Summer/Fall - British Columbia 2014

Summer/Fall 2014 BC Edition Issue 1

CANADA's

HOPE GOD’S MISSION. OUR ADVENTURE.

Conversations Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

COLOSSI A NS 4:6

A PUBLICATION OF

The Taylors See

The Taylors live in concert on the

one hope canada

Fundraising Tour 2015 April 9-20, 2015 | Manitoba & Saskatchewan More information will be available in the next edition of Canada’s Hope.

For up-to-date concert information: www.onehopecanada.ca/upcoming events/

CANADA's

HOPE Summer/Fall 2014 BC Edition Issue One

GOD’S MISSION. OUR ADVENTURE. Canada’s Hope is the bi-annual publication of One Hope Canada.

Letters, articles and photos are welcomed. Names of many of the children mentioned in articles have been changed.

EDITORS Melanie Mushaluk Nic Mundey CIRCULATION & ADDRESS CORRECTION Sylvia Froese

Inside this issue NATIONAL

BC

3

Executive Director’s Message

4

Provincial Director’s Message

5

Harold’s Humour

6

Adventure Day Camp

12

The price has been paid

8

A Josiah Moment

20

Encounter

10

Amasa Bible Camp

28

Devotional

14

Echo Lake Bible Camp

28

Kids Corner

16

Hope Bay Bible Camp

32

What happens at camp

18

Summer 2014 Photos

34

24

Lake of the Trees Bible Camp

Cooking with Kathy

26

Maple Springs Bible Camp

36

Quote Wall

30 Ness Lake Bible Camp

SPONSORSHIPS Harold Giesbrecht Rod Unger DESIGN Iced Tea Designs COPY EDITOR Jacquie Bolen Menno Hamm Gloria Pederson PRINTING Derksen Printers Steinbach, MB Publications agreement number 40019747 Undelivered copies, change of address and new requests should be addressed to: ONE HOPE CANADA 200-189 Henderson Hwy Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L7 Telephone: 1-204-668-2776 Fax: 1-204-663-0246 Email: info@onehopecanada.ca www.onehopecanada.ca

Please note that in order to save printing and postage costs, one magazine will be mailed out per household.

If you would like to receive additional copies, please contact us at info@onehopecanada.ca.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

BY BILL & BEV McCASKELL

Questions make conversation interesting THINK ABOUT IT. If you never asked a question in a conversation what would you ever learn? Would you know the person’s name? What he likes doing on the weekend? What her favorite foods are? How many are in their family?

Kids love asking questions. That is why they are so much fun to be around. And with being around 20,000 children and youth this summer, the One Hope Canada mission team heard lots of questions: “How do you shoot that arrow so straight?”, “Why are there so many mosquitoes?”, “Why did they kill Jesus?”, “Can God really love me?”

Questions are great because they make us ponder and they show someone is interested in us. Jesus loved asking questions too. “What do you want me to do for you?”, “Who do you say I am?”, “Do you love me?”

As you flip the pages of this edition of Canada’s Hope, we know you will enjoy reading some of the many conversations from this past summer.

And by the way, would you like to have a conversation about the awesome news of what Jesus has done for you with someone who doesn’t yet know who Jesus is? Start by asking, not telling. It’s a great way to get the conversation going.

Together with you in serving Him!

Cover Image taken at Echo Lake Bible Camp

Canada’s Hope

3

FIELD DIRECTOR EDITORIAL

BY ROD UNGER, BC FIELD DIRECTOR

Armed with Strength I love Psalm 18:32; “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure”. I was walking along the shoreline of English Bay in Vancouver where I noticed the large cargo ships moored, waiting to get loaded and head out to sea. I began taking pictures of the ships and then I realized…the real beauty of these large vessels is never seen in a quiet harbour. They weren’t created to anchor in a bay and have their picture taken. Their effectiveness only manifests itself when the captain drives them fully loaded through the storms of the sea. For those of you that just had the most amazing year, I’m so happy for you. For those of you that experienced the raging seas, remember that you were created to withstand the storms of life. God, as your captain and mine, has “Armed” us with “Strength” as He navigates our lives through all the seas of life. We can rest in the truth that He “keeps our way secure”.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

We can rest in the truth that He “keeps our way secure.”

HAROLD’S HUMOUR

BY HAROLD GIESBRECHT, DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Bulletin Blo opers My collection of bulletin bloopers started years ago when I read the following under Future Events: “April 4 Fundraising Supper for (name of missionary couple, last name misspelled). It is to raise funds for ministry that is lacking.” I couldn’t help ponder, “What’s lacking? Their ministry? Funds? Perhaps someone to proof-read the bulletin? And so, my collection began.

Here are some of my favourites: • At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be, “What is Hell?”

Come early and listen to our choir practice.

• Don’t let worry kill you off—let the church help.

