Every summer in national parks, monuments, and recreation areas from Maine to California, young people recruited from various Christian colleges provide a ministry for park visitors and workers.
Under the sponsorship of the 50-year-old non-profit organization, "A Christian Ministry in the National Parks," several hundred students travel to 65 locations for a 90-day term, usually from June 1 to Labor Day. There they do double duty as concession workers (desk clerks, housekeepers, bellhops, store clerks, trail crews, tour guides, wait staff, etc.), spreading the gospel in their spare time.
Some of these young people are training to be ministers. This program serves as a " ... field education opportunity for ministers in training ... a testing ground for the skills they need to prepare worship services and sermons, plus counseling, teaching and music ..." There are a few who are not planning on a "preaching career." They are looking for opportunities to strengthen and share their Christian faith.
Participants come from more than 40 religious denominations. This year’s group includes Baptists, Assembly of God, Lutherans, and Catholics.
They have a very crowded schedule, balancing a 40-hour work week (for which they are paid $900-$1,800) with personal time to enjoy the beauty of nature (hiking, camping, rock climbing, etc.), interacting with the other park workers, as well as performing missionary duties.
To fulfill their contract, students are required to present three services each Sunday at different campgrounds on the premises. A visit to the campgrounds is necessary the night before, in order to issue invitations.
There are limitations on the students as they make contact with the public on the eve of their programs. They are to introduce themselves to people that are out in the open and readily available (knocking on camper trailer doors is not allowed), hand out a schedule of the next day’s service, and ask them to attend. No more conversation is allowed unless a visitor takes the initiative.
If a tourist indicates he or she wants to have a discussion, the student is prohibited from doing any evangelizing or recruiting. Guidelines were established to avoid complaints that could jeopardize the program. The young people are guests on federal land, operating on a permit from the Park Service. It is renewed weekly.
Sunday services attract a varying number of worshipers: from 5 or 6 to as many as 100. There are families (many with children and dogs), older couples, and even other park employees.
Some comments from tourists who attended services:
"I like the example they (the students) set for my kids ..."
"They do a wonderful job."
"This is such a wonderful place to worship ..."
"It (the young people’s Sunday service) ties it all together when you are out here in God’s country ..."