What is That Thing?

This high school Camp is designed to reach people for Jesus Christ but, we get there in a much different way than most camps. Our goal is to reach the churched. That's right, the "churched", no "un" attached to it. Our ministry focus is on the people who are already in the church. Focusing on helping them discover a passion and purpose for their faith beyond listening and into living in a way that impacts their families, friends, communities and the world.

That Thing will challenge your students, create a tangible processing of the way of Christ and empower them to go into the world for the lost. This is a sending camp.

At the Core of it All

This curriculum/program is designed to cycle around a four year teaching rotation. No matter where a student enters into the cycle during their freshman year, these are the 4 critical things we want them to focus on before they leave. While each of these values is a part of every years teaching, the theme is built around each component once every four years.

Discovering how uniquely special each of us is to be loved by God

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

Sharing God's hope and love to restore a spirit of faith in this world

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20

Responding to physical and spiritual need locally and globally

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12

Discerning Truth and nurturing disciplines to encourage and challenge us beginning to end

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus." 1 John 4:16-17

Local Church Focused

One way to attend That Thing is for students to have a shared experience coming from a local faith community (your church). Building upon current relationships and returning home within that existing faith community is a great benefit. Strengthening the body of a student ministry, this experience will help them all grow, learn, be challenged and transformed together. When the week begins, they already have a good sense of where their friends are spiritually. There is a comfort level in sharing. Your church's ciritcal agenda and direction can be incorproated into the experience. And, when they go home, they've shared a life-changing experience together; accountability is built in and the charge and enthusiasm is shared, brighter, stronger and more resilient.

You know your students better than anyone else. As their pastor you understand exactly what is essential for that next big step in a student's spiritual life and you can direct that here. As such, we've built That Thing to be a customizable conference. We provide the major programming: overall spiritual context, worship bands, creative tangible encounters, fun activities, curriculum options, and such so that the leaders can tailor it all to develop the most relevant moments, events, discussions and activities for their group.

We call this a conference event instead of a camp because of the added freedom to group leaders. If a group plans to leave site for a service project or wants an opportunity to go out to eat...there's no need to ask permission. The leaders in charge of each group are truly in charge.

For a group experience: Group Tickets allow you full ownership of the experience in a lodge, you can even sell your extra spots to other churches.

Individual Focus

For students who come from churches where leaders aren't able to attend or there aren't enough students to get group lodging, we've created intentional spaces and opportunities for students to come and experience That Thing. These experiences are for students (roommate request's available) who enjoy meeting lots of new people. Everyone in the cabin will probably only know 1-3 other people. There are no concerns, everything is taken care of from the fun to worship.

That Thing's Campus House Counselors plan development time for students to connect, get to know one another and open up throughout the week. The experience is about connecting them with each other so that as a created community they can support, encourage and challenge one another in Christ.

Students in the Campus Houses get to experience everything That Thing has to offer. They still get the individual freedoms in what activites they plunge into and where they spend their time as they can pick and choose activities and experiences perfect for their likes and styles.

The Campus House is the best option for students coming to camp individually; church leaders are invited and encouraged to come be counselors, contact us for counseling info.

Event Location

That Thing is a program of Epworth Forest Conference Center. It is located in North Webster, Indiana along the shore of Lake Webster. EFCC is one of 7 camp sites at Impact 2818 Outdoor Ministries.

The launch of That Thing in 2009 coincided with a $22 million dollar capital campaign to restructure the campus of EFCC to better serve campers and reach the next generation for Jesus Christ. New housing, an auditorium, and activities are all part of the fundraising focus. The first new lodge is currently under construction. Learn more at www.rightfuture.org.

How Far Is It?:

Indianapolis, IN– 160 miles, 2 hours, 45 minutes
South Bend, IN– 55 miles, 1 hour, 15 minutes
Ft. Wayne, IN– 45 miles, 55 minutes
Lafayette, IN– 115 miles, 2 hours, 35 minutes
Muncie, IN– 120 miles, 2 hours, 10 minutes
Chicago, IL– 135 miles, 2 hours, 40 minutes
Cincinnati, OH– 225 miles, 4 hours
Lansing, MI– 145 miles, 2 hours, 30 minutes