CANADA's
Summer/Fall 2015 BC Edition Issue 3
HOPE GOD’S MISSION. OUR ADVENTURE.
Celebrate! In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.
LU K E 1 5:1 0 N LT
A PUBLICATION OF
CANADA's
HOPE Summer/Fall 2015 BC Edition Issue Three GOD’S MISSION. OUR ADVENTURE. Canada’s Hope is the biannual publication of One Hope Canada. Letters, articles and photos are welcome. Names of many of the people mentioned in articles have been changed. EDITOR Melanie Mushaluk CIRCULATION & ADDRESS CORRECTION Melanie Mushaluk
Inside CANADA
BC
3
Chairman’s Message
4
Field Director Editorial
5
Finding Mother
6
Hope Bay Bible Camp
9
Celebrating Growth
8
Celebrating a Return
16
Message of Gratitude
10
Echo Lake Bible Camp
17
Summer Ministry by the Numbers
13
Maple Springs Bible Camp
20
Partnering for the Kingdom
14
Lake Of The Trees Bible Camp
23
Radio Ministry
18
Camp Photos
26
Remembering a Ministry
22
Ness Lake Bible Camp
30
Cooking with Kathy
24
Adventure Day Camp
31
Supporters
28
Camp Amasa
SPONSORSHIPS Bill McCaskell DESIGN Kelli Stewart COPY EDITOR David Nadeau Gloria Pederson Jacquie Bolen Menno Hamm
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN BY FERDI VAN DONGEN
Do we have a reason to celebrate?
Undelivered copies, change of address and new requests should be addressed to:
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD SPOKE CLEARLY TO THE ISRAELITES BY INSTRUCTING THEM TO CELEBRATE. WHY? So they would not simply carry on with daily life, but would purposely pause, ref lect on God’s hand in their lives, rejoice, and be merry! Jesus also used the act of celebrating in His parable of the prodigal son.
ONE HOPE CANADA Ministry Resource Centre Unit 6 - 875 Gateway Road Winnipeg, MB R2K 3L1
Do we have reason to celebrate? Is it right for us to celebrate? Would God approve of our celebration? Yes, yes, and yes!
PRINTING Derksen Printers Steinbach, MB Publications Agreement Number 40019747
Telephone: 888-960-2580 Email: info@onehopecanada.ca www.onehopecanada.ca
Please note: To save printing and postage costs, one magazine is mailed per household. If you would like additional copies, please contact info@onehopecanada.ca Cover image taken at Hope Bay Bible Camp
As a mission, we pause to celebrate the completion of this summer’s camp season. We have prayed, we have given, we have organized and planned, we have wondered, doubted, worried, and then prayed again and again. Looking back on the 2015 summer camp season, we rejoice how God used One Hope Canada’s camps and ministries to present the Gospel to thousands of children. Hundreds committed their lives to Jesus. Do we have a reason to celebrate? I say, “Yes!” ABOUT THE CHAIRMAN Ferdi has been serving on the National Board since 1995 and became the Chair in 2000. As a young adult, he volunteered at a children's camp, and that is where he heard the message of salvation for the first time. He believes that ministry to children is possibly the most important Christian ministry: children need to hear about God. Canada’s Hope
3
BC FIELD DIRECTOR EDITORIAL
BY JERRY AND RENEE RITSKES, FIELD DIRECTOR TEAM
Taking time to Celbrate CELEBRATING AS AN INTENTIONAL ACT
DO WE MAKE THE EFFORT TO CELEBRATE GOD’S WORK? We sold our house, stored our belongings and joined the Mission this summer. We spent time travelling to each of our mission points to meet our missionaries and see all they are involved in. It was humbling to meet so many excellent people with servant hearts. We saw God work in the hearts of leaders, as well as campers. Camp ministry is such a great place to grow. We personally are excited about all the possibilities ahead of us. Often I don’t take the time to give thanks or to celebrate. One of the great sins mentioned
in Romans 1:21 was that the people weren’t thankful. Celebrating is an intentional act, which means we must make time for it. It’s part of our faith. Jesus said in Luke 15:10 that all heaven rejoices when just one sinner repents. Do we make the effort to celebrate God’s work? How are you going to celebrate what you saw and experienced this summer? We thought we would be getting a home this fall, but instead we will continue to spend time at each camp. I guess we will get to do some serious celebrating with y’all!
“Celebrating is an intentional act, which means we must make time for it. It ’s part of our faith." 4
Summer/Fall 2015 | www.onehopecanada.ca
by Faye Rempel
MY
W
hen I was nine, my mother, Gretta, died and everything was different without her. Our house seemed so empty at times. I was the only kid I knew who wore a key around her neck—everyone else had a mom to welcome them home after school. I let myself into the empty house and waited for more than an hour before Dad came home from work.
