Head Counsellors

Lewis Claxton

My name is Lewis Claxton. My family and I first locked into church when I was about 11 years old. We came to church because my parents had problems they had no answers too, and whilst we had a strong family unit, it was riddled with destructive addiction and anger. My parents realised the solution for their lives was found in Jesus. The miracle of their salvation left me with a reference I couldn't deny. I knew God was real, I got saved and baptised as a teenager and very quickly desired to do right and serve Him. However, mixed with my longing to seek God, as a young teenager I was also faced with temptation, peer pressures and my own sinful curiosities to explore life. Without realising it, I needed external support if I was going to make it for Jesus. My home church of course played a huge role in this, but this is also where bootcamp comes in. Bootcamp was the perfect environment for a young man like me. It challenged me physically (wish I loved), but it also, and more importantly, inspired me spiritually! Through the bible studies, conversations with other teenagers, activities and especially the evening church services, I was convinced that I needed, and wanted, to be fully committed to serving Jesus. Amongst our church youth, bootcamp became a talking point for all teenagers and every year we were freshly challenged and helped to go for God. For me it was challenge accepted! I lost count of the amount of bootcamps I went to but I remember being 18 and being asked to be a worker for the first time. As a worker I was opened up to a whole new world! If God had helped me as a recruit, I needed His help 10-fold as a worker. I couldn't believe the work that went on behind the scenes to make bootcamp possible. But once again I was hooked. I have returned to camp as a worker on as many occasions as is possible, willing to accept every and any role as to support the cause. Give me a cooking pot, an oversized football, or a radio and cammos; Its all the same to me...creating an environment for young men and women to be inspired about serving Jesus! Over the past 2 years I've had the privilege of overseeing the dedicated team of counsellors. What a joy! It astounds me that God has healed my family, helped me grow in Him, and now enables me to be part of helping a new generation. My message to everyone; Live for Jesus, and live in such a way that you enable others to do the same.

Previous Councillors

Pete and Sheila Nash

2024 Councillors
Pete and Sheila Nash, we were both brought up in Christian homes and attended Sunday school until hitting the teenage years when a pathway of sin took us in the wrong direction. In 1992 we cried out to God and in his mercy he answered our prayers and led us to the Potter house. We have been a part of the Norwich church since, with a God given desire to serve young people. For the last 22 years God has used us working with the children and youth. We have enjoyed the privilege of going into other countries training likeminded people how to minister to children. Seventeen years ago we recognised that there was a need to provide something for our youth and we connected with the Bury St. Edmunds church and there the journey began. Loving the outdoor life and nature doing boot camp made perfect sense. In an environment that we loved, with a passion to see our young people challenged and given the opportunity to grow camp became a yearly focus for us. We have experienced many different roles within boot camp and understand the challenges that go with these positions. However, we have found our niche as Head Counsellors. This role allows us to guide the counsellors and to look after the recruits. Working as part of the camp management team we work with the Camp Commander to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Investing in the next generation is what it is all about seeing them develop into men and woman of God and making right decisions. It is down to us to ensure that baton is not dropped and that we help these young people fulfil their destiny in God.