Summer/Fall - Manitoba 2014

Summer/Fall 2014 Manitoba Edition Issue 8

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 Manitoba Edition Issue Eight

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

MANITOBA

Executive Director’s Message 5 Harold’s Humour 12 The price has been paid 20 Encounter 28 Devotional 28 Kids Corner 32 What happens at camp 34 Cooking with Kathy 36 Quote Wall

4

Provincial Director’s Message

6

Valley View Bible Camp

8

The Gift of Conversation

10

Adventure Day Camp

14

Beaver Lake Bible Camp

16

Dauphin Bible Camp

18

Summer 2014 Photos

24

Gimli Bible Camp

26

Roseau River Bible Camp

30

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

3

SPONSORSHIPS Harold Giesbrecht DESIGN Iced Tea Designs COPY EDITOR Menno Hamm 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.

Cover Image taken at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

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!

Canada’s Hope

3

FIELD DIRECTOR EDITORIAL

BY WAYNE EISBRENNER, MANITOBA FIELD DIRECTOR

Plugged into Him W E L I V E I N A P L U G G E D - I N WO R L D , D O N ’ T W E ?

Texting, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, etc., have become a way of life and most of us are probably wondering how we ever got along without all this technology. Yet, with all this ability to connect – have we forgotten how to really have a conversation? Are we truly connecting in a meaningful way?

Author Sherry Turkle, psychologist and professor at MIT, and author of “Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other,” wrote in the April 21, 2012 edition of the New York Times, “We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet, we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection…we expect more from technology and less from one another, and seem increasingly drawn to technologies that provide the illusion of companionship without the demands of relationship.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

She goes on to quote the wistful comments of a 16-year-old boy that she interviewed for her book who said, “Someday, someday, but certainly not now, I’d like to learn how to have a conversation.”

It does seem that while we seem to be “plugged-in” we are in actuality “unplugged” from meaningful relationships.

The theme for this edition of our Canada’s Hope Magazine is “Conversations,” with Colossians 4:6 as the theme verse. Eugene Petersen in The Message paraphrases this verse as follows: “Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

Our One Hope Canada Bible Camps provided opportunities for campers, young and old alike to engage in real conversations this summer. Conversations with peers, with leaders and most importantly conversations with the Lord God! Throughout the pages that follow we have tried to give you a glimpse of some of these conversations and the profound impact experienced by children, youth and adults alike.

We praise our God for His faithfulness and grace revealed in His Word and through His people, and for the reality that He is still desiring that we get plugged into Him!

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!

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Canada’s Hope

5

We are where we are

for a reason

BY NAOMI MARTENS, CABIN LEADER

“

I went to

camp struggling

with whether or

not to cancel the responsibility and go to be

with my ailing

parents instead.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

I am so thankful for the opportunity and privilege I had to serve at camp as cabin leader for a week this year. God taught me a lot! I went to camp struggling with whether or not to cancel the responsibility and go to be with my ailing parents instead. I got confirmation from God while at camp that “we are where we are for a reason.”

The confirmation came to me one morning as one of my cabin girls (age eight) and I decided to leave for chapel a little early and wait for the other cabin members there.

As we sat there talking and getting to know each other better, this little

girl with the sweetest face looked at me with her big brown eyes and asked me this innocent question that I could tell she wanted an answer to.

She asked, “Why am I from Winnipeg and you from Portage”?

To be honest she had me thinking for a while, as the question came to me as a bit of a surprise. It was then and there that it was made very clear to me why I was there.

As I took her hand in mine, and looked in her eyes, I said, “Because maybe if I hadn’t been from Portage and you hadn’t been from Winnipeg, I wouldn’t have had the chance to tell you how special you are and how much God loves you.”

“

I want to challenge

everyone to look for reasons and use every opportunity.”

After she had looked at me for a while, she leaned her head on my shoulder and with a sweet quiet voice she said, “I’m so glad you’re from Portage and I’m from Winnipeg.”

I have to say that incident along with many others was confirmation to me that we are where we are for a reason. I want to challenge everyone to look for reasons and use every opportunity.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE:

Naomi was one of 12 adults in the 30+ age group that came to spend a week as a cabin leader. We believe this age group brings a level of life experience and discipleship that we feel is important for effective camp ministry.

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7

The Gift of Conversation by wayne eisbrenner, manitoba field director

“And God said…”

“What an awesome thing it is to hear a new believer in Christ begin to learn to converse with the Lord of the Universe!”

