About IAWAH

Iawah develops resilient leaders who impact their communities for Christ.

Iawah cultivates a welcoming community through experiential servant leadership, where guests meet Christ and are inspired to grow.

Christ
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus form the core of the gospel message. Christ is not only our Savior, but also as the perfect revelation of God, showing us God’s love, mercy, and holiness. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus offers forgiveness and reconciliation with God, bridging the gap caused by human sin. At Iawah, Christ is the reason for why we do what we do. He is the source of salvation, the example of righteous living, and the assurance of a future with God.

Scripture
Scripture serves as the authoritative guide for faith, practice, and understanding of God’s will. We understand scripture to be the inspired Word of God, revealing His character, promises, and redemptive plan for humanity. At Iawah, we value the use of scripture as a living text that speaks to the heart and spirit, offering guidance, encouragement, and correction in all areas of life. It is essential to our journey – a deep well of truth to sustain us in our relationship with God.

Creation
God’s creation holds immense value as it reflects His divine wisdom, power, and love. The world, in all its beauty and intricacy, serves as a testament to God’s creativity and intentional design. Each aspect of creation—from the vastness of the cosmos to the smallest details of nature—reveals God’s glory and speaks of His care for every living being. At Iawah, we believe that creation is not only a gift to be enjoyed, but also a responsibility to steward and protect. We understand the beauty of creation also points people toward a deeper spiritual truth and use this truth throughout our activities and teaching.

Healthy Relationships
At Iawah, we desire to move toward greater wholeness in all relationships, characterized by integrity, value, and respect. The overarching theme of building and restoring relationships is woven into the fabric of our program, providing our campers and staff with opportunities to experience and explore the transformative power of God’s love and redemption in a tangible way. God seeks to mend the brokenness caused by sin and disobedience, beginning with our Creator, then with oneself, with others, and with the created order.

As believers, our goal at Iawah is to embody the principles of forgiveness, reconciliation, and love taught by Christ, praying for the work of the Spirit in each person’s life so that we can come to know God our creator and begin the healing of our brokenness.

1. Relationship with God – Loving our Creator

This is our primary relationship, and our understanding of every relationship is based on God’s plan for humanity which is to glorify God through our thoughts, words and actions and enjoy fellowship with Him forever. Because of our broken relationship with God, we have chosen to follow our own path. But when we have a right relationship with God, we can experience His presence in our lives and live in a joyful, intimate relationship with Him as His children. At Iawah we seek to build an environment that fosters spiritual growth through disciplines such as scripture reading and study, fellowship, worship, prayer and a supportive Christian community (Philippians 4:6-7).

2. Relationship with Self – Loving who we are in Christ

We are uniquely created in the image of God and therefore hold inherent worth and dignity regardless of gender, race, or ability. Because of our broken relationship with self, we feel shame and place our identity in worldly pursuits. Scripture teaches us that our identity is defined by our relationship with God through Christ alone. We understand our bodies are a temple, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19,20) reflecting God’s being and should therefore honour God

through our thoughts, words and actions. Therefore, those who are part of the Iawah community are expected to engage in a healthy lifestyle of growing in self-awareness and self-care, and the avoidance of self-harm, substance abuse, pornography and other negative media that distracts us from the truth of God’s Word.

3. Relationship with Others – Loving one another

The importance of Christian community is underscored throughout the New Testament, emphasizing the significance of fellowship, support, and accountability among believers. Unfortunately, this broken relationship causes deep conflict. Scripture teaches us to encourage one another, to love each other, do good works and meet together in fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Christian community is critical in nurturing spiritual growth and mutual encouragement through fellowship, worship, prayer, and service. As part of the body of Christ, as described in 

1 Corinthians 12:12-27, there is an interconnectedness of believers – a culture we strive to create at Iawah. (John 13:34-35)

In the context of the relational focus of Christian camping ministry, it is important to understand that scripture describes four distinct forms of love, each conveying unique aspects of relational dynamics and divine affection.

1. Agape – the highest form of love. Selfless, unconditional love that seeks the well-being and highest good of others. This sacrificial love that transcends all boundaries is that which God has for his children through His son Jesus Chrst (John 3:16).

2. Storge – is a type of familial love, characterized by affection and fondness shared between family members. This nurturing love is evident in numerous biblical accounts, such as the relationship between parents and children or siblings (Ephesians 6:4).

3. Eros – refers to passionate, romantic love between partners. Song of Solomon vividly portrays the intensity and beauty of romantic love between a bride and groom. Through poetic imagery, this book celebrates the depth and fervor of eros within the context of marital intimacy. This form of love is reserved for marriage between one man and one woman. (Gen 2:24; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Cor 7:2; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-33)

4. Philia – often translated as “brotherly love” or friendship, is characterized by loyalty, camaraderie, and mutual affection between friends. This form of love is exemplified in the relationship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1). Their deep bond of friendship transcended personal ambition and adversity, serving as a testament to the enduring power of philia love in fostering companionship and support among peers.