• For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

• Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.

• The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

• The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.

• Thursday night Potluck Supper.

Prayer and medication to follow.

One reason I go to church is to read the bulletin. There’s some really interesting stuff in there! If you happen to find bloopers in your church’s bulletin, please send them my way: haroldg@onehopecanada.ca.

HAROLD GIESBRECHT has worked with One Hope Canada in Manitoba for over 15 years. You may also have heard him as host of “Heart of the South” on Golden West Radio stations across western Canada.

Harold’s passion for camping ministry, evangelism and Southern Gospel music, along with his easy going personality make him a great ambassador for the Gospel for young and old alike!

EXPRESS Call for your freight quote today!

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• Based in Winkler, MB

Canada’s Hope

5

Becoming a

BY ROLAND MCQUADE, CAMP DIRECTOR

child of God “I just have to ask!� thought Norm, as he sat down beside the parents of a camper he had led to the Lord last summer.

Norm Listoen of Chilliwack, BC, had the privilege last summer of leading to Christ an eight-year-old boy, while volunteering with Adventure Day Camps in the small unchurched town of Pinantan Lake, BC. It was on the last day of the four-day camp, meeting on the hillside at the local elementary

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school. We had presented the message of Jesus and his salvation using puppets, skits, games, and the Jesus Movie for Children, and extended an invitation to the campers. As the rest of the children watched a video, Darren made his way to the back of the gymnasium where Norm sat with an empty chair at his side. Darren was one of two boys Norm had the privilege of leading to Christ last summer.

“

God guards the seeds of the Gospel

planted in young hearts and watches over every little lamb in his fold.”

Norm returned this year, and so did Darren. On the last day of camp, Norm found Darren’s parents at the parent potluck and sat down at the table with his plate of food. “I wonder” Norm thought, “if they know that their son Darren made the decision to receive Christ last year? I just have to ask!”

And so boldly Norm asked, “Did you know that Darren is a believer?” And then he waited for their reply.

“Oh yes,” Darren’s mother replied.

“We are not believers ourselves, but Darren prays every day!” Norm noticed that when the director, Roland, asked the blessing on the meal, Darren

looked over to his dad who didn’t bow his head, and firmly motioned that he should bow his head as well.

It’s always hard to know the long-term results of decisions that children make to receive Christ and become a child of God. But here, thanks to Norm’s curiosity and boldness, God revealed a decision by a child that not only remained for the long term, but also had an influence on their parents. God guards the seeds of the Gospel planted in young hearts and watches over every little lamb in his fold.

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

www.adventuredaycampsbc.com 604-858-5205

Serving and caring for families in our community since 1947 Salmon Arm 250-832-2223

Revelstoke 250-837-2029

Committed to trustworthy, quality funeral service

Golden 250-344-2958

Delivering peace of mind and dignity to each family

We offer a wide variety of funeral, memorial and celebration of life services, as well as an aftercare program. We accommodate all faiths, and also offer celebrant services for those requesting a non-religious service.

Canada’s Hope

7

A Josiah

Moment

by rod unger, BC Field Director

She was a total stranger to me but she

“They live in a godless world that should control them, but instead they rise up to the call of God in their lives and serve Him.” 8

asked if she could share the struggles that she was facing in her life. Emily (not her real name) was training to be a camp leader for the summer and I was one of the staff training speakers and so our paths collided.

Emily shared with me how that the only time she can be with Christian people is when she is at camp, her family is not Christian and she is not free to attend church or any Christian activities except camp. She shared, with tears streaming down her cheeks, how discouraged and lonely she feels when she is not at camp.

She longs for Christian community, love, and acceptance in her day to day life but can’t get it. She asked if I would pray for her to have the strength to go on for God throughout the year. I prayed and asked God to make her a strong leader for the summer ministry and to give her the strength to walk with God the rest of the year as well.

Emily’s walk with God, with no youth group, church, or Christian influence at all, touched my heart. She is “strong in the

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

Lord and the power of his might” because of what Jesus is doing in her life. After our short talk and prayer, Emily dried her eyes and thanked me for taking the time to talk and pray for her. She blended back into the leaders group and most would never know the struggles she faces.

I spoke to the director to let him know some of the interaction I had with his staff and asked him specifically about Emily.

He shared with me more of her story and talked of the amazing resolve she has to live for God in a family that has yet to experience Jesus Christ.

I know of others that serve in ministry with similar stories and for me they are the King Josiah’s of our day. They live in a godless world that should control them, but instead they rise up to the call of God in their lives and serve Him. They not only do this in their own lives but they impact their communities as well.

I’m truly thankful for conversations.

They bring out the amazing things that God is doing in the hearts and lives of many around us.

A passion for the Gospel A burden for Canada We have a new name!

A name that reflects why we do what we do.

A name that shares our vision and passion.

