Steve's Story Steve Collins Executive Director Timothy felt like a child in a donut shop when he came to camp. There was so much that he wanted to do, so many things he wanted to experience, he wasn't sure one week would be enough time. He loved the games, the food, the friends, and the pool.
As Coley spoke, that tiny sprout of hope grew into assurance, the love of God filled Timothy's soul, and the fear never stood a chance. Timothy surrendered his life to Jesus, and was changed forever. The next morning, he stood before the entire camp, confessed Jesus as Lord of his life, and was baptized here in our pool. This is just one example of the life-changing impact God has on these young lives when they spend a week here at camp. Day after day, we just pour on the love, and God does amazing things.
Nevertheless, there was a heaviness that clung to the back of his mind-a deep, unsettling fear that plagued him. Timothy could push it aside while he climbed the rock wall or ran across the billfold, but, in the quiet times of the day, it would always come back.
Read more from Steve at www.SouthMountainChristianCamp.org/Blog
It was the dream. That horrible, terrifying dream he'd had just before coming to camp. It kept him awake at night, and stole his appetite during the day. Timothy wanted to tell someone about it, but he was afraid to even discuss it. Every time he closed his eyes, he would see it again.
I just completed my 19th summer here at South Mountain Christian Camp, and God never ceases to amaze me. We had great camper enrollment with 561 campers in attendance. We had an amazing summer staff who worked hard and loved those kids relentlessly. And, most importanly, we had incredible encounters with Jesus as 117 campers were baptized here.
"You're going to hell."
The Mountain Star Volume 16, Issue 2 Summer/Fall 2016
Summer Camp Report
Captain's Corner Captain O.A. Fish, Retired Eastern Airlines Camp Founder, CEO A ministry that has been in existence even longer than SMCC is our weekly bible study. Shortly after moving into our new home in August 1972, several neighbors started coming to Charlotte and me looking for Spiritual answers. We both had been studying the bible extensively for several years, so our next logical move was to start a weekly bible study in the basement of our home. In the beginning our average attendance was about fifteen to twenty people.
It was an angel that spoke those words in his dream, so he figured it must be true. He wasn't good enough. There was no hope. He was garbage. Every day he carried the burden, trying desperately to push it aside. Every night he tried to gather the courage to talk to his cabin director about it, but he was too scared. But camp has a way of changing things. And God's love is stronger than fear. As his cabin director, Coley, poured that love into Timothy day after day, the weakest seed of hope began to sprout and grow.
Early into the study, everybody wanted to study Revelations. I didn't know much about the book, so over the next three years we studied all the teaching on eschatology that was out there. We studied pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib and no rapture at all. When someone asked what I believed, my usual answer was, "It depends on whose book I read last." They all made good points. Finally, at the end of three years, I was more confused than when we began. I knew that all the authors we studied had different opinions and couldn't all be right, but there was a possibility that they could all be wrong. After that, we put Revelations on the back burner.
Finally, on the last night of camp, Timothy was ready. After chapel was dismissed, Timothy asked Coley to pray with him. "Sure buddy. What do you want to pray about?"
Coley then told Timothy the truth--that God doesn't want him to go to hell, that He loves Timothy more than he could imagine, that, in fact, Jesus had given His life so that Timothy could be with Him forever.
Our theme, S.P.Y. Chase taught campers to pursue God by Seeking God every day, Presenting themselves to Him, and Yielding to His control. There's no doubt that as they do those things, their relationship with Him will grow every day.
When we finally got our new gym (Joy Center) built, we moved our study into the chapel area. The only problem was, when summer camp and when camper groups needed the space, we had to find other places to meet. Usually that meant the cafeteria, which wasn't ideal.
--Steve
PH: 828-245-3322 FX: 828-245-1659 smcc@blueridge.net SouthMountainChristianCamp.org facebook.com/SouthMountain
Timothy swallowed hard and tucked his trembling hands between his legs. Then, for the first time, he told someone about the dream. Coley listened, brokenhearted at the pain and fear Timothy was carrying.