Some days, I tried to make supper and in the middle of stirring the creamed corn, would get distracted. Dad sometimes got burned corn and potatoes, but he never complained. He just appreciated my trying. While losing Mom was hard, and though I didn’t have siblings, I was blessed with an absolutely wonderful father. He was so kind and I knew he would always keep me safe. I knew he needed a wife and I needed a mother, so I simply asked God to send us someone. A year after Mom died, I was invited by friends to Gimli Bible Camp. It was my first time at camp; I was so excited to travel by bus with friends! As we tumbled out of the
bus, we were greeted by a lady with a sweet smile. She reminded me of my mother and I was immediately attracted to her. I discovered this pretty woman wasn’t married, and my ten-year-old heart was thrilled! I followed her around all week, and didn’t leave camp before taking her picture and getting her address. At home, I waited for the right moment. One night after supper I showed Dad the picture and told him, “Dad, this is the lady I want for my new mom. Here is her address. Now you write to her.” Being the shy man he was (it took years to get up the courage to ask Mom to marry him), he responded with a decided, “No Faye, I can’t do that.” > page 12 Canada’s Hope
5
BY DUSTIN HEIGH CAMP DIRECTOR
Celebrating from God's
Point of View
Oftentimes it's all too easy to stay focused on the obstacles and hardships in the foreground and allow the glory of all that God has done to blur into the background. Our perspectives get warped and drawn inward and we wander. Celebrating all that God has done, who he has proven himself to be pulls everything into proper focus. And very quickly we realize that there is far more glory around us then we realized. This year we have seen God continue to build community, to establish relationships, and to create opportunity. God's generous heart continues to provide for us through his people. So many have donated thousands to sponsor campers and so far this summer
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20 children who could not have afforded camp have been given the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Thousands have been donated for us to purchase a new camp truck, thousands towards a new wash house, new roof for our dining hall, and a new shop. He has brought us
an amazing new Program Director, filled our summer with incredible staff and campers, and three wonderful discipleship students who've lived with us here since June 2014. God has worked within the Pender community to establish unprecedented connection, collaboration, and trust. Over the past two years our Sunday worship services have grown from a core group of about 20 to now a community of close to 60. This summer a new connection with a church in the downtown eastside of Vancouver brought 16 campers to our Junior Camp just before it started. It was a week like no other. I was able to get to know a few campers really well and especially one in particular. Somehow, God made a way for this young man to open his heart to me,
“
He called out to Jesus asking him
to forgive and heal the pain he'd caused
himself and others. He gave all his anger to God and asked him to be his Father. to share his story and some of the pain he's been through. He cried as he shared his story to me on the steps of the chapel. He said he couldn't remember the last time he cried. He carried so much anger and so much pain and struggled with how to cope with it. The last night of the week he and I sat together in the back of the chapel and he called out to Jesus asking him to forgive
and heal the pain he'd caused himself and others. He gave all his anger to God and asked him to be his Father. It's a good thing we have an eternity to celebrate God's glory. We're going to need it. HOPE BAY BIBLE CAMP
www.hopebaybiblecamp.com 250-629-3194
Canada’s Hope
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BC FIELD DIRECTOR EDITORIAL
BY JERRY AND RENEE RITSKES, FIELD DIRECTOR TEAM
RETURNING TO ONE HOPE MINISTRY AFTER 35 YEARS
Celebrating a What an amazing opportunity to see kids give their heart to Christ!
8
Return!
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT we would be back with
One Hope Canada? In the late ‘70’s, I came to BC to get my first experiences with camp by serving at Hope Bay Bible Camp, Lake Of The Trees Bible Camp and Maple Springs Bible Camp. I spent two summers serving these camps and the experience launched me into camp and pastoral ministry for the last 35 years. As the new Field Director Team travelling to all our ministry points and visiting a lot of familiar places, we found ourselves giving thanks and celebrating God’s presence with
Summer/Fall 2015 | www.onehopecanada.ca
us over the summer and over all these years. 1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us that everything we have has been given to us from God. This includes all the
It is such a great experience to see children, who already have a hardened heart towards people and God, begin to soften and realize that God loves them and truly wants their love. experiences, blessings, gifts, abilities, health to serve, faith, trials and personal tragedies which all come through the hand of the Lord. What an amazing opportunity to see kids give their heart to Christ and to see them grow over the years - these are all blessings the Lord gives us in ministry. Not everyone gets to see these things, but as part of God’s path for our lives, we, in camp ministry, often get to see them. It is such a great experience to see children,
who already have a hardened heart towards people and God, begin to soften and realize that God loves them and truly wants their love in return. Sometimes it’s those very difficult camps, which try our patience, yet we see the Lord break through in such dramatic ways. It is similar to the seasons of life where confusion, struggle and hurt seem so abundant, yet the Lord uses them to grow our own walk of faith. Maybe this is why the scriptures remind us
so often to celebrate (rejoice in) our trials. Not because we deny the depth of our suffering, but, because in faith, we see the end result of our trials. As you look back at the summer, may you consider the words Tom McIntosh said to me this fall, “Some summers are more for planting and some are for reaping”. Irregardless of what type of summer you may have had, the Lord has given it to you and we hope you can celebrate it and see God’s hand in it.
CANADA'S HOPE PUBLICATION
LARGER QUANTITY MEANS IMPROVED QUALITY
Celebrating
Growth!
WE ARE GROWING! We are so thankful that we now have the opportunity to share what God is doing through the ministry of One Hope Canada (formerly CSSM Ministries) with over 20,000 homes through each edition of Canada's Hope. This larger print quantity also means that we are able to improve the quality of paper we use for the magazine you are now holding - making it easier for you to read and enjoy for the same costs as our previous newsprint.
Thanks for your ongoing support and enjoy celebrating with us what God is doing! Canada’s Hope
9
“
BY ALLISON SCHNECK SUMMER PROGRAM INTERN
She let everyone know she didn't
want to be there. Within the first hour we discovered she struggled with self harm.