8

Isn’t it interesting that after a very brief description of the state of our world before creation, God is revealed with these three simple words – “and God said”. Later on in that first chapter, in verse 26, we have evidence of the first recorded conversation as God says, “Let us make man in our image…”

Theologians have long studied and pontificated on what it means to be created in the image of God, and my purpose isn’t to try and give a theological dissertation on this. But it would seem to me that part of being created in the image of God is the gift of communication. Anthropologists agree that the emergence of symbolic language – first spoken, then written – represents the sharpest break between animals and humans. The human ability to think and reason, to use language, symbols and art, far surpasses the abilities of any animals. This gift was bestowed when the communicative God’s image was imprinted on us.

That’s an amazing gift, isn’t it? And one that we so often take for granted.

On September 5th, 2014, my father passed away at the age of 86 years, and I praise God that I have the assurance that, because of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is now in the presence of the Lord. Over these past few days, I’ve had the opportunity to think and remember the last conversation that I had with my Dad on the Wednesday before his death.

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

I will recall always our prayer time on that night. I prayed for him and then, even in his weakened state, he prayed for me, my family, my sister and her family and then prayed that he would not, in the midst of his pain and suffering, turn his face from Jesus. It was without doubt one of the most profound conversations I’ve had in my life.

We have the privilege at our One Hope Canada camps to engage in conversations with staff and campers about spiritual matters. We have the opportunity to introduce many who have never heard of Jesus Christ in a positive way, to a new life with Him. What an awesome thing it is to hear a new believer in Christ begin to learn to converse with the Lord of the Universe!

What an amazing gift!

We thank God for those conversations and the opportunities He gave us to communicate His amazing love and grace to children, youth and adults. We thank you for standing with us in your conversations with the Lord, with your words of encouragement and with your financial support. We look forward to one day hearing from our Lord those amazing words, “well done, good and faithful servant” and to hear Him tell us how those seeds of faith sown this summer have sprouted and produced fruit beyond what we can think or even imagine.

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Bringing the

Good News

BY MELANIE MUSHALUK, ADVENTURE DAY CAMP COORDINATOR

“

It was an

amazing summer of new experiences, spiritual growth, and interesting

conversations.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

This summer seven young people travelled 3,000 kms throughout Manitoba, bringing Adventure Day Camp to six different communities.

It was an amazing summer of new experiences, spiritual growth, and interesting conversations.

One northern community we had hoped to visit, was under evacuation notice because of flooding, so we had to quickly cancel that week of camp and find another place to visit.

We did find a church in Winnipeg, and the team spent several hours delivering flyers to homes, advertising the week of day camp.

One from the team wrote, “I came across a girl playing alone in her yard. I asked to speak to her Mom. I explained about day camp and invited the daughter to come.

Next day, the little girl came to the program.” It was very exciting to see some neighbourhood children come to day camp, and we hope to be able to return there next summer and continue the conversations that just began.

Camp ministries have only one week to spend with children. A very short amount of time to build relationships, to share who God

is, and to explain how they can have a personal relationship with Him. But, because Adventure Day Camps join with a community to bring a children’s program to their community, conversations don’t have to stop when summer is over.

In one small southern community, approximately 75% of the town’s children were at the day camp, and many of those do not regularly attend an evangelical church. We have visited this community for a few years, and last fall after a successful program the town’s three churches came together to plan a

“

follow-up with these children. It ADVENTURE DAY CAMP was encouraging to hear how they melanie@onehopecanada.ca are joining together, sharing people 1-800-960-2580 and resources, and being unified with a common goal of bringing the Good News to children in their community. They intend to continue with this program this fall as well.

If you know of a church or community interested in receiving some assistance with a summer program, or know of a young person interested in working with us next summer, please contact Melanie Mushaluk, Adventure Day Camp Coordinator.

In one small southern community, approximately

75% of the town’s children were at the day camp.”

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Canada’s Hope

11

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

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

The future of

Beaver Lake Bible Camp

BY WAYNE EISBRENNER, MANITOBA FIELD DIRECTOR

The writer of Ecclesiastes has these words of wisdom for us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:” His wisdom is a reminder that our earthly lives are marked by transition and change.

Sometimes transition and change are very positive, as evidenced by the partnership we have entered into with the Canadian Bible Society in the distribution of camper specific Bibles. At other times, transition and change are difficult and bittersweet.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

In the late 1950’s, the vision to establish a camping ministry in the Flin Flon area was realized with the birth of Beaver Lake Bible Camp. Over the years of ministry, many hundreds of children, youth, and even adults were profoundly affected by the Gospel message

“

proclaimed at the camp. Over the past decade, however, ministry at BLBC was becoming more and more difficult. The hard decision to not hold camp during the 2013 and 2014 camping seasons was made with a heavy heart. But we trusted the Lord to reveal the direction that He would have us go.