A message as

BY JACQUIE BOLEN, CAMP DIRECTOR

“

old as time

We gather at

the empty dining tables to hear

the word of God,

encourage and pray for one another and our day.�

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

At 7:00 a.m., sleepy cabin leaders are making their way across the lawn quickly losing its dew, the heat of the day already a promise.

Into the dining hall they amble, straight to the kitchen for their first cup of Joe, their Bibles in hand. We gather at the empty dining tables to hear the word of God, encourage and pray for one another and our day. Half an hour later, the similarities to most other Bible camps have ended.

At each week of Camp Amasa in the summer, we have the opportunity to welcome and bring the

word of God to 50+ special-needs adults. Our campers come from all corners of the province, and with a wide range of abilities. When planning our programs, we need to keep that in mind so that each can learn and understand in their own way. Some campers are non-verbal, some are visually impaired and a good many come from nonChristian households.

Occasionally I have the privilege of meeting up with Wayne, one of our non-verbal friends from Oliver, who last attended camp about 2003, when I was a cabin leader. I always

ask Wayne if he knows who I am, as he is always super-enthusiastic in his greetings. He nods and folds his hands in a gesture of praying and then I know that he has not forgotten.

I have always said, though, that we are ministering not only to our campers, but also to their families and caregivers and non-Christian aides that they might bring with them to camp.

Two years ago, one of our campers, Judy, brought an aide with her, who was a “baby Christian.” Lori spent a lot of the time in the dining hall with the cooks asking questions. I believe those conversations were invaluable, as just four months later, Lori went

“

home to be with the Lord. Now, her sister is volunteering at camp, wanting to know about the special kinship Lori felt with those enfolding people at camp.

Our message is not unique – it’s as old as time. Our methods are not unique – I shamelessly borrow ideas from everyone and everywhere. But what is unique about Camp Amasa are the selfless individuals that serve each summer and the “fearfully and wonderfully made” campers that attend.

AMASA BIBLE CAMP

www.amasa.ca 250-832-6907

What is unique about Camp Amasa are the

selfless individuals that serve each summer and the

“fearfully and wonderfully made” campers that attend.”

Canada’s Hope

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NATIONAL DIREC TOR OF DEVELOPMEN T

L

ast summer, I had an opportunity to observe what I would call a “God moment” at one of our One Hope Canada camps. It was a typical prairie day in August, hot and dusty, the trees were lush and the flowers in full bloom. A young boy, about six years old, who was attending a single mom and kids’ camp, was off by himself, fully enraptured by a beautiful flower box. As I approached, he was clearly sniffing the flowers, repeatedly breathing in deeply then sitting back on his haunches with a look of wonderment on his face. As I passed him, I commented that the flowers must smell good. His reply? “Mister, I ain’t never smelled nothin’ like that before”. As I walked on, I wondered what he meant; he’d never smelled that kind of flower…or had he never smelled any kind of flower?

After some reflection and prayer I came to the conclusion that I had been witness to our Creator connecting with this boy through His creation.

He would go on to hear a message about Jesus later that night at chapel that would affirm the amazing love that God had for him. A seed had been planted that day; a seed of hope for a boy that came from a flowerless world.

At One Hope Canada, our goal is to present the Gospel to those with the least chance to hear, especially children and youth. If not for camp, this boy, his mom and older brother may never have had that chance. They couldn’t afford to come though, but through an inner city outreach, someone paid the price for this family to attend.

In an effort to ensure that every child across Canada has an opportunity to come to camp, One Hope Canada is creating the “Price Has Been Paid Fund”. The fund will be utilized by camps to make sure that otherwise unsponsored kids will be able to afford to come, and to help pay for the additional staff required to encourage kids at camp and afterward.

For more information on how you can partner with One Hope Canada through the Price Has Been Paid fund contact Nic Mundey via email at nmundey@onehopecanada.ca or call 1-888-960-2580.

Donations can also be made through our website www.onehopecanada.ca, click “Donate Now” and follow the links.

Canada’s Hope

13

Faith that’s more

than words

We had been challenging our cabin leading staff to come up with three key simple truths about God that they wanted campers to grab ahold of each week, and to intentionally seek out one-on-one conversations with their campers to get to know them, and to encourage them with these truths. Some of the consistent ones that they chose were, “God is in control,” “You can trust God”, “You are precious to Him,” and “You are never alone”.

At the end of one of the weeks, one

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of our cabin leaders was sharing about a camper who came from quite a challenging background, and had been on the fringe of cabin discussions during the week.

When asked what she had learned through her week at camp, she quietly stated, “I am never alone!”

“

BY STEVE DUNCAN, CAMP DIRECTOR

Although not interacting fully, she had been listening, and through the compassion and kindness of her cabin leader taking the time to care, listen to her and share Jesus with her, God had met her and encouraged her with His presence.

