How to Lead a Great Devo

1.    Be Prepared – Familiarize yourself with the “common thread,” questions and flow of the devo. Get with your Co(s) ahead of time and discuss/decide what you want to do each night. Most of the materials that these devos call for are provided for you to check out from the Leadership Cabin, but please do this before dinner if possible.

2.    Be Personable - Use this book as a tool to help you, but don’t read from it word for word (except for the ones that include something for your read aloud).

3.    Know your kampers – Early in the term have each girl fill out an index card with her name, on a scale of 1-10 how secure are they of their salvation, some topics they would like to cover in devos, biggest struggle, etc. (that’s your choice).

4.    Kamper Lead – Let your kampers talk. You are responsible for facilitating to devo and keeping the girls on track, but make sure they are the ones doing most of the talking.

5.    Ask open-ended questions – Don’t ask questions that warrant a “yes or no” answer. Pose questions that provide them with opportunity to discuss and be vulnerable. Think of a scenario relatable to your age group.

6.    Kamper Involvement – Know which scriptures you are going to use during the devo and write the references down on index cards. Hand out the cards to a few girls before devos and have them look up and read them.

7.    Tailor to your cabin – Make sure that your devo is age appropriate for your kampers and that it is relevant.

8.    Be vulnerable – Be open with your kampers from the beginning. It is often helpful if the counselors share their testimonies early in the term. When going around the circle answering a question, counselors should almost always answer too.

9.    Follow up and make it stick – Follow up with kampers; don’t let the purpose of the devo go away when they leave the circle. Have a spot in the cabin where you hang the scripture reference cards the next day to that the girls can get them if they want them.

10.   Pray – Pray with your Co for openness and vulnerability; pray for hearts to be changed, pray that you may each be equipped to love your kampers exactly the way that HE needs them to be.. Take prayer requests and allow girls to open and close in prayer. Be intentional and follow up these prayer requests also.