A relationship that had been struck many years ago in the Creighton/Flin Flon area with Freedom Outreach—Teen Challenge brought us a new opportunity for ministry in this area. Freedom Outreach was started in 2009 in Denare Beach and works in conjunction with Teen Challenge Central Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The focus of Teen Challenge is to reach men, women, and teens who struggle with addictions, and bring them into a one year discipleship program where they can find freedom through a relationship with Christ.

The centre, located about half a mile from BLBC, is a men’s centre, and the students from Teen Challenge were given opportunity to share the dangers of drugs and alcohol with the youth who came to camp.

As we wrestled with the future direction of BLBC, we began discussions with Freedom Outreach—Teen Challenge. While their vision for the use of BLBC is still being formulated, the facilities

Over the years, hundreds of children,

youth, and even adults were profoundly affected by the Gospel at the camp.”

“

We are trusting that

this new ministry direction will continue to bring

Him glory in the future.” will possibly be used for staff housing for the centre, a re-entry place for students who have completed the program, and possibly for retreats for other Teen Challenge centres. The decision has been made to begin the process of transferring the lease and assets to Freedom Outreach, enabling them to continue God’s kingdom work in the Creighton/Flin Flon area. We know God has used the facilities of Beaver Lake Bible Camp for His purposes in the past and we are trusting that this new ministry direction will continue to bring Him glory in the future.

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Canada’s Hope

15

“

During chapel, she’d cover her ears when

somebody was praying or reading out of the Bible.”

Finding

comfort in God

BY TABITHA MORRAN, FEMALE HEAD CABIN LEADER

This is a story about a girl, let’s call her Marie. When Marie first came to camp, she did not want to be here. When I went to ask her why, she told me that she didn’t believe in anything because she thought God was stupid. During chapel, she’d cover her ears when somebody was praying or reading out of the Bible, and when she got frustrated, she would lash out and start insulting the idea of God.

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

Over the course of the week, I saw God work in her a lot. She started uncovering her ears (when she thought nobody was looking), and would ask questions about God and the Bible. My favorite part of the week came on the last day when at one point in chapel she got up, took a Bible from the shelf and began to read. By the end she had read three or four chapters. She told me it was very interesting, though if you asked her again she would probably shrug and say, “It’s alright.”

It was cool to see a girl who was so against God at the beginning of the week, change and begin to think He was, in her words, “Alright.”

Her cabin leader told me that the favourite part of her week was

“

My prayer is that she will continue to have the

same curiosity about God that has been growing in her.” when Marie volunteered to pray during devotions, and in her own unique style said, “God, I know You’ll get mad at this, but what’s up?” My prayer is that she will continue to have the same curiosity about God that has been growing in her, and that as she goes home to her tougher family life, she can find comfort and strength in Him. It was a joy to have her at camp; I really hope that she can come back again next summer!

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Canada’s Hope

17

VALLEY VIEW BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

VALLEY VIEW BIBLE CAMP

ROSEAU RIVER BIBLE CAMP

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TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

ROSEAU RIVER CAMP

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ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

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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:

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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

His

Holy Plan

BY MARINA

“

My emphasis

on loving her - with her mistakes paid off several years later when she

returned to GBC.�

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

She reminded me of myself at her age...bright, beautiful, and bold.

Always challenging authority everywhere I went. But this was Gimli Bible Camp. There were standards. There were rules. When she first came onto the beach, her smile lit up the skies but I had to be the heavy and insist she wear a camp t-shirt over top of her somewhat too revealing swim wardrobe. She was not impressed.

I emphasized how happy we were

that she was here at GBC but some of her God-given beauty was not appropriate on the beach ...hence the big, dark, heavy t-shirt. She conveyed her opposition to camp policy and voiced her valid arguments forcefully... kind of like Jacob when he wrestled with Jesus.

It was such a wake-up call for me as I reflected on my own life because I was not the teachable, submissive type either. I ended up calling for support staff to help enforce the

rules but had to threaten to ask her to leave the beach unless she complied. Fortunately, it never got to that. As a matter of fact, my emphasis on loving her - with her mistakes, paid off several years later when she returned to GBC as a Cabin Counsellor! Praise God!!!

When she first saw me, she hugged me and told me how she remembered our “beach” encounter and how my inviting her to come up and sit with me on the lifeguard chair to talk that summer impressed upon her and had changed her life. My heart leaped for joy. Me? How could I have been so useful to positively influence this lovely young jewel God had brought to camp? Jesus.

It’s that simple! Jesus. He calls us.

We come blindly to serve Him not knowing how we can be useful within His Holy Plan. He does the work THROUGH us, despite all that we may or may not think we are doing here. I love you Chelsea :-) and so does Jesus.

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

www.gimlibiblecamp.com 204-642-5707

“

We come blindly to serve Him not knowing how we can be

useful within His Holy Plan. He does the work THROUGH us,

despite all that we may or may not think we are doing here.”

