. 

In January of 1991, she rode along in the camp van from Indianola, Iowa to Lakeview Conference Center in Texas for a UMCRM National Gathering themed “Called to Vision, Empowered to Lead.” That theme stuck with her as it took on personal meaning for Julie’s own life and ministry. Julie remembers attending workshops on curriculum and folk dance, meeting past staff members from the camp her parents led and friends of her parents who were in camp leadership all across the country. It was worship led by Reverend Walter Kimbrough, a pastor from a large church in Atlanta, that has remained etched in her memory over the decades. He preached on the calling of Samuel, a young person who received a call from God that was different from what they had prepared for. Rev Kimbrough had a casual preaching style in which he would move into the congregation and sometimes address the front-row listeners by name (as all were wearing conference name tags). That night during the sermon, he spoke to the young woman sitting by the aisle, saying “to whom much is given, Julie, much is expected.” Astounded, Julie felt God had spoken directly into her life! Afterward, she went to the pay phone and called her husband, needing to tell him the message she had heard so clearly. “I think I’m supposed to be in camping ministry!” Her ordinarily cautious spouse affirmed, “Great, when do we start?!” 

While at the Gathering, Julie learned of an opening at Aldersgate in Upper New York, which led to her first full-time role in camping. As she grew in leadership, the UMCRM community was there to help her find out what she needed to know. Each event brought fresh ideas to try, new connections to make, and a perspective much wider than what one can gain in an isolated, rural camp setting. Six years later, Julie would be invited to join the National Camp & Retreat Committee to help with youth and gender balance. Through serving alongside seasoned leaders like John Farmer, Lee Padgett, Anne Horton, Jeffrey Thomas, and Bruce Nelson, she absorbed lessons about the character of a camp/retreat leader and gleaned practical wisdom from their experience. She also found her voice as she learned about Robert’s Rules of Order, how to make a motion, and how to plan an event. As a young layperson, she learned not to be afraid, and that her perspective mattered. Like Samuel, Julie found that God’s call in her life was a bit different from the one she was prepared for, but she would have UMCRM mentors and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help her each step along the way. Being part of UMCRM has helped Julie to be a person “Called to Vision, Empowered to Lead.” Now, even after decades as Director of her home camp, Wanake, she continues to be strengthened and supported in that call.