Zach Klein is the current Youth Pastor at Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN. Zach grew up attending and working at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. He became connected with Camp Lebanon three years ago when he started working in Upsala. Since then, he has consistently been apart of Camp as a speaker and volunteer. Zach attended the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and graduated with a degree in Youth Ministries. He enjoys music, sports–especially the Minnesota Vikings–and spending time with his Church, friends, and family.
Zach is our first Junior High speaker of the Summer. We got the opportunity to ask him some questions. We learned about how his take on the Summer theme and how he’ll communicate the message to campers this week. We also heard about some fun camp memories!
What is the message you are presenting this week?
“As humans, we are are very much like sheep. We have some of the same flaws in that we think we can do things on our own, but really we can’t protect ourselves from the enemy. We need God. He creates a way for us through His son Jesus Christ to have a shepherd who takes care of us. Sheep need a shepherd who keeps them together, keeps them in their pen, and finds them when they go missing; Jesus does the same thing for us. When we stray away from Truth, Jesus comes and finds us. When we turn towards Him, He is right there waiting to accept us into His family. Sheep also require community, they are designed in a way that they cannot survive without it. As people, we are the same way.”
What place does Camp hold in your life?
“Camp overall plays a huge role in my life. When I was four years old, my parents decided to work at Lake Beauty Bible Camp for a summer. They actually did that for four summers, so when I was little we got to live up at Camp for a whole summer. I just got to run around and it was awesome. When I was about 6 or 7, I accepted Christ for the first time while I was at Camp. As soon as I could, I started working at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. I worked there for four years and interned for one year. It just means a lot to me and God spoke to me through Camp. He showed me what He wanted, He wants me in ministry. I love being able to come to different camps and use the passion that God gave me for Camp in a different capacity as a speaker, volunteer, or whatever I need to do.”
What is your favorite Bible verse or passage?
“My favorite Bible verse comes out of Romans. It’s Romans 10:9-15. It goes on about the idea that whoever hears the name of Jesus may be saved. But how will they know of Him if nobody has told them? How will they be told if nobody is sent? I look at that, personally, as a challenge that I am sent to go out and tell people so that they can hear the name of Jesus; so that they can accept the name of Jesus and then be apart of His family.”
What is God presently calling you to pursue?
“I feel the purpose that God has for me right now, is to just listen to Him, and follow Him, and do what He says. Currently, God has told that he wants me to be living in Upsala, working with Community Covenant Church and the students there as well as the communities around, with Camp Lebanon and Lake Beauty Bible Camp and everything else around the area. I believe God has called me to this place right now because it’s a little bit of everything I love. It’s youth ministry, it’s camp ministry, it’s a really cool community where I get to help out all over the place with sporting events, plays, and lots of different ways to be involved in all things I like. Truly, I think, my calling is to do what God needs me to do, when He needs me to do it.”
What is your favorite memory at Camp Lebanon?
“Last night, the first night at Camp for Junior High 1, I was playing songs for Chapel and got to watch everybody go nuts. I love music so much and God has given me that gift to use it whether it’s drumming, playing guitar, singing, or whatever. To watch other people get into it, to worship, sing, jump around and go crazy–there’s nothing like it. It gives me so much energy and so much joy. Last night, was one of the better ones–probably the best one–I have ever seen. When we did our first song, (Every Move I Make/Lord, I lift Your Name) they were going nuts!”
Thank you Zach for being our 2024 Junior High 1 speaker and letting us get to know more about you! Check out the link below for more photos from the week.
PHOTO GALLERY
Enjoy photos from Super Kids 1 at the link below! Perfect to download, share, and print!