South of the Mountain Trail Run Saturday, November 5, starting at 10:00 am • 5k run/walk for all ages • Trophies and medals for top finishers • Free backpack and t-shirt if registered by October 21 • $20 for pre-registered, or $25 on race day • Free fun run and supervised activities for kids We need runners, walkers, volunteers, and sponsors to make this fundraising event a success. Mark your calendars now! Get details and sign up at www.SouthoftheMountainTrailRun.com
About ten years ago we got our new office built which included a small conference room. At this time our average bible study attendance had dropped to around twelve, and the conference room worked great for several years. Then suddenly our attendance doubled, so we had to resort back to meeting in Joy Center. But because of the increased activities of the Camp, using the chapel room again became a problem. This forced us to again squeeze back into the office conference room. At a board meeting back in March of this year, I found myself describing the dilemma of needing space for the bible study group. It had always been my dream to have a large bible study room in the basement of the office. The back side is ground level and has plenty of parking space. Soon we all descended to the basement to see what I had planned. I wanted to finish off a 24ft x 24ft area. Half of the room would be a 12ft x 24ft recess section with concrete walls. The other 12ft x 24ft would need to be framed out. With the board's nod, I immediately began to pray and plan. The following Wednesday a building contractor desiring to do 80 hours of community service came into the office. I immediately took him down to the basement and showed him what we had planned. With a big continued on next page
ADDRESS SERVICES REQUESTED
1129 South Mountain Rd PO Box 9 Bostic NC 28018 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Bostic, NC 28018 Permit No. 2
Jen's Journal
TEN MOST WANTED Top ten items needed by SMCC. All donations are tax-deductible. 1. Gator or other utility vehicle with dump bed. 2. Minivan to use on camp for housekeeping. 3. Floor machine for waxing, buffing tile floors. 4. Bush Hog. 5. Float dock for lake. 6. Hand tools and power tools of all kinds. 7. Lockable storage cabinet for camper meds. 8. Welder. 9. Soil tiller. 10. Volunteers!
Charlotte's Web Charlotte Fish Chief Operations Officer We have all experienced times in our lives when we see that God has been there at work in every situation. Recently, OA and I attended a conference for Retired Eastern Airline Pilots. He flew for Eastern 28 years. While attending meetings and gathering in fellowship, I began to reminisce about the 40 plus years we have been involved in the ministry of South Mountain Christian Camp. A story that stood out in my mind had to do with a family who came on board to help us in the early days of the ministry. They had three children, two boys and a girl. The father, a skilled builder, gave up his contractor business to become our first full-time maintenance man. The camp sold them a few acres where they built a home and could be at the camp full time to help us grow. His wife, who loved gardening, helped with some of our landscaping. The children grew to love the camp, but due to needing to make more money to support his family, the father sold the house back to the camp and went back to building houses. However, the daughter, Stephanie, loved the camp so much she grew up attending camp every summer. When she was old enough, she became a cabin director. After college, she married Michael Sheridan and they have six beautiful children. Now all of the children have attended camp. This past summer the oldest son served as a Junior Cabin Director. Things have come full circle, and she recently took the position as our director of housekeeping. I tell this story because in my reminiscing God showed me how intricately he had directed people over the years to come on staff to make it possible to reach children with His love. The camp would not exist without His divine appointments of staff, volunteers and the many supporters like you all brought together to make the ministry possible. The most moving times for me are when I get to meet many of you face to face at our annual appreciation banquet and at the end of every summer when we have a meal of celebration and a time of debriefing with all our summer staff. To be honest, these are the time that make me tear up, and I find it hard to speak. Thanks!
Jen Collins Guest Group Coordinator
Give up. Go ahead. Have you ever been so overwhelmed with something that you just want to stop, give up, and leave? And then someone asks you for more of your time, or attention, or money, or just more you. Me too! That’s where Kay was too. Her husband died, she had no way to earn a living, and she only had enough food to make one meal for her and her son. She was overwhelmed and had no more to give. Then this weird, homeless man came along and asked her for something to eat. She explained her situation, but he said something even crazier. “Go ahead and make some food for me first, and then you and your son eat some too...And God will make sure you have enough food in your pantry for all your meals until this economy recovers.”
Captain's Corner (continued from front page) grin, he said, "This is exactly the type of project I was hoping for. I want to fulfill my community service by doing something that is honorable and worthwhile." With great enthusiasm, he jumped onto the job, and even furnished his own metal studs to do the frame work. He completed his 80 hours but was so excited he volunteered to continue helping until the project is finished.
And you know what she did? Yup. She fed him. His name was Elijah, and everything he said came true. He asked her for more. God asked her for more. And God gave her just enough so that she could give more. Some of our campers seem like they come with just enough to make it through today. They show up, ready to give up. Then God fills them up. What a blessing we have to see the love of Jesus light up a face and fill a body with excitement and energy that was not there when they came. This is when God fills us up with more than enough to begin again for next year. To keep camping. To keep loving. Thank you for all the ways you support us here at SMCC. God uses you to keep us full of God’s enough!