Through the compassion and kindness

of her cabin leader, God had met her and encouraged her with His presence.”

On another instance, one of our cabin leaders had been waiting for news as to what the next year of her life would look like. Things didn’t pan out as expected, and she was struggling to come to terms with the outcome. One of the senior leadership staff asked her what key truths she had been encouraging her campers with. As she thought about it, she said, “God is in control, and you can trust God.” Through the conversation that followed, she was challenged that maybe the things that she had been teaching and encouraging the campers with throughout the

summer, God was wanting her to walk in herself. There was a “realization” moment that took place. That conversation brought about the challenging reminder that our faith needs to be more than words, that God wants us to not only speak truth, but have our lives as a living example. And the outcome? Over the next week, outside of her control, God transformed the situation. And the result? Joy, thankfulness and a desire to trust God more.

ECHO LAKE BIBLE CAMP

www.elbc.ca 250-996-0227

“

That conversation brought about the challenging reminder that God wants us to not only speak truth, but have our lives as a living example.”

Canada’s Hope

15

Our identity

“

in Christ

Jesus is

a courageous

Shepherd, leading us unflinchingly

into the darkest places and

deepest valleys of our hearts.”

16

Knowing God’s heart and leading feels a lot like a really good conversation. A great conversation is a mutual unwrapping of heart, where I can’t control the outcome, I can only contribute to it with vulnerability, humility and love. We have been here at Hope Bay for almost four years, and in that time we’ve been caught up in a constant conversation with God. Our hearts have been in an ongoing process of unwrapping, a journey into the wounded places, and though that process continues to be painful, it is

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

BY DUSTIN HEIGH, CAMP DIRECTOR

filled with Christ’s healing, because that’s what happens when the Holy Spirit unwraps the heart of God. Jesus is a courageous Shepherd, leading us unflinchingly into the darkest places and deepest valleys of our hearts. It’s in the dark where we trust His hand, where we finally stop trusting what we see and trust His word.

In countless moments over the years we have been brought to these deep valleys where all we have is His word, where we finally see that His word is all we need – an overflowing

abundance of direction, truth, and life. The direction has always been provided as Jesus is revealed, and as Jesus is revealed, life is breathed into the barren places.

Allowing Jesus into the barren places requires vulnerability and humility. Humility is seeing where we actually stand with God, and vulnerability is trusting that the cross absorbed all the wrath we deserve. Experiencing Jesus here at Hope Bay has only happened through humble selfforgetfulness and faith-nurtured vulnerability. To be vulnerable to the Spirit is to die to yourself, trust the promises of Christ, and experience His faithfulness.

“

Openness has

been a humble

declaration of faith in our identity in Christ,

an invitation for others to discover what

Jesus thinks of them

and to know healing.”

Our vulnerability has not been a dangerous openness to being wounded

by Jesus, rather it’s been a safe openness to the healing wounds of Jesus. This

vulnerability hasn’t been a dangerous openness to being wounded by others either.

Instead, openness has been a humble declaration of faith in our identity in Christ, an invitation for others to discover what Jesus thinks of them and to know healing.

We are forever thankful for this conversation, this unwrapping of hearts, because the glory of Jesus resounds from grateful hearts and communities healing into wholeness.

HOPE BAY BIBLE CAMP

www.hopebaybiblecamp.com 250-629-3194

Canada’s Hope

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HOPE BAY BIBLE CAMP

HOPE BAY BIBLE CAMP

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

LAKE OF THE TREES BIBLE CAMP

MAPLE SPRINGS BIBLE CAMP

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

NESS LAKE BIBLE CAMP

AMASA BIBLE CAMP

AMASA BIBLE CAMP

ECHO LAKE BIBLE CAMP

NESS LAKE BIBLE CAMP

ECHO LAKE BIBLE CAMP

LAKE OF THE TREES BIBLE CAMP

HOPE BAY BIBLE CAMP

ECHO LAKE BIBLE CAMP

MAPLE SPRINGS BIBLE CAMP

7 provinces 8 camps

250

HOURS

12 students

4 staff

of classroom instruction

BY THE NUMBERS

Countless

125

mission and serving opportunities

HOURS

of assignments, reading and group work

100%

of our graduates served at One Hope Canada camps this summer

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

ďƒ¨

3 students

entering full-time, year-round camp ministry roles this fall with One Hope Canada

Conversations of Change Barry and Lerissa Buhler, Directors of Encounter School of Discipleship A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR

There are many things I appreciated about my job as director of Encounter. If you walk into my living room, you’ll see many photos that my wife and I have taken of the beautiful country of Canada during our travels already. However, while those photos are beautiful and tell a lot of stories, they don’t compare remotely to the stories that we get to hear from the way God has engaged our students during the course of Encounter and how God used that time to prepare them for the road ahead. Here’s a few conversations that I’d like to share with you from some people significantly changed by Encounter this past year:

CHANGE GROW LEAD

Partnering with One Hope Canada to build into the lives of Canadian children, youth and their families.

