Camp-to-Career Is Helping Shape the Future

The Camp-to-Career program is all about shedding light on possibilities.

Khalil Bynum saw those possibilities and ran with them.

“My Camp-to-Career experience has shaped me into the person and law school student I am today,” he said. “I am grateful for the experience, connections, life-lessons, and growth that Camp-to-Career bestowed upon me. Camp-to-Career is, and will always be, one of the biggest contributors to my success. I hope that this program continues to bless the lives of more youth, as it did for me.”

Camp-to-Career works to close opportunity gaps for inner-city children and youth in Dallas-Fort Worth. As an Impact Ministry within HPUMC, the program fights poverty, promotes justice, and serves others.

It starts with building relationships, then building faith, and then learning new skills, all while doing it in a way that gets kids excited.

“Camp was an outlet for me to strengthen my love for God, while worshiping in ways unimaginable,” Bynum said. “Not only was I able to learn about the love of God in a new and refreshing way that was tailored specifically for youth, but I was able to do it amongst so many amazing children and teenagers that were just like me. I’ll never forget the excitement and pure joy I had in the summer knowing that camp was around the corner.”

Bynum began the program when he was 13 years old and continued through high school before graduating from Dallas Carter. He then participated as a camp Wrangler, or volunteer.

“I spent the majority of my teenage years participating in Camp to Career,” Bynum said. “And it has definitely molded me into the man I am today.”

He was able to practice skills preparing him for young adulthood, learned at Camp, while out in the real world. These skills paved the way for opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise.

“After attending camp and experiencing the Civil Rights Tour with HPUMC, I have gained foundational knowledge and great communication skill sets,” Bynum said. “Believe it or not, I also gained my vocational and public speaking skills from camp. I remember there were times when campers were put on the spot to speak on certain topics or pray over events. Before being selected, I was not always confident in speaking in front of large crowds. Now, I have used this skill set in multiple internships, leadership positions, and even in law school during my oral advocacy exam.”

From a young age, he knew he wanted to go to law school. He saw a need in his community, and through camp, he built the skills needed to attack those challenges head-on.

Now, he has completed summer internships at a local law firm and is in his first year of law school, taking the next step on his journey.

“Ever since the day I realized that I was born and raised in an underfunded and undeveloped community, I knew that I wanted to change and make a difference in my community,” Bynum said. “I plan to make that difference by becoming a lawyer and serving my community to the best of my ability. It has been a dream come true to realize that I have been admitted to law school and have one semester under my belt. The law school journey is not an easy one, but my drive to be a transformational figure in the law is what continues to fuel my drive and passion to stay the course.”

The purpose of Camp-to-Career is not to give a handout, but to provide a community that lifts them up and shows them all the possibilities that are out there for them.

That’s exactly what it has done. Now he has people around him, from fellow campers to his camp counselors to HPUMC members, who support him to ensure his success in achieving that goal.

“Being a part of the Camp-to-Career program has connected me with so many inspiring and loving individuals, who have played a big role in where I am today,” Bynum said. “In times such as these, a support system is very important in everything I do. I am now in law school and my village has been with me every step of the way.

“From the continuous checking in via phone and text messages to the beautiful and thoughtful cards sent to me on every holiday, I am so appreciative of those who I met along my journey. These are the people who are constantly rooting for my success and are the reason I continue to strive beyond the stars.”