Celebrating
God's Power
A few weeks ago I saw Jesus work in a young camper's life like I had never seen before. This camper was reluctant to come to camp to say the least. She stood scowling at registration. She let everyone know she didn't want to be there. Within the first hour of camp we discovered she struggled with self harm. She had already visited the nurse twice for cuts on her arm that she apparently didn't know where they came from. At this point, we
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didn't even know if we had the staff to keep her safe. We called social workers with questions. If we couldn't keep her safe, we'd have to send her home. No questions asked. But then before dinner I noticed
something different about her that I hadn't noticed before. She was smiling. She was laughing. She had already sensed Jesus by dinner time. Jesus had started working in her heart through the laughter and the silliness of camp. After dinner there were no more trips to the nurse for the rest of the week. No more band aids. She was safe. And she was loved. The whole week there were glimpses of hope. The light in her eyes shone brighter. The whole week there were also shadows of reluctance. Fear would creep up behind the light in her eyes and she would take a few steps back to where she had been before. On the last day she gave me a note. She wrote, "The first day that I came to this camp I thought it would be boring, but I regret saying
“
I noticed something different
about her. She was smiling. She
was laughing. Jesus had started
working in her heart through the
laughter and the silliness of camp. that. The first day it changed my life. And just thinking that I might not be able to come again makes me so sad. I just want to stay here forever and ever. Thank you for the best week of my life." Her social worker e-mailed camp the following Monday to say that this camper loved camp, and to ask if we had any more spots available
during any other weeks. The transformation is visible beyond the boundaries of camp. All this because of Jesus, and a celebration of the power of His love.
ECHO LAKE BIBLE CAMP
www.elbc.ca 250-996-0227
NO MATTER WHERE A KID IS COMING FROM, WHEN THEY COME TO CAMP WE GET THE PRIVILEGE OF COMMUNICATING GOD’S LOVE TO THEM IN A VERY HAND’S ON WAY. TO ME, THERE IS NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN SEEING A KID RECOGNIZE THEIR NEED FOR THAT INCREDIBLE LOVE, AND SAY
“I want to live for Jesus!”
- CHANDRA, CAMP VOLUNTEER
I BELIEVE THAT CAMP MINISTRY IS VERY IMPORTANT. SOME KIDS DO NOT HEAR ABOUT THE GOSPEL AT HOME OR ANYWHERE ELSE AND, THEREFORE, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SEEK THE LORD. THIS SUMMER I FELL IN LOVE WITH CAMP BECAUSE GOD’S PRESENCE IS SO WELCOMED THERE AND KIDS ARE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR FAITH.
Camp is effective in spreading the Gospel TO CHILDREN, STAFF AND IN SOME CASES EVEN THE FAMILIES OF CAMPERS AS THEY GO HOME TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
- DANICA, CAMP VOLUNTEER
Canada’s Hope
11
FINDING MY Mot her Continued from page 5 …
I hounded him for days. Sometimes, I would walk past his bedroom and see him on his knees by his bedside. I hoped he was praying for the courage to write that letter.
Finally, he agreed to write, but he cautioned me, “Faye, this doesn’t mean she will want to have anything to do with us.” I understood that, but couldn’t wait to see if she’d respond. Every day I ran home from school and checked the mailbox, and every day—no letter. Weeks passed, but I didn’t give up hope. One afternoon I opened the mailbox and my heart leapt. There it was, a pink envelope. The longest hour and a half of my life was spent waiting for Dad to get home! The pretty woman from Gimli Bible Camp, Irene Adams, agreed to meet Dad. She also agreed to be his wife, an answer to my prayers.
12
I did get my new mother and I got to choose her! I distinctly remember one incident where my new mom and I were disagreeing about something and when I complained to Dad, he put down the newspaper, looked me right in the eye and said, “Faye, you picked her, you work it out!” What could I say? My prayers were answered in such a beautiful way, yet recently I realized there was more to this story than even I had thought. Several years ago I was looking through some of my second mom’s keepsakes and came across a real treasure, a certificate given to her many years before. It simply read, “This is to certify that Irene Adams has attended Summer Bible School conducted at Thunder Creek School.” It was dated July 26, 1934, when she was eleven. On the certificate I recognized another name, the signature of the Bible School teacher, Miss Gretta
Summer/Fall 2015 | www.onehopecanada.ca
McIntyre. My second mom had told me that the first time she heard the Gospel was from Gretta, a twentynine-year-old CSSM missionary, who spent her summers traveling to different communities playing her harpsichord, singing songs, and telling children about Jesus. I recognized Gretta’s name, because twelve years after the certificate had been issued, Gretta McIntyre married my dad and, two years later, at age forty-three, gave birth to me. God, in His faithfulness, had woven together the answer to my prayer years before I was born! When Dad wrote that first letter to Irene, he didn’t know his first wife, Gretta, had introduced Irene to Jesus and, although Irene had never met Dad personally, she knew that Gretta would have married a good man, so she felt led to respond to his letter. And, as Paul Harvey always said, “Now you know the rest of the story.”
“
We are called
to witness to these kids and share the
life-giving message
of the Gospel. What better way than to meet them where
they are and play?
BY ROB HASENBANK CAMP DIRECTOR
Let's Play! Can we all be kids? There is something about playing that is hardwired into each of us. For some, it is buried a little deeper than in others, but it’s there. Most kids have no problem being told to play. We see it every day at camp. In fact, it’s pretty difficult to get kids to stop playing! They naturally gravitate to fun and enter in. I think we could all learn something from the kids attending our camps! Each week a number of volunteers join us to help with the many tasks that make camp run.