As a family business well into its third generation the Penner family has more than 50 years of experience in the construction industry.

www.tlpenner.ca (204) 748 -1400

Canada’s Hope

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Conversations of Change: Marianne Describe a little bit about your life before coming to Encounter:

MARIANNE: I had just graduated from trade school in computer graphics and knew that I didn’t want to work full-time in that job. During my third summer at camp, the summer before Encounter, God put a desire in my heart to work as a missionary in my home province, but mostly, to be able to encourage and support people through camp ministry.

What did you appreciate most about Encounter?

MARIANNE: I really appreciated the fact that we worked all together in a small group. We learned to be open and vulnerable/transparent before each other, supporting one another in prayer and keeping each other accountable. We learned to work together as the body of Christ and that was something very, if not totally, new to me. I also loved travelling across the country and see how every single place we stopped was different from the next. It helped me to better understand how to reach out with the Gospel to the people surrounding me back home.

What was one of the biggest lessons that you learned during the trip?

MARIANNE: I learned that there really was freedom in Christ and that even though we don’t often act like it is true, God is absolutely everything He says He is. Before, my relationship with God was based mostly on my efforts to do well enough so He would be pleased with me. I knew my salvation didn’t depend on me, but I thought that somehow, if I worked hard enough, I would be able to gain more of His love or feel closer to Him. When He looks at me, God sees Christ in me... Christ resisting the devil, healing the sick, obeying even to His death on the cross. How could I even think of doing more than that?!

I learned that God wasn’t asking me to do more for Him, but to trust Him to be everything He is.

And then, since He is who He is (Provider, Savior, Loving Father…) how could I not want others to know about Him too? How could I not want to follow Him with everything that I am and follow His example? All this time, it wasn’t about how much I did, but about how much I trusted in Him and surrendered to Him.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

You spent this past summer back at your home camp, Camp Livingstone in Quebec, how did the Encounter experience equip you for your role this summer?

MARIANNE: Through Encounter, I have learned not to trust in myself but to trust in God. I have also learned that being a leader didn’t necessarily mean to lead from up front. That and so many other things that God had worked in my life through Encounter really changed the way I viewed and reacted to people and situations.

I was able to be more of an encouragement to the team I worked with. The way God has been healing hurts from my past also made me more aware of the hurts in other people’s lives, whether campers or staff. In the past, I had started my summer dreading that I wasn’t ready for the task ahead. This summer, I started it ready, knowing that God had it all in His hands and that He was able to work despite my weaknesses.

What are your plans for the next stage in life now that Encounter is finished?

MARIANNE: On September 1st, I started working for One Hope Canada, with the resource and finance teams.

I also help out my field director and my home camp (Livingstone), by working on their website and other graphics jobs (newsletters, brochures, etc.). Throughout the year, I plan on following up with some of the female staff from this past summer; to be able to encourage them in their walk with God as well as to challenge them to abide in Him in all aspects of our lives. I’m happy to be where God leads me and looking forward to see how He’s going to work in and through me in the next few years.

As we prepared for our second year of Encounter, we realized that we would not have enough students to operate the program.

While this was disappointing for us, we know that God’s hand is steadfast through it all.

Though this summer was difficult to find enough students, there seems to be much interest for next fall, so we press on, diligently working to put into place the building blocks necessary to make Encounter a sustainable avenue for discipleship, year after year.

Encounter Teacher Profile: Colin Bell COLIN BELL lives in Austin, Manitoba, where he has served for the past eight years as pastor of Austin Evangelical Fellowship. He is married to his wife, Dawn, and they have two beautiful girls. He is an avid sports fan and cheers for the Winnipeg Jets.

During this past year with Encounter, you spoke on one of your passions, “The Church”, and really challenged our students in the way they viewed and participated in Christ’s Church.

Why is this such a passion of yours?

COLIN: Well first of all, being a pastor, “church” is a pretty big part of my life! However, I feel that there are so many misconceptions about the church these days - it’s falling apart, it has so many problems - but I am passionate to see the church for what God intended it to be. He wants us to be real, to have community, and to spend our lives worshipping him. It’s important that this generation knows the importance of the church, and while it can be changed, it cannot be thrown out!

Despite the fact that there are problems and failings, Christ is still continuing to build His Church.

You mentioned to me your week with Encounter was one of the highlights of your year so far.

What made the experience so unique?

COLIN: I absolutely loved my week with Encounter.

While I preach and teach to my congregation year after year, it was the first time that I had the privilege of teaching in this type of setting. The size of the group was perfect for class interaction. I loved being able to get to know the students, hear where they are at, and also be challenged by them as well!

