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April 2026

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The Stories We Tell: Relentless Pursuit

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

When we think of camp, we often think of short-term summer adventures that fade during the year. At Star Rock Ministries, we provide camp experiences for organizations that walk alongside students all year long. Who knew camp could take place during the winter? Shorts are swapped for jackets, but the magic of camp continues to shape the lives of students no matter the season.

This month, The Stories We Tell come from a group of students who, through the support of Star Rock Ministries, attended a weekend winter camp in the San Bernardino mountains. Youth Pastor Kimy Brennan and her team from Light and Life Christian Fellowship in Long Beach, in collaboration with 5 other youth-serving organizations, brought over 160 students and leaders to camp. Volunteer leaders in these organizations invest in students for the long haul. One of the tenets of their programs is to show up for students in a consistent, relational way, meeting them where they are and helping them grow in a faith that is lived out each and every day. Many of these students are navigating real challenges, including trauma, anxiety, fear, and questions about where faith fits into their everyday lives.

And that question came with them to camp:
How does faith actually connect to my real life?

The theme of the weekend was Relentless, a reminder that God relentlessly pursues us. For many students, this idea came to life through Pastor Sean Fenner’s message about how faith isn’t built on intensity; it’s built on consistency.

Wait, a God who relentlessly pursues His children regardless of their situation or the choices they’ve made? Now we’re talking!

Over the next few days, students began to open up about anxiety and fear. They were honest and real with one another. They asked deeper questions. And for many, their faith shifted from something they attended to something worth living out day to day.

One student’s story captures this beautifully.

Royal, a high school senior, had always sensed he might be called to lead, but anxiety often held him back. Back at home, Kimy and some of the other leaders had caught glimpses of this calling, but it showed up in small, hesitant moments.

At camp, something changed.

After being reminded that leadership isn’t about becoming someone else, but about consistently showing up and using what God has already placed inside you, Royal stepped forward.

He began encouraging others during worship. He spoke with boldness. He even stood in front of his peers and called them to pursue God fully, to not stay passive but to respond. Later in the weekend, Royal stepped into leading worship for the first time.

Because of your support through Star Rock Ministries, Royal began to fully understand who he is, relentlessly pursued and loved by God. With this belief, he was able to step into who he is becoming.

And his story didn’t happen in isolation.

Throughout the weekend, leaders saw students take ownership of their faith in ways that touched every part of their lives, including their thoughts, their relationships, their struggles, and their sense of purpose.

As Kimy shared, this wasn’t just a moment; it was a catalyst. Through SRM, that catalyst continues. We like to say that what happens at camp doesn’t stay at camp. The message of being relentlessly pursued and loved by God travels home on the bus. It shows up in conversations, in choices, in leadership, and in resilience. It multiplies into families, friend groups, and communities.

As we continue this year of The Stories We Tell, we want to say thank you for making these stories possible. 

Stories of courage.Stories of growth.Stories of being transformed by the relentless pursuit of a God who loves us, not just for a weekend, but for the long haul.