September 17, 2020

Camp Christian – a Place Set Apart.

I looked onto Vanderbilt church and instead of Greg Pelc there was Greg Voss – the new director of Camp Christian. He shared his excitement about camp and his work there – what has happened so far, and what to look forward to. Camp is so important. It’s a place to share the gospel, reach lives, and change lives. It brings the community together in a way that few other things do, because the impact is spiritual and eternal.

Greg and his family, with the help from support churches, have already done lots of work to improve the buildings and the grounds. Just last month all of the toilets on the grounds were functional at the same time – probably the first time (and possibly the last??) in the history of camp! (haha) There are new trails and paths, and lots of noticeable clean up to the grounds and streams.

As for the future of camp, next summer’s theme will be LEGACY. It will be the 80th anniversary, begun in 1941. The hope is to build on the purpose and foundations that began in 1941 to carry into the future. Camp will be a vital part of making the world what it needs to be. We need to be a light! LEGACY: anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor. Or as one website described it: Where life stories live on.

Greg shared John 3:16 – and named it the Bible’s version of the declaration of independence. We need to live that verse and live like we believe it so others know for certain God loves the world and Christ died to save it.

So for today I thought I’d focus on camp. I didn’t have time to look through my hundreds of photos to find ones of my years at camp — that will have to be for another time (maybe a winter’s day when staying inside surrounded by memories would be the warmth I need!). But here are a few from my first few years as a camper at Camp Christian.

I first went to camp the year I was in 7th grade. Judy Oplinger and I from Hempfield Church were the only ones to attend that summer. We must have brought back a glowing testimony, because as the years grew Hempfield often had the highest number of attenders for a give summer!

It was tradition for our family that when we pulled onto the dirt road off the blacktop back to camp that we turned off the radio, and later, anything electronic. It was a time for quiet, reflection, and anticipation. And we respected that. Even to this day.

I will tag the photos – and if you went to camp, maybe you can take time to think about the friendships, experiences, spiritual nutrition (which was infinitely better than the meals, in my humble opinion!), and lost socks and underwear. My son was baptized at camp with Danny Miller one year, and my daughter spent several of her college summers living on the grounds as staff. She met her husband at camp! If God had to live anywhere else other than Heaven – it would be Camp Christian!!! (He does spend a LOT of time there already!)

On this day in 1787 the US Constitution was signed by delegates at the Philadelphia Convention. Harriet Tubman first escaped slavery in Maryland with 2 of her brothers in 1849. In 1916 WWI Flying Ace The Red Baron won his first aerial combat – and it wasn’t against Snoopy!!! The Lord of the Flies was published in 1954. Hank Williams was born in 1923.

And for additional birthdays: Dennis Shafer (my good friend Ron’s Florida brother!) is celebrating today, as is Greg Saldi – missionary (with his wife Nikki and daughter Ophelia) to France and a good friend. So is distant cousin Karen Lee (New Jersey) and one of my very first Sunday School teachers Eleanor Morris. Happy, happy birthday to all of you – may it be SWEET!

TOMORROW September 18 is:

• Airforce Birthday
• National Cheeseburger Day (I’m in!!! I’d gladly pay your Tuesday for a hamburger (Cheeseburger?) today!)
• National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
• National Tradesmen Day – Third Friday in September
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day – Third Friday in September
• National Hug Your Boss Day – Changes Annually – Friday, September 18, 2020 – Too bad I don’t work tomorrow. But are we even ALLOWED to hug????

A writer friend of mine, Tom, shared many experiences that he had a camp – his father in law Bud Morrison was a caretaker in the initial years. He often posts pictures from that time. Tom’s wife was raised there.

My mother was a regular attender at Woman’s Retreat; my sister attended every year she could as a camper, and was staff in as many camp weeks/weekends as she could manage, including Dean of different weeks throughout the year. I believe camp blood runs through her veins! I’m glad to have camp memories – far too many to share – to bring a smile to my face and a continual blessing to my heart! Have a great weekend – and God Bless…