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Cover Article
CampOpenArms2008
Camp Open Arms is always an amazing 2 weeks. Applications go
out in early April, the selection process takes place, and the campers are
notified. We move into full preparation mode in early June to get ready for the
first campers to arrive. We plan ministry groups to come in during the evening
time. We shop for cleaning supplies, snacks, and drinks. Our Ladies Auxiliary
gathers all of our first-aid supplies. Chapel lessons are prepared, and music
selected for the week. Our crafts are provided by a local church. The list goes
on and on.
Perhaps the biggest task is recruiting the counselor staff.
These are the folks that will exhaust themselves from Monday to Friday spending
time with the campers. They live in the dorm with them. They get them up, eat
their meals with them, take them to their activities, play games with them, help
them memorize their Scripture verses, cheer them on, lead them in cabin
devotions, and put them to bed. In the midst of all this activity a remarkable
thing happens – relationships are built!!! These relationships are crucial for
the counselors to be able to do their most important job – finding out where a
camper is spiritually and introduce them to the Lord if they do not already know
Him!!
One of the remarkable things about serving the Lord is the
way God blesses both sides. The counselors bless the campers, but the campers
also bless the counselors. This year I received several notes from counselors
describing how their lives were impacted by the very ones they came to minister
to. Here is a small sample of the comments:
"God has truly blessed that camp, and it is a place where
kids can come and be loved and hear the gospel and have their lives changed.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be there. I think it impacted me just as
much as it did the kids."
"The kids aren't churched, they don't come from loving,
affectionate backgrounds. Yet, they walk around singing praises to God and they
hugged and loved on us counselors all week long."
"God has worked through COA in so many ways. Not only are the
kids’ lives affected but it definitely changes the counselors lives as well. I
know that being away the past two weeks was great for me personally. God really
worked in my life and blessed me these two weeks, and I know that He did in
other counselors too."
"It's awesome that these kids have a chance to come to this
camp where they can learn God's Word while surrounded by people who truly love
and care about them... This was the first time I did a camp or anything like
this where I can honestly say I feel that through something I did someone else's
life was impacted for the Lord. I'm already excited about next summer's COA!
Thank you again for everything!"
To all my amazing counselors, please let me say it one more
time – THANK YOU!!!
To all of you that prayed for and contributed to Camp Open
Arms 2008 – THANK YOU!!!
Superintendent's
Corner
A Lasting Impact
People often ask, “Where do you find the children who go to
camp?” That’s a good question; when we print applications each Spring, the first
group are mailed out to previous campers. Many of their families seek additional
applications for siblings, friends, neighbors, cousins, and such. We also send
them to the children of ladies who come to us throughout the year for other
kinds of help. Our thrift store is also a channel for distribution of camp
applications. Finally, there are several schools that work with us in this
matter, handing applications to children from needy families.
A visit to one of those schools led to an interesting “camper
reunion” this year. Our contact at that school wanted us to meet and talk with
one of the staff there, a twenty-six-year-old man. It was such a surprise and
joy to greet a former camper named Shaun! He has worked for the Newport News
City School System for four years, two of those with our friend’s school. Alan
and I met with him for a brief interview that afternoon, and hearing from him
was a true delight.
Shaun told Alan that counselor he remembered most was Wes
(Garrett, who worked with us for many years before leaving the area). Wes was
the director of a local inner city ministry called “Friendship House.” Shaun had
been one of his youth in that work, and Wes brought him to camp from 1990 until
1997. Shaun attended all eight years of his age-eligibility, ages 8 - 15.
Shaun thrilled us with his memories of the pool, the
competition, the crafts, and the devotions. “I learned a lot about right and
wrong from the Bible teachings at camp,” he shared. He said he looked forward
each summer to attending Camp Open Arms, “In those days it was the best thing in
my life. What I learned there is probably what keeps me together today.” Thank
God for the lasting influence of a child spending 100 hours with us each summer
of his most formative years. As we prepared to separate, Shaun told us he would
“Let the kids know it’s a good place to go.” Thanks, Shaun, for blessing our
hearts.
Banquet Announcement
Eternal Decisions 2008
You will soon receive your personal invitation to our
Anniversary Appreciation Banquet. This is one of our favorite nights of the
year. We enjoy visiting, although briefly, with many of our friends whom we
rarely see other than at the banquet. We get to share a nice meal together, tell
you about things that have been going on at the Mission, and introduce you to
our Board and staff.
Shortly after the banquet, our nation will have its
presidential election, a most important
decision-making time. Our banquet program this year
will feature Decisions
- wishing to capture the spirit of the season. We hope you will put October 24
on your calendar as a night to join us at Liberty Baptist Church, Hampton. We
will take your reservations for the banquet beginning Thursday, September 11,
and concluding Thursday, October 9. Plan now, and call then.
See you at the Banquet!
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