Based on your response, what would be your encouragement to a young person considering Encounter?

COLIN: What I really appreciate most about Encounter is that it is very biblically based, and secondly, it’s across Canada. If this program had been around when I graduated high school, I would have very seriously considered it. It’s perfect for the time of life where you leave your home, and wrestle through your faith and make it your own. It’s a place where you can get your biblical foundation while seeing this incredible country.

Canada’s Hope

23

Art of Distraction The

BY TOM McINTOSH, CAMP DIRECTOR

“

Relationships

with God and each other are key at Bible Camp.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

As camp director, my summer conversations centre on my leaders in Program, Work Crew, Food Services, Administration and Facilities. I do also enjoy conversations with any of our 400 campers. The ones which stick are campers whom cabin leaders can no longer handle.

It’s the final straw, “Let’s go talk with Chief,” (my camp nickname).

These conversations are sometimes

stern, sometimes comforting, sometimes counseling, always loving, instructive, and with the aim to reconcile relationships.

Relationships with God and each other are key at Bible Camp.

One young boy felt terribly homesick. I arrived at the nurse’s station to red eyes and tears streaming down cheeks. Instant compassion filled my heart, “What if this were my son?” I thought.

Our camp’s mission is “to show God’s love through fun, Bible centered camping.” He seemed to enjoy the singing, chapel time, swimming, his cabin leaders, the food, the games, and camp in general. But bedtime is when young boys can miss their mommies. The classic “homesick pill” hadn’t worked (they only help if quietly lying down and closing eyes).

Now what?

I make it a practice to include God in each conversation: “Please show me how to love this young boy.”

That’s when an idea came. “Let’s draw your mommy a picture of you at camp.” The “art of distraction” is a useful trick of the trade in camper ministry. His cabin leader and I would also draw a picture with him.

It’s about relationships.

“

I make it

a practice to

include God in

each conversation: “Please show me how to love this young boy.”

I ran downstairs to fetch the bin of pencil crayons. “These need sharpening in a big way!” A thought popped into my head: “Have you ever used an electric pencil sharpener?” Eyes lit up, “What? You have an electric sharpener!” The next half hour filled an empty dining hall with sounds of 140 sharpenings amidst smiles, chats and drawings. Then followed bedtime for one happy camper. Mission accomplished, “Thank you God!” LAKE OF THE TREES BIBLE CAMP

www.lakeofthetrees.com 250-791-5502

Canada’s Hope

25

Forever

changed “I wish there was a place for me…” How do I respond to that?

The silence continues on the phone while I think, of course there’s a place for you… isn’t there?

This parent has had her kids coming to camp for several years; some of them have even been on staff. Jesus had got a hold of their lives and it was evident to their mom. The only problem is she was a single parent who didn’t feel overly accepted in church, and didn’t see going to a family camp in summer as a very positive experience for her.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

BY ROB HASENBANK, CAMP DIRECTOR

Not knowing if she could hold it together emotionally around all these families that seemed to have it together, was motivation enough to stay away.

What can we do? Ministering to the marginalized has been a core value at Maple Springs for decades. Helping kids see Jesus is paramount. Helping them develop a functional lifestyle that allows them to grow in that relationship with Jesus, is something else we take very seriously. But what about their parents? The number of kids with single parents has skyrocketed in the

“

In the three years we have

run this camp in partnership with

a local church, we have seen lives change like never before.” last two decades. Single-parents, foster and blended families are becoming the norm, so what can we do?

“I think we can do something” I replied, and Single Mom’s Camp became a part of MSBC. It’s not a new idea by any means, it is however not that popular among the Christian community. I see a lot of people scratching their heads and asking, “Do we really need that?” The obvious answer that day on the phone was YES!

The fact is that we all want to help the kids; we would almost do anything for them. Well helping the parents is just another step in doing that. In the three years we have run this camp, in partnership with a local church, we have seen lives change like never before.

Both mother and child are growing together. The Gospel is preached, and their lives are forever changed.

MAPLE SPRINGS BIBLE CAMP

www.maplesprings.ca 250-767-2354

204-

Canada’s Hope

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KIDS CORNER

I want jesus to shine through me each day.

R

God Is...

I

ead Mark 4:21-32.

A candle that can’t be seen is no use.

If you love Jesus, He wants his light to shine through you each day!

n the Bible, we read about God’s numerous attributes. An attribute is a word that we use to describe a person or an object. It is a characteristic specific to them.

Draw a candle in the holder beside each picture that shows who is shining for Jesus.

Look up the following verses in your Bible to help you fill in the missing letters and discover some of God’s attributes.

Psalm 147:5  God is M _ _ _ _ Y (God is strong and powerful, and He has authority over the whole universe.)

fighting

helping mom

Revelation 1:8  God is E _ _ RN _ _ (God has no beginning or end.

