Here at Lakeview, it is an absolute honor to see our alumni grow in grace as they pursue their vocations. For some, that means serving in the workplace; others fulfill that vocation by raising a family. And a few even go on to pursue life in ministry as called pastors.
We recently sat down with Case “Plank” Farney and Luke “Concord” Onken to hear about their camp memories and how their time at camp intertwined with their pursuit of pastoral ministry.
Lakeview: What is your camp story/background? How did you get your nickname?
Case: I remember going to camp only a few times as a kid. I don’t think it was a particularly memorable experience, so I’m not sure what led me to apply for Junior Staff in 2015. Nevertheless, from then on, I was hooked. I made so many friends and memories that I treasure to this day.
The decision to apply for Staff was really easy. I started my camp journey in the kitchen in 2017 before moving to the maintenance barn for 2018-19 and working more directly with the staff as assistant program in 2021. Each of the summers, I made new friends and served in new and different ways. Those summers made me who I am today.
My nickname, Plank, goes back to staff training my first summer. During Skit Night practice (and I’m not sure why that was altogether necessary to practice), I grabbed the only available prop, the firewood behind the stage, and made it my imaginary friend for our family therapy skit. The rest of the details have been thankfully forgotten but my dear friend Drew Foster dubbed me “Plank,” a reference to an early 00’s cartoon.
Luke: My camp background starts back when I was in kindergarten. My dad was the president of the board, and we had recently made a move to Seymour. He took my on a Father Son Weekend as a kindergartner, and I was hooked to camp! I started going to week long programs in second grade, then became a JC once I was in high school, and finally worked summer staff as a counselor, cool, and a host of other positions throughout my time in college and seminary.
I received my nickname of “Concord” because I carried around with me a full sized Book of Concord with me, which is the official doctrinal document of the Lutheran Church! The word concord means harmony, which is something I strives for at camp with others!
Lakeview: When did you sense a desire to serve as a called pastor, and how did your time at Lakeview play a part in that decision?
Case: I felt the call to ministry very early. In my early teens, I took a real interest in studying theology and Scripture. However, I didn’t know if I was the right kind of person for ministry. I thought that academics or administration might be more my speed. It was really my time at Lakeview that convinced me that full-time ministry was right for me. Camp has a way of breaking down apprehension and giving God room to work. My time with the campers and with my fellow staff was the encouragement I needed to pursue ministry as I am today.
Luke: I made the decision to pursue the pastoral office during my junior year of college at the University of Notre Dame. I was pre-med throughout college, and this led me to conduct research during the summer of 2018 in lieu of going back to camp to work that summer. While I enjoyed the summer of research, there was certainly something lacking in my summer. With more thoughtful reflection, it was clear that camp ministry was missing from my summer! I loved camp greatly! Camp pushed me to share Christ with others, something that I really enjoy. So, I made the switch to pursue full time ministry as a pastor during my junior year so I could continue sharing Christ with others not just at camp in the summer but also in my whole life!
Lakeview: Where is your first call (name of church, city, state)? What are some ways you feel your time at camp has helped prepare you to serve as a pastor?
Case: My first call is to St. Paul, Evansville, Ind. I’m tremendously excited and blessed that the location of the church is near to my and Jozie’s family. But even more than that, St. Paul is an answer to our prayers because of the attached school. My time at camp has given me a passion for doing ministry with children. The excitement and energy of youth is a great joy, especially since those things can be so often lacking in ministry. Camp has also taught me that it really isn’t all that hard to be good with people, and children are no exception. All you really need in this job is to care a great deal.
Luke: I have been called to serve as campus pastor at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minnesota. As campus pastor, I will be able to teach classes, lead daily chapel, and be the spiritual guide for the students.
Camp has prepared me immensely for my call as campus pastor at Mayer. In a very clear way, camp provided ample opportunities to work with youth, from kindergarten through high school. I am quite comfortable being around and interacting with high schoolers, something that camp provided me experience with.
Also, camp has just prepared me to share my faith with others. This is perhaps the best thing that working at camp does for anyone! Camp provided the grounds to learn to share one’s faith in an organic way. Seminary provided good formal education, but nothing can beat the informal camp discussions about faith and Christ!
Finally, camp has taught me how to work well with others in a ministry setting. I will be working with a whole crew of faculty at Mayer, all centered on Christ, something that I did as well at camp. People skills can never be undervalued!
Lakeview: What would you say to anyone thinking about serving at camp, or in ministry in general?
Case: I can think of no job that is more of a blessing than serving in ministry. It has made me who I am and taught me everything I know that’s worth knowing. Ministry won’t fulfill any of your hopes and dreams, but it will change them and make your wants more and more God’s wants. This is true even (and maybe especially) at Camp.
The many close friends I’ve made and things I’ve learned have been the blessing of a lifetime. The summers I spent at camp are easily the best times of my life. Above all, the people I’ve met and the times I’ve spent have brought me closer to Jesus Christ and there is nothing else worth seeking. To anyone on the fence about serving at camp, my encouragement could hardly be stronger. Go do it. There’s not much to lose and so much to gain.
Luke: Go for it! Serving at camp and in ministry is rewarding in ways you could never expect. There is perhaps no better way to grow in faith than serving at camp. While God utilizes a host of vocations to have us serve Him, camp is a unique opportunity to serve Him in perhaps a more intimate way. All ministry, including camp, will have its challenges, but the growth in faith along with the friends I have made along the way are all the reward I need!