Most of those helpers are teens, although a few adults join us each year. There is nothing like watching their faces as they witness the raw, nearly unmeasurable amounts of fun the campers have each day.
It’s like something deep within these leaders awakens and they remember being a kid, remember playing, and remember fun! We celebrate fun in many ways at camp. Playing and fun are pathways to building relationships with kids. Really, they are a pathway to building relationships with most people. We are called to witness to these kids and share the life-giving message of the Gospel. What better way than to meet them where they are and play with them? Each year my program director and I watch our staff discover that playing and building relationships with kids is one of the most rewarding things in their summer. We see if these leaders choose to let go of the cool swagger that growing up seems to require of them, and be silly, laugh out loud, and go crazy! Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Mark to come to Him with faith like a child. I think He is saying that kids are onto something, pay attention!
MAPLE SPRINGS BIBLE CAMP
www.maplesprings.ca 250-767-2354
Canada’s Hope
13
BY TOM MCINTOSH CAMP DIRECTOR
“Celebrating
I mostly celebrate our weakness
and Jesus Christ’s strength.
God’s Power & Provision My reasons to celebrate ... GETTING HERE I celebrate the trail of relationships which brought campers to Bible Camp-grandparents, moms, friends, other campers, churches, camp-friendly media, neighbours.
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GETTING SAVED I also celebrate campers’ stories shared during camp. Some, who were cold toward God, warmed up to His love and truth. Around one-in-four campers received Jesus Christ by faith. Another one-in-four campers
recommitted to better know and represent Him. That’s my story too, because I recommitted my life to Christ 30 years ago--here at Bible Camp. DONATIONS I celebrate each dollar God provides, and how He blesses donors’ generosity. To keep camp registration fees at $200 per week, it takes miracles through the generosity of many--giving without recognition, giving sacrificially, and giving willingly when prompted by God. One young preteen camper put aside money from her little business to sponsor other campers in need. Another working single lady set aside a large gift which definitely could have been needed elsewhere. A couple raising a young family regularly hand in envelopes with large amounts of cash. Another
set of staff parents dropped a large cheque in the donation box—no plea from camp, no idea of our incredible needs, no clue how blessed they would be. CHRIST'S STRENGTH I mostly celebrate my weakness and Jesus Christ’s strength. The apostle Paul could have bragged about many impressive credentials, but instead celebrated Christ’s strength in his weakness (2 Corinthians 9). EVIDENCE OF GOD • 530 school students and retreat guests, of whom 410 are children and youth • 521 campers, of whom 472 are children and youth, mostly from the BC Cariboo Interior
• 320 either do not attend church regularly or never do • 108 campers were counseled for a recommitment to better know and represent Jesus Christ • 92 professed a faith in Jesus Christ • 55 Work Crew youth enrolled in discipleship • 121 volunteers ran camp and served in projects • 6 year-round staff • Many who pray regularly for this work of God • Many who give generously, sacrificially, not wanting recognition other than God's blessing
LAKE OF THE TREES BIBLE CAMP
• One Lord and Savior who made it all happen!
www.lakeofthetrees.com 250-791-5502
You can generously help cover the travel costs of our mission team by simply donating your Air Miles to One Hope Canada. Email or call us and we’ll tell you more about this great opportunity to partner with us in sharing the Gospel to thousands of children and youth from across Canada each year. If you would like to start collecting Air Miles for us, just let us know and we will send you a One Hope Canada Air Miles card. Thank you so much for making a difference in this way!
Toll Free 1- 888 - 960 -2580 info@onehopecanada.ca
Canada’s Hope
15
MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE BY JUANITA NEUFELD HR/RESOURCE TEAM LEADER
7000+ Manga Books
The Manga books are awesome!
from the Bible League of Canada! This summer One Hope Canada received over 7,000 Manga books from the Bible League of Canada to distribute to thousands of campers at 23 camp locations, stretching from Pender Island, BC, to Hampton, NB. What a gift! Over half the children and youth who attend our camps come from homes with no Christian inf luence. These Manga books are an effective way of telling them who God’s Son is, and what Jesus did for them. We are deeply grateful for the ministry of the Bible League of Canada, as we could not have covered the cost. Response from the frontlines has been encouraging: The Manga books are awesome! We used them during cabin devotions. It was exciting to see the campers, and especially the boys who have a hard time sitting still, make the connection between the story we read in their Manga book and the same story in the Bible. Thanks so much, Bible League of Canada! (Mark Wilson, Program Director, Maple Springs Bible Camp, Peachland, BC)
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Transforming lives from the inside out. Last year, more than 688,000 people chose to follow Jesus Christ and over 9,808 churches were planted. Bible League Canada partners with local Christians around the world and Canada to provide Scriptures and training through: • Children’s Ministry • Church Planter Training • Adult Bible-based Literacy • Support of the Persecuted Church We’re passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Will you join us? Visit www.bibleleague.ca to learn how. www.bibleleague.ca @BibleLeagueCan Bible League Canada
1.800.363.9673 Box 368, Grimsby, ON L3M 4H8, Canada
This past summer, in Canada … thanks to
3,753
staff and volunteers … cooks cabin leaders lifeguards maintenance nurses and more . . .
20,530 children and youth heard the
GOSPEL.