He was, He is, and will forever be.)

2 Timothy 2:13  God is F _ _ TH _ _ _ (God will never let you down, He will accomplish His promises.)

telling about Jesus

When you shine for Jesus, people will see that you are different. Then Jesus will use you to bring your friends to Christ.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

ANSWERS MIGHTY, ETERNAL, FAITHFUL, MERCIFUL

being friendly

Psalm 86:5  God is M _ _ CI _ _ _ (Although we deserve to be punished for our sin, He forgives those who ask for forgiveness and makes them clean in His sight.)

Canadians need God’s Word more than ever.

Participate in this year’s Bible Week challenge.

Register as a church or individual for free at biblesociety.ca/bible-week

Thank you to for donating 10,000 Bibles to One Hope Canada camps all across the country.

This Bible was specifically developed for camp ministry and the kids loved receiving their very own copy!

Being worth it

to God

“

I continuously

face the knowledge

that there is nothing I can do to change their situation,

and nothing I can say to fix it.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

As a cabin leader, I’ve had many conversations with campers, from absolutely hilarious ones as they express crazy amounts of joy in life, to heart-wrenching ones as they share about their struggles.

Not every kid’s life has been a walk in the park. As they share about broken families and separated siblings and missing parents, I continuously face the knowledge that there is nothing I can do to change their situation, and nothing I can say to fix it. But despite this,

BY KIRSTEN ANDERSON, CABIN LEADER

I can share the hope that I have in God, which is far more valuable.

One week, I had a camper share with me about her life. I had known her for scarcely a day. As we talked, she told me of the hard things: the drugs she was addicted to, the helplessness she felt, the suicide she fought every day. She told me of the good things: the few things that meant enough to her to keep her here. As she spoke, I was heartbroken. Speechless. What do you say to that? When “It’ll be okay,”

sounds like both a lie, and a foolish attempt at covering her life with a nice coat of roses. All I could do was listen, pray, and let God work.

At the end, she whispered, “Thank you for listening. It’s been a long time since I talked to someone about all that.” What struck me most was how much God had moved in her heart for her to share. The amount of trust it took for her to pour out her life before me isn’t the kind of trust you build in a day, it’s the trust of God needing one of His children to be heard.

While she didn’t turn to Jesus right there and then, she left the conversation knowing that someone cared and believed she was worth it to God. It’s a truth I couldn’t have expressed as deeply as she felt even if I tried. God didn’t need my speaking to be able to move in her heart, just His presence in our conversation.

NESS LAKE BIBLE CAMP

www.nlbc.bc.ca 250-967-4248

“

The amount of trust it took for her to

pour out her life before me isn’t the kind of trust you build in a day, it’s the trust of God needing one of His children to be heard.”

Canada’s Hope

31

by Bill McCaskell, co-executive director

What happens at camp doesn’t stay at camp While working at camp, they were able to work through and live out their faith— praying regularly for campers, trusting God in many situations, and seeking others for help and encouragement.

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C

ampers go home with lots of stories—their first horseback ride, a new swimming level achieved, and a list of new friends. But what about the lingering effect camp has within local churches connected with the camp?

Garnet and Tracey Hodges, youth pastor couple of BAM Youth (joint youth ministry of Bagot Community Chapel and MacGregor EMC, just outside Portage la Prairie, MB), talk often of the impact their local One Hope Canada Bible Camp (Valley View) has on their youth group and the entire church family.

“People of all ages are involved in the camp—serving on the camp board, showing up for work projects, volunteering in the kitchen, and more and more adults even cabin leading,” explains Garnet Hodges.

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

“But camp life especially impacts the youth,” Hodges continues. “When youth share their testimonies before baptism, many recall taking the Leadership Development Program at Valley View. It really helped them focus on God and what He has done for them. While working at camp, they were able to work through and live out their faith—praying regularly for campers, trusting God in many situations, and seeking others for help and encouragement.”

Youth raised in the church need to make the Christian faith personal. A study conducted by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in 2011 identified one out of every two children raised in an evangelical church stopped attending church after moving away from home, most often leaving any Christian affiliation behind.

What’s really exciting is seeing the pastor intentionally connect with families who don’t have a home church so they feel welcome to return the following sunday.

“Camp helps youth develop strong group bonds,” Hodges explains, “and many of those relationships continue after summer and even after high school graduation. There is a desire to keep in touch and encourage one another in their faith. It’s really good to see.”

But church kids are not the only ones impacted by camp ministry.

Churches who are involved in camp ministry are reminded of that each summer.

One highlight for Nathaniel Harder, Co-Director of Manitoba’s Adventure Day Camp, was seeing the beginning of a relationship between campers, their parents, and the pastor of the church who hosted a week of Adventure Day Camp.