Canada’s Hope

25

“

Time and time again, I’ve been blessed by

the way God has orchestrated conversations that needed to happen, all in the right timing.”

He gives us the

words to say Throughout the summer, I have been a part of countless conversations. Part of a program director’s job description here at Roseau River Bible Camp is to ensure that the members of our cabin-leading staff are being supported. Time and time again, I’ve been blessed by the way God has orchestrated conversations that needed to happen, all in the right timing.

An example of this was when a cabin leader was struggling with a

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

homesick camper who ended up going home, leaving her feeling understandably upset. It never feels good when a camper leaves before the week is up, and having been in a very similar situation the previous summer, I was able to connect with her over that experience. As we talked, I was able to use my experiences to relate to her, and assure her that it was going to be okay. We continued talking about things that were going on

BY BECCA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR

in our lives, both back home, and here at camp, and I was amazed by the similarities I saw between our lives: the things we’ve been struggling with, the challenges we’ve faced, and the way God has worked through both the difficult and the joyful times in our lives.

Conversations like these always bring to my mind verses like 2 Corinthians 2:3-4, which says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father

“

I am convinced that he gives us the words to say in situations where we feel helpless.

After all, it’s in our weakness that He is strong.” of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (NIV).

It never ceases to amaze me how God can use everything we go through to encourage and build up others who may be going through the same things.

Another conversation that really sticks out to me was one I was able to have with a camper and a cabin leader at the same time. Nearing the end of summer, one camper didn’t want to participate in any of the activities, including cabin time. We finally convinced her to come to the main building, instead of wandering outside alone, where she and her cabin leader were able to have a long talk, after which the camper agreed to join the rest of the cabin group.

The next day, she was uninterested in joining chapel, so her cabin leader asked me to talk to her. When I joined them, I introduced myself, and asked her if she knew why I worked at camp. I was able to explain to her that I’ve been at Roseau River the whole summer, because I love kids, and I told her that, though I didn’t know her well yet, I loved her already. I explained that her cabin leader was here at camp for the exact same reason, and that she had stayed up talking with her the evening before, because she really cared about her. After that, it didn’t take long to convince her to come play some tether ball. About fifteen minutes later her cabin leader and I suggested going in to chapel, and she came willingly.

God’s timing is so much better than ours. I am convinced that he gives us the words to say in situations where we feel helpless. After all, it’s in our weakness that He is strong. And that brings me to my main point. The most important thing we can do in our ministry is stay in conversation with God. In situations where I have felt unprepared or ill-equipped, I’ve been learning to ask God for help, and very

often I am given the right words to say. He has covered for me time and time again this summer. I know that without him I can do nothing, but it is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13), here at Roseau River Bible Camp.

ROSEAU RIVER BIBLE CAMP

www.roseauriver.ca 204-427-2445

Canada’s Hope

27

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!

Spiritual

Impact

BY KATHY WEIR, CAMP DIRECTOR

“

Our prayer

warriors carried us, and God showed

up in ways beyond anything we could

have ever anticipated.”

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Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

As always, there are challenging times at camp, but this summer was honestly filled with so many “Highs” that any “Lows” paled in comparison. Our prayer warriors carried us, and God showed up in ways beyond anything we could have ever anticipated. Rejoice with us at the strong Gospel presentation in chapels; incredible enthusiastic and meaningful worship and concert of prayer; God-focused, encouraging staff team and spiritual harvest. We evidenced so many answers to prayer and His presence in such a tangible way. It was truly a summer of tremendous spiritual impact with many lives transformed and a summer filled with incredible memories.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. I will always

pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:3-6).

A staff member’s parent and close friend, after hearing about some of the dietary and special needs at camp, wrote, “Welcome to TMBC! This week we will be having Water for our meals and tuck! This will solve all our dietary needs (besides, body cleansing and keeping hydrated on hot days can’t be overemphasized)! All activities will be no more than two minutes in length, in keeping with the attention span of our campers.

There will be no sleep this week (this is far too ‘overrated’ and often

“

With a record number of campers this summer, it was once again obvious and evident that construction of the new facility needs to start soon!” doesn’t happen for many staff anyway). This way, campers will only ‘wake walk’ and not ‘sleep walk.’ Each meal time we will play the ever growing popular game of ‘sardines’ to see how many campers and staff we can actually squeeze into the dining hall and chapel! We have added a new dining room sport, ‘synchronized’ eating

OVERWHELMED WITH

(to allow for the growing number of campers sitting down each side of the table) and we request left-handed campers sit at the ends of the table!

With a record number of campers this summer, it was once again obvious and evident that construction of the new facility needs to start soon!

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

www.tmbc.ca 204-534-6844

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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.

32

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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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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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