Here in British Columbia …
thanks to
322
staff and volunteers …
3,508 children and youth heard the
GOSPEL.
We present the Gospel especially to those who have the least opportunity to hear the Gospel, particularly to children and youth and we disciple believers for living and serving in the Church. Canada’s Hope
17
Maple Springs BIBLE CAMP
Hope Bay BIBLE CAMP Lake Of The Trees BIBLE CAMP
Celebrating
SUMMER
2015 Lake Of The Trees BIBLE CAMP 18
Summer/Fall 2015 | www.onehopecanada.ca
Echo Lake BIBLE CAMP
CAMP
Amasa
Ness Lake BIBLE CAMP
Maple Springs BIBLE CAMP Ness Lake BIBLE CAMP
Echo Lake BIBLE CAMP
Canada’s Hope
19
You are a new face to many of our readers outside of Alberta. Tell us a bit about your connection with One Hope Canada.
Souls Saved, Lives Changed,
Christ Glorified
W
E INVITE YOU TO EAVESDROP IN A CONVERSATION BETWEEN CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BILL McCASKELL AND ALBERTA FIELD DIRECTOR CLIFF PEDERSEN AS THEY DISCUSS THE NEW VISION FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MINISTRY WITHIN ONE HOPE CANADA.
Left: Bill McCaskell Right: Cliff Pedersen
From age 10 to the present, One Hope Canada has significantly impacted my life. The first prayer I saw answered was prayed by my school bus driver, a One Hope Canada (formerly CSSM) pastor. The first church I attended as a new believer in my teens was a One Hope Canada church. After Bible college, the first church I pastored was with the Mission. My wife, Gloria, grew up in a One Hope Canada church, attended Camp Silversides many summers, and taught VBS with the Mission two summers. Fourteen years ago, the Lord called us to rejoin the Mission as Alberta Field Director. Tell us about the Mission’s history of sending community missionaries and how that led to many churches being planted across the country.
Over 140 churches grew out of the faithful ministry of community missionaries who had a passion to take the Gospel into Canada’s remotest corners. Some rode horses, others bicycled, and some had vehicles. They taught the Bible in schools and promised children a free week at camp for memorizing 500 Bible verses. Many met the challenge, camps were started, and out of these ministries grew Sunday schools, which frequently developed into churches. What has happened to those churches?
Many churches joined denominations, went independent, or closed their doors when community demographics changed.
“
The National Board wanted to determine rural church ministry needs and discern what and how to effectively and sustainably meet them.
There have been some encouraging developments in One Hope Canada regarding our church and community ministries. Bring us up to speed.
God used Canada Revenue Agency to trigger an initial review. The National Board wanted to determine rural church ministry needs and discern what and how to
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AGC would appreciate our assistance in helping small town pastors raise support, so they wouldn’t need a second job. The more we researched, the more evident it became that we could help each other be more effective at building God’s kingdom. What does the partnership mean for One Hope Canada’s existing church ministries?
“
Then we discovered that CRA does not allow us to have bi-vocational missionaries. That creates a significant problem for many pastors, who need to supplement their income.
effectively and sustainably meet them. We even asked: are we doing something another group is doing? Is church ministry needed? Then we discovered that CRA does not allow us to have bi-vocational missionaries, because we are what they call a religious order. That creates a significant problem for many pastors who need to supplement their income or work in their communities to develop relationships for sharing the Gospel. At the heart of the new vision is a partnership with the Associated Gospel Churches. Explain the partnership and why it is so important.
Over the past year, much research was done to determine if there was another non-denominational, Gospel-centered ministry seeking to plant and sustain churches in small towns or rural settings. AGC is thoroughly evangelical, has more than 150 churches, congregations, and ministries across Canada, is non-denominational, and has no missions programs or camps. Because CRA does not see them as a religious order, their pastors are free to be bivocational. AGC works in out-of-the-way communities and has developed resources to assist churches and small town pastors to be effective. We learned that
Over the next year or two, One Hope Canada churches can determine which umbrella they best fit under. Our more established churches will slide under the AGC banner if they can fully support their pastor. When a pastor needs or chooses to be bi-vocational, he can be accredited with AGC. This will see our churches and missionaries evaluating what works best in their community. We, of course, will continue to fellowship together at annual conferences and will add AGC pastors to our conference registrations when they need to come under our banner to raise support. What is your hope and prayer for the future?
Once we work through the next year or two of transition, I sincerely long to see the Gospel going into rural/small town settings all across Canada through community missionaries. I sincerely long to see churches birthed. We have the tools through the AGC and the means through One Hope Canada. Christ stated He would build His Church and it shouldn’t matter how He chooses to do it, as long as souls are saved, lives are changed, and Christ is glorified.