God is working many other miracles as we move toward the finished project. We are facing the concrete walls with rock at the bottom and stucco at the top, separated by a 4x6 inch white pine chair rail. The framed section is paneled with 8-inch wide, white pine boards to give the room a log effect. A 55-inch television, LED lights, and a sound system have all been donated. To assist those who have trouble with stairs, we are also adding a downstairs bathroom. What does all this have to do with the camp? Other than prayer time, we never mention money during the bible studies, and do not take up offerings. Yet, over the years, attendees have been among our greatest supporters and prayer warriors of the camp. You may be wondering about our main topic of study these days. "End time events!" We are looking closely at what is happening in the world today, and how that is lining up with bible prophecy, and, yes, that includes studying Revelations. God is giving us great revelations on the topic!
Memorials & Honors Special gifts received 3/22/16 - 9/15/16 In Memory of... Ralph Bridges by Mr & Mrs Gary Bridges Denzil Daniel by Bethel Daniel Trevor Dowman by Laurie Oostdyk Gerald "Jerry" Conner by Mr & Mrs Gerald Conner Florine and Addley Hill by Mr & Mrs James Robbins Barbara Shuford by Mr & Mrs Pat Payne Matt Bostic by MIchelle Daigle Matthew Zike Blanton by Mr & Mrs William McBrayer Roger Robinson by O.A. Fish Roger Robinson by Mr & Mrs Bob Laughter Roger Robinson by Judy Goode Barbara Caton by Mr & Mrs Randy Reynolds
In Honor of... Willie Young by Laverne Ramsey Laura Taylor, Maddie, & Anna Grace by Michelle Daigle
Camp News • The South of the Mountain Trail Run is coming up on November 5th. This 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) race is for runners and walkers of all ages, and raises funds to help send kids to camp. Get details on the front page or at www.SouthoftheMountainTrailRun.com • Our Pumpkin Patch fundraiser will return in October. Come pick out your pumpkins, take some family photos, and help raise funds for summer camp scholarships. Details below. • Huge thanks to everyone who helped provide so many needed items from our last Ten Most Wanted list: Mark George provided an auger for our tractor, Thomasville Road Baptist Church provided benches, Pleasant View Baptist Church provided picnic tables, and Gary and Vesta Edmonds provided soccer goals, volleyball posts, a new oven for the cafeteria, and 9Square-in-the-Air game. • For those of you who live nearby, we have a fundraiser night at Chuck's Family Pizza Buffet on Tuesday, October 25th. Eat and Chuck's between 4 pm and 9 pm this day and 10% of your purchase price will be donated to SMCC. Be sure to let them know you are there to support SMCC so that your purchase will be credited to the camp! • We're still making progress on fund raising for our new multipurpose building! This facility will provide much-needed kitchen, dining, and assembly space for summer camp and year-round use. Pray with us that funds will continue to come in for this. • Stephanie Sheridan is our new housekeeping manager, but she's not new to SMCC. She is a former cabin director, and all six of her children have attended summer camp here. Get the whole story in Charlotte's Web.
Pumpkin Patch Jo's Tidbits
Jo Hoselton Office Manager
I was out weed eating at the bottom of our driveway, when I hit a clump of grass with a black ant nest hidden under it. Before I realized it, I was under attack. They were all over my shoes and up under my pant legs. Those little critters had latched on to my skin and were viciously biting me. I was trying to knock them off me, but then they got on my hands and kept biting me. Now if I knew their nest was under that clump of grass, I would never have went near them. All they knew was something attacked their home and sent many of them hurling through the air. After It was over I sat in the driveway and I thought about the Philistines fighting Israel and David came on the scene to fight Goliath. David said to Goliath, This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands. This Goliath armed with a weed eater is very, very sorry she attacked the small but mighty ant.
The pumpkins are coming! All October long we will have a wide variety of beautiful pumpkins for sale on display here at the Camp. Bring the whole family. Let the kids pick out the perfect pumpkins, take some great family photos, and stick around to enjoy the beautiful Fall weather. Fishing, disc golf, and hiking trails are open and available. The pumpkin patch is open 7 days a week, during daylight hours. Pay for your pumpkins in the camp office, or use the drop slot after 5 pm. The best pumpkins get picked first, so don't wait too long!