Building Faith at IHS Summer Camp
I first stumbled upon the IHS Camp in February 2023, thanks to the viral clip of Pastor Ayo Okeowo speaking on the theme: The Traveller. He reminded me of my father in many ways—white-haired, soft-spoken, a lighthouse. It made sense then that my first impression of IHS Camp was that it was a gathering of “children” at the feet of a good, good father, to become like the Father.
Funmi with a big smile during camp
Months passed, and in June 2024, on one of the many nights when I was restless and sleep eluded me, I came across a post announcing the IHS UK Summer Camp. Prior to that time, I had felt a sense of urgency about my current phase of life, and my top prayer point was for clarity in this season. So I decided to register to attend the camp which was scheduled to hold in Manchester.
I recall wondering what to expect before departing London, on the train to Manchester, and while walking down to the camp venue, contemplating whether the lady a few meters ahead of me, with her travel suitcase trudging behind, was also headed to the IHS camp. To my pleasant surprise, she was! And we had a good laugh about it after our first hellos at camp (shoutout Ilo).
The meeting was a reminder that God’s presence is not only in the shouting, the fire, or the thundering but also in the calm and the quiet. We had sessions in pairs and groups, prioritising shared vulnerabilities, sharing stories of life, grief, faith, and experiences navigating life in the UK. You could tell there was a lot of intentionality behind the lineup of events— from worship to the inter-squad games, “Paired Up”, Movie Night, and much more. Also, our bellies were just as well-fed as our spirits, haha!
A video showing campers having fun (can you spot Funmi in the kitchen?)
The session with guest minister Pastor Yomi Adeoye emphasised the centrality of Christian communities in strengthening our faith walk, and his illustration of how an isolated and/or wounded animal falls easy prey to a predator drove home the message. Additionally, there was something heartwarming about the recurrence of conversations on navigating grief as a Christian throughout the sessions, peaking during the viewing of the movie Ordinary Angels (I highly recommend that you go watch it if you haven’t already).
A group picture with guest minister - Pastor Yomi Adeoye
I am back home at my desk, wondering if I got what I sought to receive from camp. While I did not leave camp with a 10-step agenda for my life, I left with a conviction in defence of my faith. A knowing that the transformation God births in me in the face of trials is a blessing in itself, beyond whatever the human mind has conditioned itself to believe a blessing should look like. A deep-seated knowing that God is my reward — like Abraham, like Daniel, like the Shunammite woman, wait for it… like Job.
Funmi in a picture along with some other ladies at camp