“ “
it became evident that we could help each other be more effective at building God’s kingdom. Canada’s Hope
21
DAVE HORTON PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Celebrating
Leaders
God continues to show that He is the one who goes before us. We had another great summer with 1,590 campers taking part in hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. I was reminded of what we are really about through this summer. One week we were short of male cabin leaders, and that week my wife and kids happened to be out of town. It was my opportunity to get back into a cabin for a bit to see what the life of a cabin leader is like, what situations make their life hard. I was excited and equally nervous to be a cabin leader again; I have four kids of my own, but ten eight-year-olds is a lot different! It had been six years since I was a cabin leader and ten years since I
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did it for a whole summer. As my campers rolled in I was surprised to find out that one camper spoke little or no English. This was a bit of a curve ball, as I had great plans to teach Bible studies, ask
good questions, and win these kids to Jesus. I suddenly realized that I couldn't even tell him how to get to our waterfront let alone explain the Gospel in great detail. I learned some Manderin to help get through the week, but counting to ten and saying “hamburger� only gets you so far. I was reminded throughout that week what the real job of a cabin leader is. It's not saying the right words, leading the perfect Bible study, or even asking the right questions. Their first job is being available; not being too busy creating fun, but being available in the fun. Camp is a hoot and my job as a Program Director is to make sure that there are great activities to draw campers to our site. As we went through the week I saw more and more that the program I had created was good, but more importantly I saw that camp is
“
The real job of a cabin leader is not
saying the right words, leading the perfect Bible study, or even asking the right
questions. Their first job is being available. all about kids hanging out with loving cabin leaders who exemplify the love of God--through play, discipline, teaching and living with Godly character. Kids may forget what we say, but the memories we make with them while living in such a close environment will never be forgotten. This has encouraged me more and more to keep looking and asking for ways to empower our cabin leaders to spend time with
their kids. That includes providing assistance when they have tough situations, materials for teaching, and toys to play on. Thanks again for your support this summer, and please be assured that your prayers are powerful, and that the God we serve continues to move in the lives of those who come onto our site. NESS LAKE BIBLE CAMP
www.nlbc.bc.ca 250-967-4248
RADIO MINISTRY
USING RADIO TO SPREAD THE WORD OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN CANADA
One Hope Canada
Uses Radio
EVERY SUMMER, ONE HOPE CANADA’S 46 MINISTRY POINTS WELCOME MORE THAN 3,600 VOLUNTEERS. With camp ministry being so people intensive, appealing for volunteers is vital. That is where One Hope Canada’s radio ministry comes in. Since 2001, One Hope Canada has partnered with Heart of the South, enabling us to secure paid advertising for all camp ministries. It’s a great way to spread the Word. Heart of the South is a two-hour weekly Southern Gospel radio program airing on 36 stations from British Columbia to Ontario—and
around the world on the Internet. Long-time host Harold Giesbrecht explains how it works. In 1999, I joined CSSM after working for Golden West Radio. My program director said they’d like to use me now and then as a production voice for commercials. Because CSSM was a religious order, my receiving
outside income was not an option with CRA, so we arranged for Golden West to give CSSM commercials in exchange for my recording time. From small beginnings fifteen years ago, the concept grew beyond Golden West to Heart of the South, airing on three dozen stations in five provinces. In exchange, One Hope Canada receives 4,000 commercials and thousands of Minute of Hope audio stories annually, a retail value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If interested in having Heart of the South on your local radio station (it could help a One Hope Canada camp), please contact Harold Giesbrecht at haroldg@ onehopecanada.ca. Canada’s Hope
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BY ROLAND MCQUADE ADVENTURE DAY CAMPS DIRECTOR
I am confident that our Great
Shepherd cares well for His little lambs, even if the parents don’t attend church.
Celebrating
God's Care I am confident that our Great Shepherd cares well for His little lambs, even if the parents don’t attend church. How do I know? Because of Josh. Josh returned to camp again this year, eagerly taking every opportunity to discuss his relationship with God. This year, he brought his little sister, Jenna. I had the privilege of leading
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Josh to the Lord in 2010. This year, every time we gave the invitation for counselling, he came and we talked through different parts of his relationship with God; confessing sin, reading his Bible, spiritual
battles, his prayer times with God, sharing his faith—all topics he brought up, wanting wisdom and encouragement. On one occasion he shared, “I really like to pray. When I pray I feel so good and peaceful.” I shared the promise from Philippians 4 about this peace coming from God. Another time he said that, even though he doesn’t always keep his promises, he told God he was dedicating his life completely to Him and would never break that promise. We always ran out of time before he ran out of spiritual issues to talk about! Yes, God does keep caring for His little lambs! On the last day, Josh brought his little sister, Jenna, to me at our final invitation time, saying she wanted Jesus in her life, too. She seemed genuine in her desire. So I led her to Christ, with her promise to pray
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Pray that these
two siblings will
continue to grow and encourage each other.
that evening. I encouraged Josh to be an encouragement to his sister, now that she has put her faith in Christ, as well. Pray that these two siblings will continue to grow and encourage each other, two children from a home where no one attends church. ADVENTURE DAY CAMP
www.adventuredaycampsbc.com 604-858-5205
YOU HAVE SEEN GOD USE CAMP MINISTRY TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND NOW YOU WANT TO
bless future generations. THERE IS A WAY.
ONE HOPE CANADA'S PLANNED GIVING gives you
an opportunity to direct your gift to a specific camp, region or our entire nation, assuring that Canada’s children and youth will continue to hear the Gospel in the years to come. For information on how life insurance, company stock or estate gifts can be used to further God’s Kingdom in Canada please call
1-888-960-2580
A note on our new name to those of you who have already remembered the Mission in your will: Any existing wills which are made out to CSSM Ministries or Canadian Sunday School Mission are acceptable and do not need to be changed. For any will written from this point forward, please designate the gift to One Hope Ministries of Canada. Thank you.
info@onehopecanada.ca
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Tell us about your salvation experiences.
REMEMBERING
THE
ROSIE: I responded to the Gospel when an evangelist came to my rural church near Woodstock and the Spirit of God prompted me to trust in Jesus as my Saviour. William Jones from Hamilton later baptized me; he was used by God to help direct my life of service for Him.