“We invite the parents of campers to attend our closing program on the last day of each week,” explains Harder. “It’s great because parents see their kids acting in skits, view a power point from the week, and see what we learned. What’s really exciting though is seeing the pastor intentionally connect with families who don’t have a home church, so they feel welcome to return the following Sunday.”

It’s stories like these which show that the conversations that start at camp, so often carry on from camp gate to church door.

“That really is our desire,” explains Bev McCaskell, Co-Executive Director. “One Hope Canada exists

to serve the local church, and we do this by helping local churches partner together to proclaim and live out the gospel to their communities. At the same time we provide opportunities for local believers of all ages and with all sorts of skills to grow deep in their faith as they serve at camp. It’s pretty great to see God working as we all serve together.”

BILL & BEV MCCASKELL serve as the Executive Director team of One Hope Canada and have seen firsthand how God uses camp ministry. It happened in their two sons’ lives long after the summer ended.

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Enter coupon code Apply250 at www.prbi.edu to receive a $250 bursary if you apply by December 31, 2014. www.prbi.edu / Sexsmith, AB / 780-568-3962

Canada’s Hope

33

COOKING WITH KATHY

BY KATHY WEIR

Assumptions!

A CO U N T L E S S N U M B E R O F P E O P L E H AV E E AT E N I N M Y K I TC H E N A N D G O N E O N TO L E A D N O R M A L L I V E S

ASSUMPTIONS! We all make them, but often the results aren’t what we expected. Like my first date with Howard when I provided hot chocolate made with cocoa (as we were out of the little packets).

Who knew you were to use less cocoa and add milk and sugar?

Also, assuming the cookies I offered him were okay, when in reality they were stale “rejects” that nearly resulted in him losing a tooth!

During a staff lunch, I inadvertently filled my bowl with what I thought was tomato soup. Not wanting to be “critical” by saying it didn’t taste right, I silently forced myself to consume the contents, only to be informed I had just eaten a bowl of gravy. Ugh!

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

While making a large coffee mocha cake for my daughter’s birthday, I assumed when the recipe asked for two cups of coffee, that it meant sifted, instant coffee. When the cake didn’t rise or turn out anything like the ones our cooks made at camp, I discovered it meant “liquid coffee.”

Another time I made a double batch of potato soup for a church potluck, in which the recipe called for two cloves of garlic. I assumed each of the round balls was called a clove, so proceeded to add two! One could likely tell for weeks who ate my soup, but they never complained of getting a cold!

I’ve always believed that God never wastes experiences in our lives. Perhaps some of these

cooking lessons were actually lessons to remind me of the importance of asking instead of assuming something. How often have we hurt people unintentionally when we have assumed something about their motives, attitude or actions, only to discover we were totally wrong.

As we anticipate the needed new facility at camp, I need to be mindful that nothing is too big for God. Matthew 19:26 says, “With GOD ALL THINGS are possible.” Now that’s something I can be certain about!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Howard and Kathy Weir have been serving as Camp Directors at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp (Manitoba) since 2002, but previously served at Galilean Bible Camp (Ontario) for many years before that

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Ask your dealer about the ‘new SLX’ end dump

Midland Manufacturing congratulates One Hope Canada on this edition of Canada’s Hope

Summer 2014 Quote Wall Camper: Is it spelled Mrs. “God sent a plague and n’t married? turned the water into blood” Isaifiah:theNopy are e, it’s Miss. M-I-S-S Different Camper: It’s M-I-S-S-S-S-S “Who’s blood was it?” if they’re married to a snake!

I’m so glad Jesus

A kid after only 10 minutes of being there declared, “You know, I think I want to live here.”

did the dying for me. there are so many memories that keep me coming back! Camp has literally changed my life

Cabin leader: “Time for devos”.

Camper: “What are evils?”

From 7 year old camper after first song at first chapel “This is my favorite song!”; after second song; “This is my favorite song!!!”; after 3rd song; “This is my favorite song!!!!!” bother me, Bullies used to m all up! then I beat the

Whe re do I find Samsung in the Bible?

No, I don't want to hurt you, I have Jesus in me

Camper trying to get dead flashlight to work: “It worked yesterday...Maybe it only works with the lights off!” (goes and turns off cabin lights to check)

A dress shirt goes really well with

sweat pants sometimes, doesn’t it!

W ill the hot chocol ate melt my teeth [dentures]?

If you sit on a noodle and pretend it’s a horse, does that count as horseplay?

Publications Mail Agreement #: 40019747 Canada’s Hope One Hope Canada – Manitoba 200-189 Henderson Hwy Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L7

God is 100% love.

This has been my best summer ever.

“Then Eve went to the tree and saw...”

“An eagle!”

“No, she saw a snake” “I know that snake!”

After only being here an hour or two, a little guy came up to a staff member and said, when I leave,

“I’m really gonna miss you guys!”

God’s got my back, I learned that in devo tions