Published on June 01, 2025
By Roger Leandro Zanelatto Lüdcke1
Translator: Natália Vergani Cartelli2
In January 2024, I was invited to take part in a task force of the TeachBeyond Informal Education Services, with the challenge of leading one of the five plenary sessions scheduled for the Leaders Conference in Albania3.
I was challenged to reflect on how we can establish evaluation processes within the organization’s projects. This year marks 25 years of my involvement in camp ministry, and it was fundamental to draw upon what I’ve learned from mentors, books, training sessions, classes, and conferences on this subject.
In my research, I came across this quote from the book Basic Camp Management by Karla A. Henderson and M. Deborah Bialeschki, 1995, AEA: “Evaluation is defined as the systematic collection and analysis of data to address criteria and judge the value or improvement of something.” It further suggests that: “Evaluation includes all strategies and technologies used to assess the value and quality of programs, facilities, administrative procedures, and staff within organizations (…). The two main reasons for evaluation are accountability and decision-making.”
I also found a note by John Maxwell regarding the moment when the 70 disciples returned from their mission and how Jesus received them. I would like to share that with you.
Luke 10:17–20: Verse 17 says: “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
John Maxwell described this moment, saying: “We see a mentor who evaluated what happened, guided the students’ learning, and helped them properly assess the values drawn from their own experience.”
For evaluation to truly be a process of learning and continuous improvement, we need to consider the following steps:
Step 1 – Reporting What Happened – In the passage from Luke 10:17–20, we see the disciples giving a report of what had taken place: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” Even though Jesus already knew what had happened, the disciples were given the opportunity to share what they had witnessed.
I understand that evaluations are fundamental to running a successful camp. Unfortunately, some camps have neglected them, but it is through evaluations that we can verify whether our objectives are being met and whether we are fulfilling our vision. Here are some examples of the evaluations we use.
One type of evaluation we conduct during a camp is filled out by the campers. They evaluate the program, the facilities, and the staff. They are also encouraged to reflect on what they learned during camp and to report any important decisions they made during the week.
In another evaluation, counselors have the opportunity to share a story of transformation they witnessed with one of their campers during the week. For example, in January 2024, one counselor described a camper this way: “I was talking with my camper, who had not yet made a decision for Jesus, and in the middle of our conversation, she asked me: ‘Can you teach me how to pray?Tonight, during our group devotion, I want to pray in our room.’ The prayers she knew were memorized ones, but from that moment on, she wanted to talk to Jesus, just like she had seen the other girls doing.”
Another type of evaluation is filled out by the counselor and helps the church with follow-up after the camp. I remember a few years ago, a boy who attended a camp week was mentioned by his counselor in the evaluation report, noting that he wanted to start attending an evangelical church. Upon reading this, we contacted a local youth leader, who then reached out to the boy. Today, that same boy is our colleague at TeachBeyond, working with us in Informal Education.
There is also an evaluation where the counselor reflects on what they learned during camp, what we should continue doing, and what needs to change.
At the end of each camp session, all evaluations were carefully reviewed. If there was something that could be improved for the following week, the change was implemented immediately.
Through evaluations, we are able to gather the necessary information from our learners to assess what we should continue doing and what we should modify to keep achieving our mission and vision.
The disciples’ report also reminds us that it is not by our own strength that we accomplish the Lord’s work, but by His power. We live under His grace and mercy, and it is because of this that He continues to use us.
Step 2 – Celebration of Results: I’m not sure how it’s described in your version of the Bible, but in the Almeida Revised and Updated version (Portuguese Bible), it says that the disciples were “filled with joy.” They were completely thrilled — ecstatic about what had happened. I believe some might have been more reserved, but surely others were vibrating with excitement over the results they had experienced.
And Jesus wasn’t left out of the moment. In verse 18, He also contributes to the disciples’ account: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” I can’t imagine Jesus speaking this sentence in a calm, monotonous tone. I truly believe that Jesus — as fully human, like you and me — was also exultant over what had happened.
Celebrating results brings reward, affirmation, confirmation, and encouragement to keep moving forward. The day after the end of the English Camp in Brasília, we take a sightseeing tour around the city where we have the opportunity to visit the capital’s landmarks — the government buildings, the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Plaza), the beautiful Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge — as well as buy souvenirs and, of course, enjoy a delicious lunch. Gathered around the table, with food from various regions of Brazil, the program team, counselors, teachers, the American team, and the leaders from the partner church celebrate the week that just passed. It’s a unique moment to be together, appreciate the beauty, savor the cuisine, and rejoice alongside all who served during the week.
Step 3 – Reflection on the Results Obtained: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” — Luke 10:19. Jesus rejoiced with them and confirmed their authority over the Enemy.
According to Fela Moscovici, the key question to ask at this stage is: “In light of the results obtained, what is the current situation? What do we need to pay attention to, what should we continue doing, and what should we stop?” This reflection can be understood as a process of examining how the project is functioning. The purpose of this examination is to assess whether each part of the previously defined plan is operating according to the performance standards necessary to achieve the established goals.
Romans 12:3 reminds us:“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Sometimes we are tempted to place ourselves in a position higher than we truly are. But the opposite is also true — we often fail to value what God has given us. That’s why Paul reminds us to be honest in our self-assessments. Focusing only on the extremes of our evaluations will lead to inaccurate data — and that can be very dangerous.
We need to reflect on the data collected with moderation.
2016 was the last year that Denise and I coordinated Acamp-Serra. The following year, we were running two English Camps — one in Rio de Janeiro and another in Brasília. With years of experience in camps, we used the same program developed in Gramado at both locations.