Fruitful Years of Ministry “ Children
SHIRLEY: When I was a teen, I attended an Inter-School Christian Fellowship event in Bessie Plunkett’s Thunder Bay home. While helping with the dishes, the conversation changed to my spiritual condition, and she helped me trust the Lord for salvation.
WITH
Our first ministry was to teach religious education in schools. that grew to twenty-five schools, three Sunday Schools and Bible clubs. Where did your paths first cross?
INTERVIEW BY HOWARD McLEOD, FORMER GALILEAN BIBLE CAMP DIRECTOR AND ONTARIO FIELD DIRECTOR, ASSISTED BY AGNES FRIESEN, FORMER CSSM MISSIONARY AND NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
S
HIRLEY WHITEHEAD AND ROSELLA deMONTMORENCY WITH ONE HOPE CANADA (THEN CANADIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION) FROM 1953 TO 1992. AFTER CONCLUDING A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY FOR THE LORD, THEY RETIRED IN WINNIPEG. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF THEIR WORK, THEY BOTH SAID, “HELPING GUIDE INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN TO ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOUR.” ROSIE WAS HAPPIEST DOING CHALK ART FOR GROUPS WHILE SHIRLEY TOLD THE BIBLE LESSON.
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SHIRLEY: We attended Toronto Bible College [now Tyndale University], where we met and later sensed God’s call to full-time work with Canadian Sunday School Mission. What was your first assignment with the mission?
ROSIE: We were sent to Amaranth, a wide spot on the road in southern Manitoba, in October 1953. Our first ministry was to teach religious education in schools. That grew to twenty-five schools, three Sunday schools, and Bible clubs. It was a joy to work there, even though our early mode of transportation was by foot or bicycle. During the prairie winters, traveling from school to school could be very cold. God later supplied us with Willy, our little Willys car. We also had the joy of helping to start Ochre River Bible Camp, which later moved to near Dauphin and is now Dauphin Bible Camp, one of the chain of camps with One Hope Canada. After a few years in Amaranth, Shirley’s mom had a stroke, and Shirley went home to Sault Ste Marie to help. She took a teaching job in an elementary school so she could care for her mom. I stayed in Amaranth for a couple of years but, by then, it was felt the work
“
Our interest in working with children’s ministry grew stronger and stronger, and the Lord seemed to be leading us into children’s crusades with the mission … reaching into other provinces.
was developing into a church planting ministry. Don and Donna Lee moved to Amaranth and, in God's wonderful way, helped start and build a church. I moved to the Sault where I served with CSSM as an assistant to Mary Neal, teaching Bible in public schools and working at Galilean Bible Camp. What was your next ministry?
SHIRLEY: Our interest in working with children’s ministry grew stronger and stronger, and the Lord seemed to be leading us into children’s crusades with the Mission. After consultation with CSSM’s national office, it was decided we should begin a ministry with Children’s Crusades out of Winnipeg, but reaching into other provinces. In 1966, we visited the Maritimes to observe a similar CSSM work under the Whites. That was an eventful trip with our little travel trailer, but such a valuable one. When we returned to Manitoba, we were asked to go to Amaranth for a children’s crusade. One encouragement was the provision of a unique, self-supporting chalkboard, with its overhead lighting and black light for Rosie’s backgrounds to support my Bible lesson. A man from my church in Sault Ste Marie created this teaching unit for us. Besides travelling to summer camps, our time was filled with Bible presentations to AWANA clubs, Sunday schools, church children’s clubs, and retirement homes. ROSIE: One of the greatest challenges in ministry was the stress of unloading our packed car, filled with equipment and visuals, to set up for a meeting. An even greater stress came after the meeting as we attempted to fit everything back into the car.
the black light revealed the hidden climax to the Bible presentation Rosie so cleverly created. At the camp, we were always thrilled when your letter of acceptance to our invitation arrived. We wanted you to join us more often, but realized others wanted a share of your God-centred ministry. Your valuable chapel ministry was a huge encouragement to me as a beginner in camp administration. Even yet, as I talk with former campers, some still say it was through your ministry that they began a personal relationship with the Lord. What about retirement?
SHIRLEY: Shortly after we retired in 1992, we had the privilege of going to Venezuela for a short visit. Frieda Johnson, who served there with TEAM, invited us to teach missionary children during their missionary conference. It was a joy when some of them grew in the Lord. Now, after over twenty years, we praise the Lord for His protective care. People gave so much of themselves so we could serve this way. We are thankful for the many children who responded to the call of the Gospel during those exciting and full years. These two dedicated ladies still reach out to the needs of people, praying that the Lord will enable others to present the Gospel to the spiritually needy across Canada. There will be many in heaven who found the way and the truth and the life through Rosie and Shirley’s ministry.