We encourage all members to be involved in the life of the IAWAH community, through prayer, encouragement of others, volunteering and giving. Outside of Iawah, members are encouraged to be a part of the broader Christian community including the local church, campus communities or youth groups, bible studies or other Christian discipleship groups.

4. Relationship with creation – Loving the created order.

As stewards of God’s creation, we believe that Christians have a profound responsibility to care for the natural world, recognizing its inherent value as a manifestation of God’s divine wisdom and creativity. In Genesis 2:15, God entrusts humanity with the task of tending and keeping the Garden of Eden, emphasizing our role as caretakers and custodians of the earth. (Psalm 24:1). As faithful followers of Christ, the Iawah community is called to practice responsible environmental stewardship, advocating for sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and reverence for the sacredness of all life, reflecting God’s love and care for His creation.

Challenge and Experience
Challenges and experiences play a crucial role in spiritual growth, as they provide opportunities to deepen faith, develop perseverance, and learn to trust God more fully. The Bible often highlights how trials are a means of refining character and strengthening one’s relationship with Christ. (James 1:2-4) In moments of challenge, we are called to rely on God’s grace and wisdom, which fosters humility and dependence on Him. Shared experiences and challenges, ultimately shape us into more compassionate, patient, and resilient individuals, better equipped to serve others and reflect Christ’s example. They are a pathway to spiritual maturity, teaching us to embrace our weaknesses, depend on others and trust in God’s strength.

Service and Work
Service and work within the Christian community hold profound spiritual value, reflecting the heart of Christ’s teachings. Jesus, the ultimate example of servant leadership, demonstrated that true greatness is found in serving others rather than seeking personal gain. (Matthew 20:28). In working together, we are called to support one another, share burdens, and reflect God’s love in our actions, creating a more vibrant and faithful community that glorifies God.

Play and Rest
At Iawah, we value play and rest, understanding them to embody God’s design for human flourishing and serve as vital practices for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. From the very beginning, God established rest as a part of His creation, setting aside the seventh day as a time of reflection and renewal (Genesis 2:2-3). In the same way, play—whether through joyful activities, recreation, or fellowship—serves to refresh the spirit, strengthen relationships, build trust and experience the unity of the body of Christ. Jesus Himself modelled the importance of rest and balance, retreating from the demands of ministry to pray and renew His strength (Mark 6:31). It is in His presence, we find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

REALITY – We believe that there is one God, the Creator of all, who exists as plurality-in-unity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the personification of pure love and complete power and deeply desires a loving relationship with his people. We believe that God created man and woman in his own image. Each person is a precious image bearer with a unique capacity for a relationship with God. Because God is love and as such is an inherently relational being, this means that relationship itself is at the core of reality.

REVELATION – We believe the Bible is God’s message to humanity. Written through people with the perspective of their own era and culture, the Old and New Testaments were inspired by the Holy Spirit and thus the Bible is our timeless and final authority in all that we believe and do. We believe as we seek after God by praying and studying the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us revealing his purposes.
REBELLION – We believe that God created all humanity in his image, regardless of differences, and thus all people are precious image bearers. Being made in God’s image, we were designed for an eternal relationship with him. However, due to our own sinful choices and inherent self-centredness we have all fallen short of God’s ideal and become separated from him, in need of forgiveness.

RECONCILIATION – We believe that Jesus, the Son, provides the one way for us to become reunited with God. Through Jesus, God fully revealed his extreme love for humanity and unveiled his plan and purpose to reconcile the world to himself. Through Christ’s death on the cross he made forgiveness possible for us in a way that does not compromise the integrity of God’s justice. Because Jesus was miraculously conceived by God as a human being born of Mary, and lived a perfect life, he died as a pure, sinless sacrifice for our sins. And because he rose from the dead he forever lives as our ascended Lord, our advocate and friend.
COMMUNITY – We believe that anyone who chooses to be reconciled to God by accepting forgiveness through Jesus Christ becomes part of the Church community – the living, active body of Jesus carrying on his mission today. This person becomes a new creation with a new identity and purpose. God calls his people to come together, transforms and empowers them by his Holy Spirit, and through them reaches out to a hurting humanity.
KINGDOM – We believe that there is a battle going on between the spiritual forces of good and evil that affect all people in a very real way. It is the main goal of the rebel angel, Satan, and the forces of darkness, to promote the separation of man from God and seek ultimate control of this world. The good news is that through Christ, God has already won the definitive battle and is in the process of establishing his rule throughout creation.
RESTORED CREATION – We believe that Jesus will return to earth to bring his victory to final completion, establishing a new heaven and earth, and thus bringing his kingdom to its fullness, together with his Church. This is the inheritance of those who have believed, turned from sin and chosen to be reconciled to God through Christ.