When we read the evaluations, we realized that the campers in Brasília didn’t enjoy the program. The main criticism was that it was too intense and that they needed more time to move from one activity to another. We had assumed the time provided was enough. In Gramado, we used to run two North American sports each afternoon, but in Brasília, one was already enough. After three years of adjusting the program, we now have a schedule that meets the needs of the Brasília campers.
Teenagers in Brasília spend the entire year rushing — from school to language centers and other activities — so during their vacation, what they want from an English Camp is time to enjoy the walk, the moment, their friends, and the opportunity to connect with others.
Step 4 – He Confirmed the Authority Given to Them: ” However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you…” — Luke 10:20a. We see Jesus confirming the calling and sending of the seventy, as we read in Luke 10:1 and the verses that follow. Bringing to mind what we are doing and why we are doing it helps us grow, mature, and pursue what is truly a priority in our projects.
In the book 25 Ways to Win with People, John Maxwell and Dr. Les Parrott present the following points.
When we are asked to describe someone’s strengths and weaknesses, we tend to recall the weaknesses quickly, while the strengths often take more time and effort to identify and articulate.
That’s why the authors encourage us to intentionally focus on discovering people’s strengths and highlighting them. Let’s take a look at how:
- Highlighting a person’s strengths brings out their uniqueness
- There’s a study that says each person can do at least one thing better than 10,000 others.
- You have a talent that perhaps no one else in your community can match.
- Wouldn’t it be great to help someone see themselves this way?
- As pessoas se sentem motivadas nas áreas em que são mais eficientes
- People feel most motivated in the areas where they are most effective
- When we work in areas where we’re naturally effective, we don’t need external motivation to keep going.
- If someone is in a role that draws on their weaknesses, and then transitions into one that leverages their strengths, their motivation, enthusiasm, and productivity will increase dramatically.
- People add the most value when they are in their strength zone
- John Maxwell believes that, first, his success comes from God, second, from the excellent people around him, and third, from his ability to stay in his strength zone.
- The famous baseball player Reggie Jackson once said: “A great leader has the ability to make players believe they are better than they really are. He makes you feel good about yourself. He makes it clear he believes in you. He pushes you to give more. And once you find out how good you really are, you never want to give anything less than your best.”
Don’t look for flaws, imperfections, and faults in people. Look for the best they have to offer.
I’ve learned to appreciate TeachBeyond’s annual evaluation. The first time, I saw the questions as just a report to be filled out. But while completing it, I began to identify areas where I needed help, where I could contribute, and where I could grow.
At the time, the Director of Informal Education, with her immense kindness, managed — in just a few words — to encourage my strengths, support me through a deep depression, and help me grow, ultimately enabling me to serve better.
Step 5 – He Reminded Them Why They Were There (Mission/ Vision): “but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” — Luke 10:20b. Jesus reminded them of their mission and what is truly worthy of celebration. He had sent the seventy to be with people. Jesus Himself spent more intimate time with the twelve. He touched people physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
A few years ago, several Christian leaders gathered at a conference. The goal was to summarize the Christian faith in a single sentence. In fact, they went even further and summed up Christianity in just one word. The word they chose was: Relationships. Christianity is relationship.
To love God in a vertical relationship and to love our neighbor in a horizontal relationship — as we see a little further on in this same chapter of Luke 10:27: “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In my job description with TeachBeyond, one point states that I must serve in a TeachBeyond project each semester. As exhausting as it can be to go from camp to camp over several weeks, whenever I have the opportunity to choose, I will always choose camp ministry. Because I know the impact it has on the lives of campers, team members, parents, churches, and communities.
May we all allow ourselves to be used more and more each day by Jesus and may nothing hinder our relationship with Him or with the people He has placed in our lives.
I’ll conclude with one more quote from John Maxwell: “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Only evaluated practice does. In Luke 10:17–20, we see a mentor — a master — who evaluated what had happened, guided the learning of his disciples, and helped them properly assess the values drawn from their own experience.”
If you’ve been doing evaluations, keep doing them — and review whether they’re truly revealing what you need to know. If you haven’t, consider including them in your camps. They will certainly help your ministry grow and reach its full potential.
- Roger Leandro Zanelattto Lüdcke: Bachelor in Theology, with further studies in Team Management, Postgraduate in Business Pedagogy and Corporate Education. He is the Latin America Regional Informal Educational Services Coordinator at TeachBeyond. Professor of Leadership and Ministry in Schools at the Lutheran Faculty of Theology and Manager of Lúdikos, working with experiential learning. ↩︎
- Natália Vergani Cartelli: Bachelor’s degree in Design, with an international ESL certificate. She is an Assistant to the Latin America Regional Informal Educational Services Coordinator in TeachBeyond. She is an English teacher and translator. Email: ncartelli@teachbeyond.org ↩︎
- TeachBeyond works with five core competencies: A: Advance the Mission, B: Building Teams, C: Communicate, D: Developing Others & Self, and E: Evaluate. ↩︎
Bibliography:
BALL, A; BALL, B. Gerenciamento básico de acampamentos. Anápolis: Associação Evangélica de Acampamentos, 2005. Translated from: Basic Camp Management – An Introduction to Camp Administration
BÍBLIA. Português. Bíblia da liderança cristã. Barueri: Sociedade Bíblica do Brasil, 2007. Translated from: The Maxwell Leadership Bible
MAXWELL, J. C. Projeto um milhão de líderes. Porto Alegre: Seminário Teológico do Rio Grande do Sul, s.d.
MAXWELL, J. C; PARROTT, L. 25 maneiras de valorizar as pessoas: como fazer todos à sua volta se sentirem especiais. Rio de Janeiro: Sextante, 2007. Translated from: 25 ways to win with people
MOSCOVICI, F. Equipes dão certo: a multiplicação do talento humano. 10 ed. Rio de Janeiro: José Olympio, 2005.
Lúdikos 