When you drove into Galilean Bible Camp for July chapel sessions every third year for a couple of decades, your station wagon just bulged with interesting teaching aids. Your puppets took on real life for campers as they saw ventriloquism done so effectively. The remarkable hush from the children as Shirley presented the Gospel through Bible stories was a gift from God. There was often an audible, but gentle, expression of awe from campers as
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BY JACQUIE BOLEN CAMP DIRECTOR
Celebrating
Whispers
I read recently of a Bible camp where 31 campers made first-time commitments to Jesus in the first week! What a remarkable celebration and victory! But at Camp Amasa, the reality is quite different and our celebrations and victories tend to look quite different from the mainstream. One of our long-term campers, Patty,* asked where her friend, Martin,* was. I explained that Martin had to go home because he was not feeling well. The next thing we knew, Patty had packed up all of her belongings and was waiting at the curb to go home, because she, too, was not feeling well with a
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stomachache! She was happy when we explained that she did not need to go home and we celebrated the fact that we could spend a few more days together at camp! At camp this summer, one of our new campers, Lisa,* told me that her dad belonged to a provincial camp board. She would tell her
dad everything and if I were nice to her, I would be in business! I chuckled inside and did not tell her that this was my eighth summer “in business!” One celebration we implemented a few years ago was giving out five- year attendance ribbons at the beginning of each week of camp. To date, we have given out 50 five-year ribbons! It was not something I had planned to continue, just a one-time idea for the camps in 2012, until other campers began telling me, “Next year, I’ll get my five-year ribbon!” Needless, to say, the tradition and celebration has continued, with another 12 slated to get ten-year attendance ribbons in 2017! Our stats sheet at the end of the summer may not be as impressive as other camps, but I have no
“
I have no
doubt we are
reaching disabled campers with the love of Jesus.
doubt we are reaching disabled campers with the love of Jesus. Sometimes celebrations are quiet and unimpressive, but victories nonetheless. As God showed to Elijah, He was not in the wind, the fire, or the earthquake, but in the gentle whisper. CAMP AMASA
www.amasa.ca 250-832-6907
Explore a beautiful country. Encounter a beautiful God.
ENCOUN ER
Find out more at ENCOUNTERSCHOOL.CA Canada’s Hope
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COOKING WITH KATHY BY KATHY WEIR
JUST AS IT TAKES THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS FOR A TASTY MEAL , SO TOO DO WE NEED GOD AND ONE ANOTHER TO GET THE CORRECT SPIRITUAL RESULTS.
Cooking with Fire CONFESSION … HONESTY … WAITING. I’M LEARNING THAT BEING DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED AND COOKING IMPAIRED ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS I STRUGGLE WITH. I am grateful that God led us to the theme, Powered by Prayer, at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp (in Manitoba) this summer. Little did I realize the importance of endeavouring to implement more prayer into my life and the lives of staff and campers. It is easy to apply when miracles happen (we evidenced many) and when God works and answers in ways beyond anything we can ask or imagine. We rejoice in His faithful provision through donations to the camp, volunteers who come with servant hearts, and the blessing of a God-focused and praying staff team. It is easy to forget we are in a spiritual battle and need God’s armour. I’ve discovered, like Elijah who experienced incredible victory, how quickly one can
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begin listening to Satan's subtle lies, drowning out God’s still small voice of truth. This results in our focusing on circumstances and becoming frustrated, overwhelmed, and defeated. How does this relate to cooking? Just as it takes the right ingredients for a tasty meal, so too do we need God and one another to get the correct spiritual results. I am a do-it-myself person. Instead, God calls us to community. For example, this summer God used His people to bless our camp through donations of meat. Working alone, I could have made four hundred pounds of ground beef into 7,000 meatballs in May. Yes, what could have been long and tiring days took only two hours while visiting and laughing with volunteers. As we learned in
the culinary class at Skills camp, there is much to learn from one another as we taste and see that the Lord is good and share the results with others. It is important to follow instructions when cooking, so too is a successful life recipe all about choices! Will we listen to God’s Holy Spirit, His Word and truth, or the deceitful lies of the enemy? Will we accept the prayers, hugs, and support of His people, or will we wallow in self-pity and struggle, trying to do things on our own?
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.
AS EACH HAS RECEIVED A GIFT, USE IT TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF GOD'S VARIED GRACE (1 PETER 4:10)
Celebrating
God’s Goodness through His people!
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Canada’s Hope
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I want to challenge
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Canada’s Hope
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Canada’s Hope
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Our team rocked @ verses! Camp has changed my life “Canoeing “ yesterday was amazing! The challenge of it all was super!!
I went to camp hoping to make friends, but I ended up with family. Thank you for God. Thank you for this camp. I feel safe here I hope you stay awesome! I’m coming back next year! still learning a lot in chapel God bless the cooks!
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I liked being stuck on shore waiting for the wind to slow down
I love the songs “ Best time ever!! Thank you for making everything awesome “ Camp is when I get my spiritual high I love chapel “ the mountains are awesome GOD is awefull. (i.e. full of awe) Please make us read the Bible more
I never wanna leave cause I wanna learn more about God the food is always yum I am glad that there is heaven
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Thank you for getting deoderizor for the bathroom.
Thankyou for being so caring “ Please make swimming longer. I love camp because it is in nature “ I am very thankful for the kindness I LOVE CAMP!! I love God “ I am thankful for God. I actually passed my swim test!!!! “ I don’t want to leave “ I love learning about God
My favorite verse is 1 Peter 1:5-7
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Thank you for for God. God. Thank you for for this this camp. camp. Camp Camp has has changed changed my my life. life.
Thx 4 the food! “ I really appreciate that you are giving us time alone in quiet. everyone ROCKS Thank you for teaching us the truth! “
I love campfire and learning about Jesus!
Publications Mail Agreement #: 40019747 Canada’s Hope One Hope Canada – BC Ministry Resource Centre Unit 6 - 875 Gateway Road Winnipeg, MB R2K 3L1