About Ingham Okoboji
BEYOND Ministries
BEYOND Ministries is a part of the overall ministry of Ingham-Okoboji Lutheran Bible camps.
It is birthed out of the recognition of two realities. First, the camp experience is often a great experience for many youth and families. who want to continue the energy from the camp experience when they go home. Second, many churches today are struggling for various reasons. In addition, many families struggle with knowing how to cultivate faith practices in the home. As a result, many Christians and church leaders find it difficult to integrate faith into the complex questions and issues of everyday life.
We do not want to bring camp home. If we did, camp would no longer be what it is. But we do want to walk alongside youth, families, and church leaders as partners in helping people intentionally integrate discipleship to Jesus into daily life.
Through BEYOND Ministries, Ingham Okoboji hopes to ENRICH and DEEPEN trust in God and everyday discipleship for YOUTH and FAMILIES in their home environment.
BEYOND Ministries also exists to enhance the work of Christian leaders in their tasks of passing on Biblical faith and developing the art of discipleship in all people and partnering with local congregations to develop theological leaders in local contexts for the good of the church.
Currently, BEYOND Ministries is focusing on web-based resources to accomplish these goals. The primary focus will be a weekly blog which will provide a devotion on a passage of scripture or Christian discipline. As we come across them in the course of ministry and networking, we will be adding links to various resources we have found useful or have been recommended through trusted partners in ministry. And we hope to hear from you! What would be helpful for you in your daily walk of faith? We are excited to see where God leads us in this endeavor.
We hope to bring Biblical and theological depth for everyday life that is relevant, clear, and useful for you to grow into the image of Christ as individuals and as communities of faith.
Sara Heutinck
IOLBC Registrar and Beyond Ministries Editor
Pastor - Immanuel Lutheran Church of Swea City, IA
About Sara
One of the things I love to do is learn and gather knowledge. And one of the topics which has fascinated me for as long as I can remember is faith and Scripture. Thus, it really can't come as too much of a surprise that after completing my undergraduate studies, I went into full time youth ministry while I pursued a Master's in Pastoral Ministry at St. John's University in Collegeville. Through a crazy, unexpected series of events, ten years later I found myself packing up my life and moving to Scotland for a year to continue my studies at the University of St. Andrews where I earned a Master's of Literature in Scripture and Theology. Upon returning to the United States, I learned of a open position for a Registrar at Ingham Okoboji, a particularly good fit for my naturally organized and data minded self which would allow me to be close to my parents as well as get into camping and retreat ministry, an aspect of ministry which has always been near and dear to my heart. I'm looking forward to writing and editing for the Beyond Ministries program in addition to getting people registered for camp throughout the year at both of our ministry locations!